It's been a while since my last visit to Asaya.I was really looking forward to coming today since quite some time has passed since my last visit.The season seems promising for natural eel as well.Asaya is a rare restaurant that serves dishes made entirely with eel, except for the dessert, in a way that you can't find anywhere else. The fact that everything is eel is definitely a highlight.You can enjoy various types of eel from different regions all at once, which is another point of interest here.Of course, they also serve the classic grilled eel and eel boxes, using a mix of steaming, half-steaming, and grilling techniques.The grilling is done over charcoal, of course.● Today's Eel- Himuka Yamamichi (new catch)- Lake Biwa (northeast)- Kasumigaura (north lake)- Amakusa- Ogawara Lake- Tomosui- Moritoku Shoten (Tokushima)▶︎ Today's Dishes⚪︎ SoupA beautiful broth made with clams and eel.The clams are quite strong, and there’s no off-flavor from the eel.Both the eggplant and eel were fluffy.The eel came from Moritoku Shoten, and it seems they used Isoflavones.⚪︎ TempuraThe eel is from Yamamichi!I was happy to have Yamamichi again after a long time.This Yamamichi also seems to be Isoflavone.The contrast between the crispy batter and the fluffy eel was wonderful, resulting in a juicy finish.Even though it was just fried, I thought the balance was excellent.You can really feel the care in how they season each part differently.I was looking forward to Yamamichi, but it didn’t quite have the flavor I expected.⚪︎ SashimiThe eel is from Tomosui.With each bite, you can taste the umami and delicious fat.Today, the flavor of the eel was quite strong, and it was even more delicious than usual.I think today’s Tomosui has great potential! Haha.⚪︎ Grilled LiverServed with turnip, asparagus, meijin potatoes, and Nara pickles.The liver was quite large.⚪︎ Eel RollThe eel is from Moritoku Yōman.The corn sauce was sweet.I thought they were rolling it today, and then it all made sense! Haha.⚪︎ Inro-yakiThe eel is from Ogawara Lake.It was a large piece, about two portions.It looked nicely grilled and crispy on the outside, with a thin, crunchy skin that was delicious.The flesh was fluffy and firm, with a subtle umami and aroma.The grilling was done with great skill, creating a wonderful contrast between the skin and the flesh.⚪︎ UzakuGrilled tenderloin and tail served fresh.⚪︎ TatakiThe eel is from Tomosui.This was my first time having it at Asaya, and it was quite delicious!The skin was grilled directly over charcoal, while the flesh was lightly cooked with straw.Even with minimal cooking, it retained a nice texture, while the skin was crispy, and the aromas of charcoal and straw were delightful.It was quite interesting and left a lasting impression.⚪︎ Eel Peking DuckThe eel is from Moritoku Shoten.The skin was chewy, and the eel had a nice crispness, with a flavor profile reminiscent of strong Peking duck.⚪︎ White Grilled EelFrom Lake Biwa, Kasumigaura, and Amakusa.Lake Biwa had plenty of fat but a milder umami.There was a hint of the lake's aroma.The skin was crispy and fragrant.It seems that Lake Biwa is indeed better from the lower part! Haha.Kasumigaura had a good amount of fat, but even more umami and sweetness.There were no strange odors, and it was delicious.This year’s Kasumigaura seems promising!Amakusa had a slightly firmer texture.⚪︎ Eel BoxSteamed Tomosui and grilled Yamamichi.The steamed Tomosui was incredibly delicious.It melted in my mouth, spreading a rich umami and aroma.The skin was smooth, and the sauce was lighter than it looked.I really love Asaya's steamed eel kabayaki!Yamamichi was a bit off this time.I mentioned it directly to Mr. Ogiwara, but the skin was undercooked and a bit mushy.The small bones were also somewhat noticeable.The sauce seemed to be adjusted to match the grilled eel, giving it a sharp impression, which I thought was good.He had mentioned before that they changed the sauce a bit, and it was on the sweeter side, with a good balance and refined flavor. I think it’s a delicious sauce.I had the rice in a large portion, and I even got some crispy rice on the side! Haha.⚪︎ Mizu YokanThis was delicious as always.As always, it was delicious.The portions of each eel were small, and I honestly felt a bit unsatisfied not being able to fully enjoy each individual piece, but there’s no other restaurant that offers such a variety of eel dishes.The variety of dishes has evolved, and I’m looking forward to my next visit! Haha.I was very satisfied today!Thank you for the delicious dishes.I look forward to visiting again.I can’t wait for the next time! Haha.Thank you for the meal!
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