Tabelog ratingUnagi no Matoi (うなぎのまとい) is a family eel house founded in 1958, across the street from the historic Tōkaikan in the old part of Itō. Domestic eel is rested in Amagi spring water, then steamed and grilled Kantō-style. The result is a crisp skin over soft flesh. The tare is restrained, and one reviewer says the pot has been topped up for 50 years. It was selected for the Tabelog Unagi "Tabelog 100" in 2022 and 2026.
Nearly every review praises the texture and the clean, non-fishy flavour. The unajū is generous, with eel covering the rice. Several reviewers call the shirayaki, eel grilled without sauce and eaten with fresh wasabi or salt, the truest test of the kitchen. Kimoyaki (grilled eel liver) and the kimosui, a liver soup with sōmen and a citrus note, are frequent highlights. Korean visitors liked the mabushi-don with wasabi and scallion. Many foreign guests mention an English menu and staff who explain how to eat each dish.
Service is the recurring complaint. Counter diners hear the owner sighing and barking orders at staff. Walk-ins near closing have been turned away curtly, and one visitor found a front-of-house woman impatient with tourists. A minority found the eel over-charred or dry, or the rice over-sauced.
The listed bands are ¥3,000–3,999 for dinner and ¥5,000–5,999 for lunch. Reviewers order from the same menu at both, so expect roughly ¥3,000–5,000 per person at either sitting. Between 2024 and 2026, reviewers paid around ¥3,100–3,300 for unajū nami (two pieces of eel) and ¥4,400–4,800 for jō (three pieces). A half-size don was about ¥2,200, a half shirayaki ¥1,700 and a kimoyaki skewer ¥400. Switching to kimosui added ¥100, and beer was ¥700.
Value is the strongest point. Reviewers repeatedly say comparable unajū would cost ¥5,000 or more in Tokyo, and portions are generous at every tier.
- Getting there: 8 minutes' walk (545 m) from JR Ito Station.
- Booking: walking in is risky. Weekends and holidays sell out by reservation, and walk-ins are often refused. Book by phone on 0557-37-1768, or ask your hotel to call. Without a booking, queue just before opening.
- Payment: cash or PayPay. Reviewers also mention Alipay. Credit cards and electronic money (IC cards) are not accepted.
- Seating: 21 seats: 3 at the counter, three tables for four and one for six. No private rooms or private hire. Ask for a table if you can.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: 4 spaces.
- Language: English menu available.
- Take-out: available.
