Grandma Uotoyo Unagi📍Kuromon Market 鮮魚 魚豊 黒門市場 ☎️ +816 6631 4279

Second time lucky to catch the iconic grandma unagi stall at Kuromon Market - two years ago, we missed the chance as she was sold out of eels when we were here.

A crowd milling around the little dingy shop at one of the side streets of Kuromon Market.

Grandma has other fish but most people / tourists are here for her famous unagi.

Grandma is a one woman show. She is the second generation owner of the 90 year old shop (founded in 1930).

She takes orders, collects money, tells you your waiting time with a card, and hands you a tag.

Our tag.

Naturally, Grandma's unagi are done Kansai style as Osaka is the modern centre of the Kansai region.

The eels were splayed, spine bones removed but heads were intact.

(According to urban legend, Kansai is the trader / merchant region of Japan, so they splay their eels from the belly as traders value openness in doing business.

Kanto is the samurai / warrior region. They splay their eels from the back as opening the belly is associated with hara-kiri, ritual suicide.)

Kansai style eels are grilled unseasoned and raw over charcoal embers.

(In the Kanto / East style, the eels are steam cooked first before grilling.)

During grilling, grandma basted the eels with sauce and returned them to the hot charcoal, repeating up to four times until the fish is fully cooked.

One serving from grandma, takeaway only, ¥2500 (SGD$20).

(For comparison, at Osaka supermarkets, similar serving takeaway unagi costs about ¥1000 and unagiyas / restaurants charge about ¥5000 to ¥10000 per serving.)

Grandma's unagi stall is about 1-minute walk from the Kuromon Information Center along the main / centre strip of Kuromon Market.

We can enjoy our unagi here.

Freshly grilled eel over rice.

The white eel flesh was soft tender, moist, sweetish, with savoury overlay and subtle smokey grilled aroma and flavour. I like it.

Nutty sweet savoury rice.

Major bucket list checked ✅

A good price for a unique memorable street food experience and a chance to taste authentic Kansai style unagi. If you want to try only one unagi while visiting Osaka, grandma's is the one.