A whole grilled eel at a Japanese supermarket costs ¥1,000. Add a 20% discount sticker, and suddenly it is ¥800.
Yet a restaurant's unaju—grilled eel served over rice in a box—might cost ¥2,000, ¥3,000 or more. Did someone forget to charge for the cooking?
No. Packaged kabayaki, eel grilled with a sweet-and-savory sauce, is generally already cooked. Follow the heating instructions and put it on rice, and you have a homemade eel rice bowl. At a restaurant, you are paying for more than the eel.
Can I microwave supermarket eel?
Often, yes. Check whether it is chilled or frozen and follow the instructions on the pack.
There is one catch: eel that can be microwaved does not mean the plastic packet can be microwaved. Unless the packaging specifically permits it, transfer the eel to a microwave-safe plate. A little water and a loose cover can help keep it moist. A short finish in a suitable oven can add some surface crispness.
Check the use-by date as well. An exciting discount should not turn dinner into an emergency deadline.
Why is restaurant eel so expensive?
Supermarkets can sell eel cooked, packed and shipped in bulk. Its size, where it was raised or processed, and the time of year affect the price.
Japan imports much of the eel it consumes. Official data for 2024 show roughly 45,000 tonnes imported out of about 61,000 tonnes supplied. In 2026, some stores reported lower prices than a year earlier, partly following larger catches of young eel in 2025.
A restaurant pays for the cook's skill, freshly grilled skin, sauce, rice, service and a place to sit. The discount sticker can cut the price of the packet. It cannot give the chef and the landlord 20% off.
That does not mean every expensive eel dish tastes better than every cheap one. Taste still has to prove itself.
Is one eel the same as one restaurant serving?
Not necessarily. Japanese menu labels such as regular, upper grade and premium do not follow a nationwide portion standard.
Some restaurants use half an eel for a regular meal and a whole eel for a pricier one. Others use different amounts.
So compare how much eel you actually get, not just the name of the meal. One whole eel can also be much smaller than another. If weight is listed, calculate the price per 100 grams. Origin, sauce, rice and side dishes matter, too.
Through the plastic, an eel can look spectacular. The scales are less easily impressed.
So is ¥800 a bargain?
If you want a generous helping of eel at home and can eat it by the stated date, it can be a great find. Reheat it as directed, serve with rice, and count the rice and extras separately.
If you want freshly grilled skin and the pleasure of eating in a restaurant, the higher price buys a different experience.
The question is simple: Do you want a whole eel for dinner, or a restaurant dinner centered on eel?
If the ¥800 pack tastes good to you, an occasional luxury might become the best surprise in the supermarket discount section.
