The legion of unagi fans out there are in for a treat. Una Una, the most affordable charcoal-grilled Unagi Hitsumabushi in Singapore, has opened in Bugis+.
Hitsumabushi is Nagoya’s style of cooking freshwater eel. The eel is grilled, chopped, layered on bowl of Hokkaido rice, and served with an array of condiments.
Una Una allows you to enjoy this regional specialty for only $9.80++. For such a luxe dish, this is a steal. If you are a real unagi fan, you know how expensive it can be.
Over at Una Una, you will be blissfully surrounded with unagi in different forms, from Hitsumabushi to Unaju (unagi bento box), Gozen (set meals), unagi sushi rolls, and unagi kabayaki (grilled) sets.
This unagi specialty restaurant also offers other menu items sans unagi to please all Japanese food aficionados. Here are some of the recommended must-tries when you visit Una Una:
Unagi Hitsumabushi ($9.80 for small, $14.80 for regular, $19.80 for double)
This dish traces its origins from West Central of Japan. It starts with fresh unagi slathered with a special in-house sweet and savoury basting tare made of shoyu, mirin, and sugar.
Flown in from Japan, this unagi sauce is as authentic as it can be.
The fish is then grilled over temperature-controlled charcoals, twice. This double-dipping technique for about 10 minutes creates a winning texture – glisteningly crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
An order of Hitsumabushi comes with soup, dashi, pickles, and condiments like nori, wasabi, and spring onions.
(You may be curious at the difference in portion between the $9.80 and $14.80 bowls. Above pictured is the regular bowl, while the three photos that follows are the most affordable option – still quite sizable.)
Eat it as is or explore 3 other ways of enjoying this dish.
First, divide the bowl into 4 portions. Start off by savouring the first portion on its own. This is when you relish the unagi’s depth of flavour from precision grilling. Next, add condiments like wasabi and green onions to the second portion.
This gives you a totally different taste profile. For the third portion, add dashi and transform it into an ochazuke fare.
The last portion is where you freestyle your way to whatever your fancy.
Unaju ($19.80 for regular, $29.80 for double)
Another way to savour unagi is through the Unaju in a bento box.
This Tokyo-style dish comes with dashi, pickles, and a serving of chawanmushi. You will also get more rice here compared to the serving in hitsumabushi.
Notice that the unagi is prepared differently. Though it is still grilled over charcoals under strict temperature control, the cooking time is only six to eight minutes.
This shortened grilling method yields a softer, more delicately textured eel.
For hard-core unagi fans, get the double which gives you twice the amount of eel.
Unagi Poke Rice Bowl ($14.80) or Salmon Poke Rice Bowl ($11.80)
Get your sashimi maze don fix by trying out any of their 6 poke rice bowls. These include Aburi Salmon ($12.80), Spicy Maguro ($13.80), Beef Shabu ($12.80) and Chicken Teriyaki ($9.80).
Highly recommended for unagi lovers is the Unagi Poke Rice Bowl ($14.80), a colourful mix of grilled eel, edamame, young corn, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, nori, assorted greens, and other toppings.
But if you prefer another type of fish, go for the Salmon Poke Rice Bowl ($11.80) or the torched Aburi Salmon Poke Rice Bowl ($12.80). You get the same medley of toppings to mix along with your creamy salmon cubes.
Choose from any of their 4 poke bowl dressings: wafu, spicy, goma, and wasabi.
Unagi Omelette ($9.80 for three pieces)
Recommended as an appetizer, the Unagi Omelette can also be quick breakfast or a light snack.
An order comes with three pieces, each one filled with grilled unagi under many egg layers.
Bite into its custard-like texture, made possible with the inclusion of a light dashi. This special dashi is prepared in-house with kombu and bonito and adds a layer of flavour to the egg mix.
California Roll ($9.80) or Unagi Roll ($15.80)
Looking for some Japanese sushi to share? Una Una offers a selection of rolls to choose from.
Highly recommended is the Unagi Roll, filled with avocado, crab stick, and unagi slices. It is not complete with a drizzling of their special in-house unagi tare.
But if you want to take a quick break from the unagi madness, try a classic California roll – an all-time favourite.
Also available are the Philadelphia Roll ($12.80), Spicy Tuna Roll ($9.80) and Shichifuku Roll ($15.80) included with 7 different ingredients.
Salmon Yonshu Mori ($28.80 for four kinds)
Complete your Japanese meal with a visually stunning boat platter of sashimi.
The Salmon Yonshu Mori ($28.80) is loaded with four different cuts of salmon – salmon harasu (belly), aburi salmon, sake, and salmon roes.
A perfect way to indulge your sashimi craving, even up to 10pm.
Your wallet won’t cry at their extremely affordable prizes, so go ahead and load up with their appetisers, sashimi, salad, grilled items and sashimi maze don.
Una Una
201 Victoria St, #04-10, Singapore 188067
Tel: +65 6238 1011
Opening hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat, Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/unaunasg
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Una Una.