As many of my followers would know, I am an avid unagi lover, trying out different unagi restaurants all over Singapore. To further my quest for the best Unagi restaurant in Singapore, I've returned to Unagiya Ichinoji in Robertson Quay.
It's not my first time here. It's been a while since I've been here, but I loved it when I came a few years ago.
Apparently, I wasn't the only person who liked it. The last time I came, I happened to sit next to a Japanese celebrity family currently living in Singapore. Let's see how the restaurant has fared after a few brutal years of pandemic and inflation.
Unagiya Ichinoji at Robertson Quay
Address: 30 Robertson Quay, #01-05, Singapore 238251
Web: https://www.facebook.com/Unagiyaichinoji/
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/AsbgQ5BVKovg7BUN7
So here's how it looks from the outside. It may not be the most convenient place to reach via public transport, but it's a quiet and hidden outlet perfect for taking a moment to exhale.
I love this unagi house's laid-back, quiet, and cozy setting. There's an authentic feel to the entrance and interior design. It's spacious and has a high ceiling. All the tables seem to be occupied, but you never get that overcrowded, rowdy feel.
Unagi dishes are a Japanese delicacy in which you relax and forget time to enjoy in peace. In Japan, some of the best unagi restaurants are in private tatami rooms where you take off your shoes for comfort, silence, and privacy. Of course, Ichinoji does not have private tatami rooms, but I respect the attention to the ambient atmosphere they have put in.
The Menu
I haven't snapped a picture of the menu, but the food choices have changed over the past few years. I would almost say the menu has localized a little and deviated from the traditional style of Japanese unagi house it used to be.
They have added menus that mix Unagi with ingredients such as Wagyu and Hotate. While I'm sure that these are also great dishes, a hard-core unagi lover like me would rather have the master focus on the Unagi alone.
This preference is a Japanese thing. Focus on the good by subtracting the rest. Addition by subtraction. Simplicity is beautiful. All of that. And that's a priority for when we, as "Japanese Gurus," evaluate restaurants as well.
Although I know that this is what all unagi restaurants in Singapore do, and I understand that changes like this may be needed to survive in the local setting, I was a little saddened by this change.
One good thing is that they still have some of the unagi side dishes, which are hard to find in Singapore. These are dishes such as Umaki (eel with Dashi-maki Tamago egg) and my personal favorite, the Uzaku. (eel with cucumber)
I've ordered the large Unajyu with a side dish of Uzaku.
The Uazku looks like this.
Uzaku
It's a refreshing appetizer that really changes the taste of the Unagi. It resets your mouth with vinegar seasoning and is a perfect complement to the unagi dish, especially on hot summer days. (Well, every day is a hot summer day in Singapore!)
The taste of Inichnoji's Uzaku is excellent. The Unagi is still warm and soft, and the cucumber and vinegar sauce gives it the perfect refreshing taste.
Think of it as a salad rather than an Unagi dish. I feel like I should have ordered two dishes rather than only one, as I like them so much!
The large unajyu
Fantastic presentation. It comes with some side dishes and an Osuimono soup.
The Unagi is delicious. It's exactly how I like it. The eel dish is perfect with a crunchy baked skin on the outside and soft and tender inside. I like how the sauce or the "Tare" isn't too strong. You can enjoy the taste of the eel, and if you need more, you can add more.
Of course, no fishiness of the eel, no overburnt skin, and no hard eel bones. It was an effortless dish for me to complete, and it disappeared in no time.
I would say that although the menu has changed, the quality has been maintained, which is very encouraging.
One thing about this restaurant is that they always price it at a relatively affordable price. All the restaurants in Singapore will consistently increase their prices, but I feel Ichinoji keeps their pricing about a half-a-tier under the high-end unagi houses. Their quality and the overall restaurant atmosphere is excellent regardless of this.
Overall, it's one of my favorite go-to Japanese restaurants.
So, what's the verdict?
The guru rating
For the Unajyu
9.5 / 10
As a Japanese guru, I rate this Unajyu as a "9.5" out of 10. This score means that not only would I come to this restaurant again, but I would also highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for an authentic "Japanese Unagi" experience.
Although the menu has changed and reduced its authenticity slightly, they still serve the Uzaku and Umaki. These are very difficult to find in other restaurants, which helps increase the guru ratings of this Unagi restaurant.
The Unagi quality is excellent as well. The piece is precisely how I'd like the softness of the inside and the skin's crunchiness.
The last-but-not-least part is that it is a reasonable price.
It's a recommended Unagi restaurant. I'm looking forward to giving it a few more trips soon.
You can check here for how the Japanese Guru Rating score works.