Hello! It’s Masuo here!

This time, I visited Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten, a long-established unagi (eel) restaurant in Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture. If you’re traveling to Japan, this is one special dining experience you shouldn’t miss!

I had the restaurant’s signature dish, the “Kinshi-don”. It features a generous portion of fluffy dashi-maki tamago (Japanese-style omelet made with broth) on top of perfectly grilled unagi no kabayaki (grilled eel in a sweet soy-based sauce). This is a dish you won’t find easily anywhere else!

Unagi (eel) is a popular type of fish in Japan, and it’s often served as kabayaki, which is grilled eel glazed with a sweet, savory sauce. It’s considered a nourishing and energizing food, especially during the summer.

The History of Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten

Founded in 1872, Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten has been serving its delicious unagi dishes for over 140 years. It’s not just loved by locals, but also by visitors from all over Japan and abroad.

The restaurant is located in Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture, near the famous Lake Biwa and close to Kyoto, making it a convenient stop during your travels.

I drove to the restaurant, but you can easily get there by taking the Keihan Keishin Line to Ōtani Station, just a 5-minute walk away.

The Menu at Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten

The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, with unagi being the star. Even if you’re not familiar with eel, there are other delicious options to choose from. The restaurant also offers take-out items, perfect for enjoying later or as a gift for friends.

I ordered their famous Kinshi-don without hesitation. The prices have risen a little recently due to rising costs, but it’s well worth it!

Tasting the Kinshi-don! Fluffy Dashi-maki Tamago and Grilled Unagi – A Perfect Combination

This is Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten’s most popular dish, the Kinshi-don!

The dish is topped with a thick, fluffy layer of dashi-maki tamago, a type of Japanese omelet made with seasoned broth. It’s soft, flavorful, and mildly sweet. Underneath the omelet lies the deliciously grilled unagi. The unagi is cooked with a special sweet soy sauce that seeps into the rice and egg, giving the dish an amazing flavor.

Taking a bite of the omelet and unagi together creates a perfect harmony of textures and flavors. The softness of the omelet balances out the richness of the eel, and the combination is simply mouth-watering.

The dashi-maki tamago is thick, using three eggs, which gives it a satisfying volume.

Summary

If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, I highly recommend trying the Kinshi-don at Ōsakayama Kaneyo Honten. The fluffy omelet and flavorful unagi make for a truly unique and memorable Japanese dining experience.

It’s also a great stop during your trip to Lake Biwa or Kyoto. Be sure to savor this traditional Japanese dish while enjoying the beautiful scenery!