Review: Visit to Yamayoshi Anago in Himeji for eel rice

We were visiting the famous Himeji Castle in the town of Himeji (more in a later post), and had to cut short our visit because of S’s hunger pangs. After doing a quick check on Tabelog, S found our lunch destination which sold Anago Don (saltwater eel rice). For the uninitiated, anago (saltwater eel) is the close cousin of unagi (freshwater eel). It tastes slightly less rich and oily than unagi. Anago is also known for its soft texture and sweet taste. Here’s why you should visit Yamayoshi Anago in Himeji for eel rice – it’s delicious!

We arrived at Yamayoshi Anago in Himeji at about 2pm in the afternoon. It’s a  5 minute walk from the JR Himeji station, and 10 minute walk from the Himeji Castle. There was still a line of about eight people around us. The restaurant is a 14 seater. We waited about 20 minutes before getting a seat. In between then, we could see how the chef cooked the anago over the grill, as there was a glass panel in between us and the kitchen. We figured that the chef’s fingers were quite resistant to heat as he placed his fingers very near the grill when turning the anago over.

The Ambience

Yamayoshi Anago in Himeji felt like a little diner frequented by locals. Almost everyone spoke Japanese. It felt like a place I would go to while looking for food in a small town. The staff were really efficient – from cooking the anago to serving dishes. A sign that the restaurant must be good – I observed a teenage boy ordering his second serving of anago don right before he was done.

The Anago Don

We ordered the Anago Don and it came with soup. I thought the pairing of the seafood, anago and teriyaki sauce was perfect. There wasn’t too much sauce which overwhelmed the delicate flavours of the anago. It was the right balance of savory, sweet and spicy flavours, brought about by a tinge of wasabi.

Because most of the staff could only speak Japanese, we had some difficulties ordering, and chose a generic set. If only we had ordered more anago to go with the rice!! I must caveat that the anago portions are quite small, and I was quickly done with the anago before I could finish my bowl of rice. I would suggest that you order a double serving of anago to go with the rice – it only feels right.

The Travelling Squid’s Take

I like this version of Anago Don. Unlike the Unagi Dons I am used to having in Singapore, this was lightly flavoured and I could taste the delicate sweetness and tenderness of the anago meat. The whole bowl wasn’t drenched with teriyaki sauce, which was nice as I wanted to pair the anago with the rice and enjoy the hint of wasabi. My biggest regret was not ordering two servings of anago. But we did have two dinners in Kobe later, so I guess it was worth it. ᕕ( ՞ ᗜ ՞ )ᕗ

***

Visit to Yamayoshi Anago in Himeji for eel rice

• Address: 301 Ekimaecho, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture 670-0927, Japan
• Tel: +81 79-226-5678
• Opening hours: 11am – 8pm daily
• Tabelog