Unagi Don
Unagi Don is a beloved Japanese rice bowl dish featuring tender, grilled freshwater eel (unagi) glazed with a sweet and savory sauce, served over a bed of steamed white rice. The eel is typically filleted, skewered, and grilled over charcoal (a style known as kabayaki), then placed atop the rice and often finished with a sprinkle of sansho pepper. It is a classic summer dish in Japan, particularly associated with the midsummer Day of the Ox (Doyo no Ushi no Hi).
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Unagi Don is a protein-rich dish, with the eel providing a good source of high-quality protein and healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. The rice contributes significant carbohydrates, making it a balanced, energy-dense meal with a rough calorie range of 600–800 per serving depending on portion size and sauce sweetness.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 590 kcal |
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbs | 72 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 980 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 18 µg |
| Vitamin D | 14 µg |
| Vitamin A | 450 µg RAE |
| Niacin (B3) | 9 mg |
| Phosphorus | 320 mg |
| Selenium | 38 µg |
| Zinc | 4.5 mg |
| Iron | 3.2 mg |
Per 1 bowl (350 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, eating unagi during the hottest days of summer is a Japanese tradition believed to provide stamina and combat fatigue. Nutritionally, unagi is one of the few freshwater fish that is notably high in vitamins A, B1, and B12, as well as omega-3s, making it a nutrient-dense choice beyond its delicious flavor.
