How could you come to Nagoya and miss hitsumabushi?
This time I visited Maruya Honten, about a 5-minute walk from Nagoya Station, and the aroma of charcoal-grilled eel hit me as soon as I walked in.
Their signature hitsumabushi was seriously amazing. For the first serving, you enjoy the simple, original flavor of the eel and rice. The eel skin was lightly charred and fragrant, while the meat was tender and delicate. I didn’t notice any bones at all, and the texture was super pleasant.
For the second serving, you add seasonings for a more layered flavor. Finally, you pour in the broth to make it like ochazuke. It was warm, smooth, and comforting, with a different surprise in every bite.
What impressed me most was how carefully the eel was prepared. There was none of that bony feeling I had imagined, so even people who are usually nervous about fish bones can dig in with confidence. Paired with the sweet-savory sauce and chewy rice, it was impossible to stop eating!
If you’re making a must-eat list for Nagoya, hitsumabushi absolutely needs to be on it. This meal was totally worth it!
Maruya Honten Meieki 3-chome | Review by 王小鈞
Other Reviews by 王小鈞
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Canal City Hakata
On the vast 43,500m² premises, a shopping mall, movie complex, theater, amusement park and two hotels cluster. Its symbol, a 180m-long canal, crosses along the center of the space lined with colorful buildings.
Canal City Hakata is seriously fun to explore. It’s the kind of place where you plan to stay for an hour, then somehow end up spending half the day there.
Shopping, food, cafés, and hotels are all in one place, so when you get tired, you can just sit down and take a break somewhere. What surprised me most was the fountain show on the first floor. With the music, the atmosphere was awesome. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s relaxing just to sit nearby and zone out while watching the fountains.
If you’re in Fukuoka and don’t know where to go, you really can’t go wrong here. Eat, shop, and take tons of photos all in one stop! -
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YAMAMOTOYA SOHONKE Honke（Main store）
A long-established store of Nagoya's famous "Miso Nikomi Udon" made by simmering noodles in Mame Miso （soybean red miso） based broth. It is combined with white miso which is blended with "Kakukyu Hatcho Miso" from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture.
Nagoya has so many must-try foods, but if I had to pick just one, I’d definitely vote for the miso nikomi udon at Yamamotoya Sohonke!
It arrives still bubbling hot in a clay pot, and the rich miso aroma hits you right away. The broth, made with Hatcho miso blended with white miso, is deeply savory without being overly salty. The more you sip, the better it gets. The udon was the biggest surprise: super chewy and springy, totally different from the usual udon. Every bite has real presence, and it’s seriously addictive.
Locals even use the clay pot lid as a small plate to cool the noodles while eating, which feels like such an authentic Japanese way to enjoy it! And this miso broth with white rice is a perfect match. I highly recommend adding a bowl of rice. You’ll leave completely satisfied. -
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Yabaton Yaba-cho Main store
It is a famous store of Nagoya's well known "Miso-katsu" founded in 1947. The Tonkatsu is covered with sauce made from naturally brewed bean miso from Aichi prefecture that has been aged for a year and a half.
When you come to Nagoya, you definitely can’t miss the super popular miso katsu spot, Yabaton Yaba-cho Main Store.
Their signature pork cutlet is topped with a special miso sauce that’s rich but not too heavy. It has the aroma of naturally brewed miso and pairs perfectly with the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside cutlet.
I thought the miso sauce would be really salty, but it was actually sweet, smooth, and so easy to keep eating. With white rice, it’s almost dangerously good! If you want to try local Nagoya food, this place absolutely belongs on your must-visit list. -
