Maruya Honten

Proper hitsumabushi before security checks and boarding in T1

In Terminal T1, Maruya Honten runs 10:00–21:30 (last order 21:00) and serves real Nagoya-style hitsumabushi, not generic eel-over-rice. This is one of the few places in Centrair where you can get a full grilled-eel set with the three-step hitsumabushi ritual before your flight. Expect a midrange bill: figure about $$ per person, similar to a sit-down meal in the city but a bit higher for the same amount of unagi.

The move here is the Deluxe Hitsumabushi, their signature set. You get chopped charcoal-grilled eel over rice, a small broth pot, condiments, and instructions on how to eat it in stages. Reviews consistently put the quality close to downtown Nagoya spots in Sakae, with several saying it’s “as good as” what they had in the city. If you just need something quick under 20 minutes, this isn’t it; plan on at least 30–40 minutes for a relaxed sit-down meal from ordering to paying.

Menu focus is tight: hitsumabushi variations, some side dishes, and drinks, not a long catalog of random Japanese plates. Rating sits around 4.5 stars online, and one Google reviewer calls it “the real deal” for airport unagi versus the usual donburi stands. Prices run higher than typical food court sets: think in the ¥3,000–¥4,000 range for the Deluxe Hitsumabushi compared with cheaper options downstairs.

Watch out for: several reviews point out that the portions here match what you’d see at downtown unagi shops, but the check is noticeably higher because it’s inside NGO. If you’re sensitive to price, check the menu board at the entrance before you sit; it has clear yen prices and photos of each set.

Practical tip: hit Maruya Honten in T1 before the 12:00–14:00 or 18:00–20:00 rush, and give yourself a 45-minute buffer from seating to gate if you’re on an international departure.