Authentic Unagi That Doesn't Cut Corners Comes to Kyoto's Matsui Yamate: "Unagiya Unatoyo Matsui Yamate Store," a Kansai Jiyaki Specialty Shop Where Craftsmen Hand-Dress Live Eel from Mikawa Isshiki and Grill It Crispy Over Binchotan Charcoal, Opens June 5

■ The 7th store of "Unagiya Unatoyo," a Kansai-style charcoal-grilled unagi specialty restaurant

HOPE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyonaka City, Osaka), which plans and operates restaurants, will open the unagi specialty restaurant "Unagiya Unatoyo Matsui Yamate Store" (Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture) on Friday, June 5, 2026. This will be the 7th store in the "Unatoyo" brand. The restaurant uses live, domestically-produced Japanese eel from Mikawa Isshiki, which is kept in a "holding tank" in the store for 1-2 days to purge mud, and then hand-dressed one by one by an eel craftsman. Grilled without steaming over binchotan charcoal at approximately 1000°C, using the "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" method, the skin is crispy and aromatic, while the flesh is fluffy and juicy. The store has 47 seats, with a price range of 3,190 yen to 8,250 yen.

① A "holding tank" is installed in the store, where live eels are kept for 1-2 days to purge mud. Eel craftsmen hand-dress each eel one by one.
② Grilled without steaming over binchotan charcoal at approximately 1000°C, using the "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" method.
③ Uses domestically-produced Japanese eel from Mikawa Isshiki.
④ 7th store in the "Unatoyo" brand / 47 seats, 22 parking spaces (shared facility parking).
⑤ Price range 3,190 yen to 8,250 yen. Opens Friday, June 5, 2026.

■ Four Commitments to the Deliciousness of Unatoyo's Unagi

At "Unatoyo," a Kansai-style direct-grilled unagi specialty restaurant, we offer authentic direct-grilled unagi using live, domestically-produced Japanese eel from Mikawa Isshiki. The biggest feature is the installation of a "holding tank" in the store. After carefully purging the mud from the live eels over 1-2 days to adjust their freshness, an eel craftsman hand-dresses each one in the store. For grilling, we use binchotan charcoal, grilling the eel quickly at a high temperature of approximately 1000°C. Unlike the Kanto-style steamed-grilling method, we insist on the "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" method, which grills the eel without steaming, resulting in crispy, aromatic skin and a fluffy, juicy texture.

Please enjoy our authentic unagi cuisine, made with carefully selected live eel from Mikawa Isshiki.

① A "holding tank" is installed in the store. Craftsmen dress the live eel in the store.

The biggest feature of "Unatoyo" is the installation of a "holding tank" in the store. After carefully purging the mud from live Japanese eels over 1-2 days to bring them to the best condition, a skilled eel craftsman hand-dresses each one in the store.

While more and more stores are using pre-processed eel for efficiency, Unatoyo continues to insist on the traditional process of "dressing live eel in the store." By grilling the freshly dressed eel directly over charcoal, we maximize the clean, odorless flavor and the high-quality, sweet fat unique to live eel. The freshness, aroma, and texture can only be achieved by dressing the eel in the store. Unatoyo pursues the true deliciousness of eel through "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling."

The belly-opening method (Osaka-style), which preserves freshness by carefully purging mud for 1-2 days, results in fluffy flesh.

② Authentic charcoal grilling over binchotan charcoal at approximately 1000°C

We use carefully selected binchotan charcoal for grilling. By grilling the eel quickly over high-heat charcoal reaching approximately 1000°C, the surface becomes crispy and aromatic, while the flesh is finished fluffy and juicy. Grilling at high heat prevents excess moisture from escaping, locking in the eel's natural flavor and the sweetness of its fat. Furthermore, the rich aroma unique to charcoal and the far-infrared effect make the outside aromatic and the inside fluffy. The charcoal aroma and rich flavor that spread with each bite highlight the deliciousness unique to "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling."

The use of carefully selected binchotan charcoal provides an excellent match for the eel.

③ "Traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" – grilled without steaming

At Unatoyo, we adopt the "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" method, which grills the eel without steaming, unlike the Kanto-style steamed-grilling method. By grilling the raw eel quickly over high-heat charcoal, excess fat is rendered while the eel's natural flavor is concentrated. The skin is crispy and aromatic, and the flesh has a fluffy, firm texture. The aroma of the charcoal enhances the flavor of the eel's fat, and the crispiness and deep richness spread with every chew—a charm unique to "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling." Unatoyo values this "Kansai direct-grilling culture" while providing authentic eel unique to the Kansai region.

Top-quality ingredients with firm flesh, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor of eel and its refined, rich fat.

④ Layered grilling with a secret sauce to maximize flavor

By grilling with a carefully crafted sauce, the skin becomes aromatic, and the flesh is finished with concentrated flavor.

The eel, grilled aromatic over charcoal from its raw state, is repeatedly and carefully basted with the secret sauce during grilling.
By allowing the flavor of the sauce to soak in deeply with each grilling, the charcoal's aroma and the sweetness of the eel's fat become one, creating a profound taste.

The sweet and savory secret sauce perfectly coats the crispy skin and fluffy flesh, and the moment you take a bite, the rich flavor of the eel and the deep richness of the sauce spread throughout your mouth.

The aroma of charcoal, the fat of the eel, and the secret sauce.
This "layered grilling" technique, which maximizes the deliciousness of each element, is the hallmark of Unatoyo's flavor.

■ Signature Menu Items

At Unatoyo, we offer menus that allow you to enjoy authentic eel, carefully grilled using the "traditional Kansai-style direct grilling" method, in a more accessible way. Main price range: 3,190 yen to 8,250 yen.

Classic Item: Unaju Sakura (One whole eel / Includes clear soup, pickles, dessert)

Generous Portion, Very Popular: Ran Gozen (One and a half eels / Includes unaju, uzaku, umaki, liver soup, pickles, dessert)

Unatoyo Gozen – Enjoy both Kabayaki and Shirayaki (One eel / Includes unaju (half eel), shirayaki (half eel), uzaku, umaki, liver soup, pickles, dessert)

The aromatic eel grilled over carefully selected binchotan charcoal and the sauce-infused rice intertwine perfectly, creating a flavor that makes your chopsticks keep moving.

■ Aiming to Be a Unagi Specialty Store Loved by the Community

With this 7th location in Matsui Yamate, Unatoyo aims to be an eel specialty store where local people can stop by with family, friends, or for important gatherings, under the concept of "authentic eel in a relaxing space."

The Matsui Yamate store has 47 seats, providing a space where customers can enjoy a relaxed meal in various settings, from family dinners to gatherings with friends or local community events.

The interior has a modern Japanese, calm atmosphere with spacious seating suitable for entertaining guests, allowing families and friends to spend enjoyable time together.

The shared facility parking lot can accommodate 22 vehicles. *Shared parking with other stores.

■ Store Overview

Name: Unagiya Unatoyo Matsui Yamate Store

Address: 〒614-8297
31-5 Kinmeidai Nishi, Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture

Phone: 075-950-5599

Parking: 22 spaces available *Shared facility parking.

Number of Seats: 47

Price Range: 3,190 yen to 8,250 yen

Business Hours: Lunch 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM)
Dinner 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Last Order 7:00 PM)

URL: https://unatoyo.hope-japan.jp/

■ Media Contact

HOPE Co., Ltd.
Public Relations: Shiraishi

Email: human@hope-japan.jp

URL: https://unatoyo.hope-japan.jp/

*We also accept inquiries for interviews, photography, and food sampling.

■ About HOPE Co., Ltd.

HOPE Co., Ltd. is a company that plans and operates restaurants under the philosophy of "delivering happiness to people through food." We develop restaurant brands primarily in the Kansai region and are loved by local communities.