I have always loved eating a massive bowl of grilled eel, but let us be entirely honest with ourselves for a second. Eating premium japanese unagi in the city usually costs an absolute fortune. I was walking down a busy street right in the middle of the CBD last Tuesday, craving something rich and deeply flavourful for lunch. I was not in the mood for a sad salad, but I also did not want to spend fifty dollars on a single meal.
A coworker recently told me about Unatoto Singapore, a wildly famous unagi restaurant that offers authentic flavours without the usual ridiculous price tags. I knew this brand originated in Japan and had already expanded to places like Thailand and Vietnam. I decided it was finally time to see if the hype surrounding their local branch was actually justified.
I arrived with an empty stomach and fairly high expectations. I wanted to know if this popular Japanese eatery could really deliver high-quality grilled unagi at fast food prices. I am happy to report that my lunch was full of pleasant surprises, along with a few minor bumps along the way.
Atmosphere and First Impressions
I visited Unatoto Guoco Tower, hoping to beat the infamous CBD lunch crowd. Unatoto is located straight in the basement of Guoco Tower, which makes it incredibly easy to find. The moment I stepped off the escalator near Tanjong Pagar MRT station, I could already smell the distinct, sweet aroma of caramelized soy sauce.
The line of hungry diners was already starting to snake around the corner. I had to wait for about fifteen minutes before I could secure a table. The AC was quite strong near the entrance entrance (so I definitely needed my jacket to survive the wait). Once inside, the vibe is extremely casual and fast-paced, completely shedding any stiff, formal restaurant expectations.
The dining room is decorated with simple wooden furniture and bright paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It is relatively compact, making it perfectly designed for solo diners or small groups rather than massive family gatherings. It feels exactly like a busy, functional eatery you would stumble into while wandering the streets of Tokyo. The energy is loud and purposeful, with staff constantly rushing bowls of hot food out of the kitchen.
Diving Into the Menu: Food Descriptions
The menu here is incredibly focused, putting grilled eel front and center. I was starving, so I decided to order a few different dishes to really get a sense of what the kitchen could do. The prices are shockingly affordable compared to almost any other unagi don spot in Singapore.
The Signature Unadon Double ($14.50)
I had to start with their absolute best-seller, the Unadon Double. For under fifteen dollars, you get two slabs of thick, beautifully glazed eel resting on a warm bed of pearl rice. The moment the bowl was served, the smoky scent from the charcoal fire hit me instantly.
The unagi meat was incredibly tender and yielded easily to my chopsticks. The sweet and savoury tare sauce was generously painted over the slabs, creating a slightly sticky, caramelized crust on the edges. Unlike some cheaper places where the fish tastes muddy, this eel was surprisingly clean and fresh. The rice soaked up all the extra juices and sauces perfectly, making every single bite deeply satisfying.
The Hitsumabushi Experience ($13.50)
I also wanted to try their Nagoya-style bowl, which they proudly market as the cheapest hitsumabushi you can find in the country. This meal is traditionally eaten in three distinct stages, and the restaurant provides a small card to guide first-timers. I started by eating the eel and rice plain to appreciate the raw flavour.
Next, I mixed in the provided condiments, which included fresh spring onions and sharp wasabi. This added a wonderful, spicy bite that cut right through the richness of the eel. Finally, I poured the hot dashi broth over the remaining rice. The clear broth was delicate and soothing, turning the last third of the bowl into a comforting, soupy porridge that was incredibly easy to eat.
Exploring Beyond Classic Grilled Eel
Because I am greedy, I could not resist trying the Unagi Tempura Don ($15.00). I was very curious to see how fried unagi would compare to the classic grilled version. The unagi tempura featured a surprisingly light, crispy batter that shattered nicely, giving way to the soft meat inside.
While it was tasty, I still prefer the deep, smoky char of the traditional grilled eel. If you have a friend who does not eat seafood, they also offer a very decent Teriyaki Chicken Don ($9.50). The chicken was juicy and coated in a sweet glaze, proving that the kitchen can handle other meats well. They even serve bowls of hot soba if you want to skip the rice entirely.
Appetisers and Comforting Sides
To balance out all the heavy carbs, I ordered a few simple appetisers to share:
The chilled tofu ($3.00) was cold and refreshing, topped with a dash of soy sauce and bonito flakes.
We also grabbed a bowl of edamame ($2.50) and a side of crunchy pickled vegetables ($2.00) to act as palate cleansers between the rich bites of unagi.
If you want a little more protein, I highly recommend adding a perfectly gooey onsen egg ($1.50) to mix into your rice. I also decided to try the unagi liver soup ($3.50), which was an interesting experience. It had a slightly bitter, iron-rich flavour that might not appeal to everyone.
If you want a safer soup option, their standard red miso soup ($2.00) is deeply savoury and very comforting.
The Service Experience
The service at Unatoto Singapore is built entirely for speed and efficiency. Ordering is completely digital through a QR code placed on every table, which minimizes the need to flag down busy staff. You basically sit down, scan your code, and the food arrives within ten minutes.
The staff were polite and moved with incredible urgency, which is exactly what you want during a chaotic CBD lunch hour. However, I have to be honest about a few downsides. Because they are rushing to feed so many customers, the presentation can sometimes be a little sloppy. My mini salad arrived halfway through my meal instead of at the beginning.
There was also a moment where we had to remind a server about a missing drink order. They apologized quickly and brought it right over, but it is clear that the system gets a little strained when the restaurant is fully packed. If you go in expecting a highly attentive, slow-paced dining experience, you will definitely be disappointed.
Practical Information: Booking, Pricing, and Timing
When it comes to value for money, this place is nearly impossible to beat. My Unadon Double and a few sides cost me around twenty dollars total. If you wanted to splurge on their massive Unajyu Premium bowl, it would only set you back about twenty-five dollars. You are getting half the price of a typical high-end unagi meal without sacrificing much flavour.
Unatoto is located at 7 Wallich Street, right inside the bustling Guoco Tower. Finding it is a breeze if you take the train, as the basement level connects directly to Tanjong Pagar MRT station. The opening hours are incredibly convenient, running from 11:00 am all the way to 10:00 pm daily.
They do not take reservations for lunch, so you are entirely at the mercy of the walk-in line. If you want to avoid the massive crowds of office workers, I highly recommend arriving before 11:30 am or waiting until after 1:30 pm. Visiting on a quiet Sunday afternoon is also a brilliant hack if you want to secure seats without any waiting time at all.
Final Verdict: Who Should Visit?
Unatoto Guoco Tower delivers exactly what it promises. It provides hearty, affordable, and incredibly flavourful unagi bowls in a highly convenient location. The sweet, smoky flavors of their signature dishes genuinely punch way above their humble price point.
This restaurant is best suited for hungry office workers, solo diners, and anyone craving a fast, satisfying Japanese meal in the city center. It is the perfect place for a quick lunch date or a casual dinner with a friend. You get to enjoy thick, caramelized slabs of eel without worrying about an astronomical bill at the end of the night.
I would suggest steering clear if you are looking for a quiet, romantic evening or a premium omakase experience. The lighting is bright, the tables are close together, and you are expected to eat your food and leave fairly quickly. But if you just want a genuinely great bowl of rice and fish under the sun, this is the spot for you.
If you enjoyed reading this honest review and want to discover more hidden food gems around our city, you should absolutely check out SG Dining Guide for more similar articles to read. We are always hitting the streets to find the best deals and the tastiest plates just for you!
