[Review] Michelin-selected Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa Opens Second Outlet with a Show-Stopping Unagi Mountain

When a restaurant stakes its entire reputation on a single ingredient, it had better get that ingredient right. Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa, a MICHELIN-selected name from Nagoya with roots stretching back to a 1932 eel wholesaler, has built a global following of 50 outlets on exactly that premise. Its second Singapore restaurant at Raffles City Singapore, opened in partnership with the Les Amis Group, brings that singular focus to the heart of the CBD.

The 84-seat space at B1 is clean and contemporary, with warm wood tones and a live-grilling station that lets you watch the binchotan charcoal do its work.

It is a setting that feels equally suited to a business lunch or a relaxed dinner, which explains its location in a mall that already houses NamNam and Mui Kee under the same group umbrella.

The menu keeps things tight, featuring a few established sets and one new, outlet-exclusive creation that has been drawing the crowds since its launch.

That creation is the Unagi Mountain (S$88++), and the name is not an exercise in understatement.

Two whole kabayaki unagi are stacked in a tower-like formation over a bed of warm rice. It is a dramatic centrepiece designed for sharing and comfortably feeds two, perhaps even three if you are pacing yourselves.

The eel itself is grilled to order over binchotan, yielding a lightly crisp, caramelised exterior that gives way to soft, succulent flesh.

The house tare sauce, a closely guarded recipe passed down through generations, delivers a sweet-savoury glaze that enhances the natural flavour of the eel.

Beneath it all, the Uonuma Koshihikari rice from Niigata Prefecture quietly does its job, soaking up the tare and the eel’s juices until leaving a single grain behind feels like a sin. It is unapologetically indulgent, and at this price, it should be.

A more interactive option is the Hitsumabushi Set (S$37++), a Nagoya specialty that turns a single bowl into a three-part ritual.

You start with the grilled eel and rice on their own, appreciating the smoky depth of the binchotan char. Then you add the accompanying wasabi, seaweed, and spring onion for a brighter, more textured second act.

Finally, you pour the warm dashi broth over what remains to create ochazuke, a comforting, savoury finish that ties the whole experience together.

It is a different way to enjoy unagi, and the eel somehow tastes even crispier when sliced this way, with its charred edges contrasting nicely with the soft rice.

Overall, the craftsmanship is evident, the eel is a cut above the standard bento offerings, even though the prices are on the higher side. For unagi lovers, the quality of the live eel, the precision of the grilling, and the depth of the tare sauce make it a worthwhile splurge.

The Raffles City outlet adds a convenient CBD location to the brand’s existing Shaw Centre presence, and the limited-time Unagi Mountain gives even seasoned fans a reason to make the trip before it is taken off the menu.

Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa (Raffles City)

Address:
252 North Bridge Road,
#B1-75, Singapore 179103

Opening Hours:
Open daily from 11:30 to 22:00
Last order at 21:00

Contact: 
[email protected]
+65 8998 3687

Man Man Unagi Clarke Quay Review: Singapore’s Famous Charcoal Grilled Eel Still Delivers