TLDR: I really liked the eel and though service was a bit lacking, he seemed like a nice person at heart, always try to speak just a little Japanese and be aware of local customs I read the reviews about the bad service but wasn’t really deterred as I really like eel. As we sat, he mentioned about being only eel restaurant and I acknowledged. He asked us gruffly how many and I said 4 skewers and he showed us it would be 500yen each. He made them quickly and we thoroughly enjoyed them. The bounciness of the eel was very good, not mushy like some other spots. Flavor is spot on We asked him about the other parts of the menu and he did try to explain to us that those are other parts of the eel but the one he gave to us is the best cut, that’s why he only offers that to people who don’t know or never been. I think there is always going to be misunderstanding between language barriers and being a cook in 90 degree weather is not easy so I always preach patience. I speak very little Japanese but just me trying made him try with us.

Eels. Grilled. If you are bar and skewer hopping in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho alley you might come across this place at the intersection in the middle. It serves eel and that confusion can throw off many tourists who don't seem to understand when he exclaims loudly, "eel only" but between that and the sign on the wall... anyway. There js anothet kabuto of michelin mention, don't get it mixed up, this is the street food version but the guy here is the same guy as 4 years ago prepandemic and he's been here years before that. He can only manage a few words in english which is right since we're not in an English speaking country. The eels are fresh, the guy does everything nose to tail, and skewers, like with chicken in yakitori, come from different parts of the eel and you order which part you want. There is some kind of minimum order, easier is to just ask for a set menu, SETTO should do the trick. With that, they gave me 2x tail, 2x insides, 2x body, which is perfect for a stop. The tail has a slight fat layer and is wound around the skewer skilfully. The entrails also, treated just right. Body, crispy skin, just nice. The skill level is high, in a one man show, worth the stop. Oh and you can grab a beer, one choice to make and it is tall or short. In other reviews there seems to be suggestions of anger but take a look, the guy is squinting over coals all day for everyone and if he's just saying eel only it's because he wants to help you understand. Once that is clear, he is a more confident and happy. He won't be chatty, but he's just trying to do his job.

+3

The cook was incredibly rude — the antithesis of the Japanese respect we’ve come to know. Her grunted and pointed to a picture of an eel indicating that was all they served. I asked for a beer and he wordlessly set it on the counter. When he served the eel, I reached over to get some chili oil. Now, one would think that if they only serve eel, and there is chili oil on the counter, then the two must go together. However, the rude cook reached over-the-counter and picked up the chili oil and put it right back to where I found it without a word. Then he muttered aloud, and another guest and him began to laugh. You talk about uncomfortable? Finally, he turned his calculator towards me with the price. I asked if I could use change to pay, and he wordlessly grunted again with a quizzical look as if I was from Mars. When it came time to actually pay the bill and he reached over the counter for the money, he continued to mumble and grunt, and took the money one coin at a time. At the end of our meal, we got up to leave, and one of the guests that laughed with the cook showed a translator app to my partner that said, “this is a place where you go for nostalgia.“ I cannot imagine that rude service and giggling about other guests is considered nostalgic in Japan to most Japanese. Continue reading the reviews, and you’ll learn that the owner is suspected to be a racist. We are Anglo American, and we certainly felt it with his mocking, grunting and rudeness.

This was a very unique and memorable experience. I had a couple hours to kill as I waited for a bus to Fuji, it was early in the afternoon so not many places were open, but I love yakitori and wanted to grab a bite in this area. I know, eel is not yakitori, but I love eel. The restaurant was packed with Japanese, the owner was hard at work, and the shop was old, dirty, and beautiful. There were a couple seats open so I sat down, I wasn’t sure if the owner didn’t like to get his picture taken, but he felt very annoyed, as you can tell by his funny offended look in his picture. It is my fault for not knowing Japanese, but luckily there was a friendly regular who helped me order a few skewers and a beer. The eel was fantastic: soft, crispy, umami. I tried to order some liver that I saw him grilling but was told no. I guess I should’ve read the reviews, or learned Japanese and ordered a set, but it was a spontaneous choice. Anyways, it was memorable and delicious. Maybe I will learn Japanese and go back and try again.

Super cool, local restaurant only serving Eel! Tried both the meat and the innards (he wasn’t able to explain exactly what it was) - both were yum!! (A bit pricey at around $4-5 a skewer)