[Osaka, Tondabayashi Opens July 3] Kansai-style Grilled Eel Specialty Restaurant "Unagi Ten Tondabayashi" Serves Eels Freshly Prepared In-House and Grilled at 1000°C

HOPE Inc. will open "Unagidokoro Unagi Ten Tondabayashi," a specialty restaurant for Kansai-style grilled eel, in Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture on July 3, 2026.

"Unagi Ten" is a specialty restaurant that offers Kansai-style grilled eel using live eels, with the concept of "making authentic eel more accessible." The Tondabayashi store will be the fourth store under the Unagi Ten brand.

The store is equipped with a "tateba" (mud-purging area) where live Japanese eels, purchased fresh, are carefully managed. Each eel is meticulously prepared by a craftsman for every order and grilled at a high temperature of 1000°C without steaming, allowing customers to enjoy the crispy skin and fluffy texture unique to Kansai-style grilling.

With a spacious interior seating 42 people and parking for 23 vehicles, the restaurant aims to be a versatile venue for family meals, gatherings with friends, community events, and business entertainment.

Unagi Ten's Commitment to Delicious Eel

Unagi Ten values serving eel that is "freshly prepared," "freshly grilled," and "freshly made."

To ensure that customers can savor the natural flavor of eel in its optimal state, we spare no effort from procurement to grilling.

Here's Unagi Ten's commitment to serving each eel in its best condition:

Enjoy authentic eel dishes with our commitment to live eels.

1. Live eels are managed in-house, prioritizing freshness.

At Unagi Ten, we only source Japanese eels that have passed strict quality control and are delivered alive.

We have a dedicated mud-purging area called "tateba" within the store, where eels are carefully purged of mud over 1-2 days. By managing the cycle from procurement to serving, we reduce the characteristic odor of eel and bring out its fluffy texture and balanced fat content.

From procurement to serving: A "fixed cycle" to maintain freshness.

2. Craftsmen prepare each eel individually with the Kansai-style "belly cut."

At Unagi Ten, we prepare eels using the Kansai-style "belly cut."

While the back cut is common in Kanto, the belly cut is said to be rooted in the merchant culture of Kansai, which values "speaking with an open heart" (literally, "splitting the belly"). The belly cut requires advanced knife skills.

By having specialized eel masters carefully prepare each eel individually, we achieve a fluffy texture when grilled and a crispy skin.

Belly cut, Osaka style, for a fluffy texture. Craftsmen prepare each eel meticulously.

3. Grilled without steaming: Kansai-style grilling.

Unagi Ten's eel is prepared using the Kansai-style grilling method, where it is grilled all at once from a raw state without the steaming process used in the Kanto style.

While this method requires skill and effort in grilling due to the absence of steaming, it results in fragrant skin, a crisp exterior, and a fluffy interior. The more you chew, the more the natural flavor of the eel unfolds.

A premium ingredient that firms up the flesh, allowing you to enjoy the eel's natural flavor and refined fat content.

4. A subtle sauce that highlights the eel.

The sauce is an original blend based on honjozo koikuchi soy sauce and tamari soy sauce, balanced with hon mirin, sake, and granulated sugar.

We intentionally keep the viscosity low for a light, refreshing taste. The sauce is applied only once during the grilling process. The design is not to overpower the flavor with the sauce, but to allow customers to enjoy the aroma and taste of the eel itself.

Customers can also adjust the flavor with the table-side sauce according to their preference.

A subtle sauce designed to make the eel the star.

5. Uses Koshihikari rice from Niigata Prefecture.

We are also particular about the rice that enhances the deliciousness of our dishes.

For the rice that complements the flavor of the eel, we use Koshihikari rice from Niigata Prefecture.

Its fluffy texture and refined sweetness are characteristic, and it pairs well with the fragrant grilled eel and light sauce, allowing you to enjoy it down to the last bite.

Unagi Ten's Commitment

Serving it in the most delicious state.

Unagi Ten's eel is freshly prepared, freshly grilled, and freshly served.

It may take a little time, but this is all to serve it in the best possible condition.

Please savor the aroma and texture at the moment it is ready to your heart's content.

Signature Menu

At Unagi Ten Tondabayashi, we offer authentic eel, carefully grilled in the Kansai style, at prices ranging from 3,080 yen to 8,690 yen.

Classic dish: Unaju Heian (1 whole eel / with soup and pickles)

Generously portioned, highly popular menu: Nara Gozen (1.5 eels / with Unaju, Uzaku, Umaki, soup, pickles, and dessert)

Unagi Ten's popular menu: Unadon (with soup, one slice of dashimaki tamago, and pickles)

The exquisite combination of eel, infused with the aroma from far-infrared grilling, and the rice soaked in sauce is a taste that will make your chopsticks move.

Becoming an eel specialty restaurant loved by the community.

The Tondabayashi store is a Japanese-modern, calm space with 42 seats.

We have created a space that is easy to use for family meals, gatherings with friends, community events, and business entertainment.

Parking is available for 23 vehicles, accommodating customers arriving by car.

Unagi Ten will continue to aim to create stores that are familiar to the local community, with the theme of "making authentic eel more accessible."

The interior is a Japanese-modern, calm space with ample seating, suitable for business entertainment. You can spend enjoyable time with family and friends.

Parking can accommodate 11 cars. It is a 10-minute walk from Hoshida Station.

Store Overview

Name: Unagidokoro Unagi Ten Tondabayashi

Address: 2-244-1 Nakanocho Nishi, Tondabayashi City, Osaka Prefecture, 584-0028

Phone: 0721-55-3229

Parking: 23 spaces

Seating Capacity: 42 seats

Price Range: 3,080 yen - 8,690 yen

Business Hours: Lunch 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM)

Evening 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Last Order 7:00 PM)

URL: https://www.unagimanten.com

Media Inquiries

HOPE Inc. Public Relations: Shiraishi

Email: [email protected]

URL: https://www.unagimanten.com

*We also accept inquiries for interviews, filming, and tasting sessions.

About HOPE Inc.

HOPE Inc. is a company that plans and operates restaurants with the philosophy of "delivering happiness to people through food." We develop restaurant brands mainly in the Kansai region and aim to create stores loved by the local community.

We will continue to develop restaurants where people can easily enjoy authentic cuisine that emphasizes ingredients and preparation, and disseminate the appeal of food culture.

Company Overview

Company Name: HOPE Inc. Location: 1-10-15 Shoji, Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 560-0004 Business Activities: Planning and operation of restaurants URL: https://hope-japan.jp/