The Japanese word Unagi (鰻) means freshwater eel. However, when somebody is talking about unagi, he or she will most likely refer to the extremely famous and popular Japanese dish that is made out of those eels: let’s take a closer look at Unagi. 

Unagi is served as part of unadon, a bowl dish with sliced eel served on a bed of rice. A kind of sweet biscuit called unagi pie made with powdered unagi also exists. Unagi is high in protein and calcium.

Specialist unagi restaurants are common in Japan. The Hamana lake in Shizuoka is considered to be the home of the highest quality unagi; as a result, the lake is surrounded by many small restaurants specializing in various unagi dishes. Unagi is often eaten during the hot summers in Japan, there is even a special day for eating unagi.

Most Unagi restaurants have the word “unagi” spelled in hiragana in front of the shop (うなぎ). Keep your eyes open and you’ll definitely get the chance to enjoy some Japanese freshwater eel!