Lotteria releases an unadon eel rice bowl burger in Japan for a limited time
On July 16, Lotteria launched a wild, limited-time menu item to mark Doyo no Ushi no Hi, Japan's Midsummer Day of the Ox, on July 17. People traditionally eat eel or 'unagi' on this day for stamina to help combat the hottest period of summer, and Lotteria has taken that tradition to the next level by releasing a burger that contains more than just unagi — it contains unadon.
For those who are new to the dish, unadon, or 'eel rice bowl," is essentially a bowl of rice with a seasoned grilled eel topping. According to Lotteria, their new 'Unadon Burger' contains grilled eel, a 100-percent domestically sourced rice patty, and shredded omelet as the main ingredients, all sandwiched between fluffy, chewy buns.
▼ On the bottom right you can see the official name of the menu item in English: 'Teriyaki Eel Rice Bowl Burger'
With the chain describing it as a burger that truly recreates 'unadon', we couldn't resist trying it to see if it really lives up to this claim. So we dashed out to our closest branch of Lotteria, which is actually a Zetteria, and purchased one for 990 yen.
In our eagerness, we arrived early in the morning, so even the staff behind the counter seemed surprised when we requested the Unadon Burger during breakfast hours. However, after taking a seat, our Unadon Burger was ready in less than 10 minutes, and when we unwrapped it for a first look, we could see the eel was so large it looked to be spilling out from the buns.
Lifting the top bun for a closer inspection, we saw there was no sense of stinginess, with mayonnaise and a gooey, sticky teriyaki sauce generously dolloped on top of the well-seasoned eel.
Beneath it all was a rice burger patty acting as the bed of rice in this unusual rice bowl, giving us two layers of carbs on the bottom.
Taking a bite, we silently applauded the rice patty addition, as it worked beautifully to soak up the sauce in each mouthful and spread it throughout the palate in a way that was much more satisfying than a bun on its own. We couldn't deny that the eel was less than a typical beef patty, but in a way that makes it perfect for a hot summer's day.
Each component has been carefully designed to create a harmonious balance between ingredients, and if you're a newcomer to eel, you'll be happy to know that the sauce takes centre stage, covering a lot of the eel's flavor in a way that's evocative of an eel rice bowl. In that sense, the new menu item really does deliver the taste of unadon in burger form, but it's only being made in limited numbers so you'll want to get in quick to try it while stocks are available.
Photos ©SoraNews24
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Super expensive sushi restaurant super cheap beef bowl chain team up to create Unagyu Burger
-- Sure eel flavored potato chips are great, but here's a recipe that'll make them even better!
-- Does eel ramen really taste like eel?
External Link
https://soranews24.com/2025/07/17/lotteria-releases-an-unadon-eel-bowl-burger-in-japan-for-a-limited-time/
© SoraNews24
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
14 hours ago
Streaming Videos Mix Sumō Tradition with Modernity
As heaping plates of noodles with dipping broth are brought to the table, a group of sumō wrestlers shout out in unison: 'Gotchan desu!' This sumo-specific take on the standard dining phrase gochisō sama desu is their signal to dig in at once, commenting appreciatively on the broth's rich seafood flavor and exclaiming 'Mmmm, great!' as they eat. They also tuck into plates of deep-fried chicken served as a side dish. These are scenes from a Futagoyama stable YouTube video, which has been viewed over 10 million times. It shows 11 rikishi and their oyakata , the 'stablemaster,' or head coach, settling in on the second floor of a Mita Seimenjo noodle restaurant booked for the occasion. They start off by ordering two bowls each, tsukemen dipping noodles with 'the works' and egg-topped noodles, along with karaage fried chicken. To finish off, they add extra servings of noodles with sea bream dipping broth. The rikishi have reserved the entire second floor of the shop. (Courtesy of Futagoyama stable.) Three years ago, the Futagoyama stable inaugurated its Futagoyama Stable Sumō Food YouTube channel, which has by now aired nearly 270 episodes including 'Sumō Life,' ' Rikishi Free Time,' and many more. Some videos, such as 'Morning Practice Uncut,' give an unadorned view of daily rikishi life; the channel now has around 490,000 subscribers, the most of all the sumō channels. The videos, which can be captioned in English, have attracted many viewers outside of Japan too. All told, views now exceed 200 million. Living the Stable Life As has long been the tradition, wrestlers live under the same roof as the stablemaster and his family and eat meals together as they devote their days to practice. Videos show the daily routine at a sumō stable as young newcomers spar with their seniors and everyone vies to hone their skills. The Futagoyama stable's morning practice, complete and unedited on YouTube. (Courtesy Futagoyama stable) There are misconceptions that life in a sumō stable is governed by strict rules, so Stablemaster Futagoyama (the former ōzeki Miyabiyama) believes that videos showing the daily routine can help communicate the attractive aspects of sumō. As to why the videos show so many meal scenes, he explains that this is to emphasize the stable's teaching that rikishi should eat every morsel they are served, right down to the last grain of rice in their bowls. The Japan Sumō Association Goes Online Training hard is the only path to becoming an accomplished rikishi . Sumō practice sessions continue to be as demanding as they have always been. But the sumō world, battered by match-fixing allegations, a fatal physical assault, and other scandals some years ago, has changed considerably. Gone are the days when seniors demanded unreasonable deference from their juniors and coaching sometimes involved physical violence. The inner workings of sumō stables have become more visible, and the Futagoyama stable's videos show how things are changing. The Japan Sumō Association operates an official YouTube outlet, the Oyakata Channel, with over 600 videos now available. The channel streams live commentaries on the bouts during tournaments and airs episodes where retired rikishi , now oyakata elders, reminisce about their younger days in the ring, or currently active rikishi laugh as they compete in measurements of their muscular strength. Coaching Technical Skills The Tamanoi stable headed by former ōzeki Tochiazuma, known for his technical excellence in his grappling days, has its own channel as well. Popular content there is a series of videos featuring Tamanoi's demonstrations to his stable's young fighters of the mawashi no kirikata , or how to break the opponent's grip on the fighter's belt; ottsuke , trapping the opponent's attacking arm and applying leverage to push him backward; and kaina no kaeshite , going in deep with the shoulder and a forearm twist into the opponent's ribs. Tamanoi (the former Tochiazuma), at right, demonstrating a sumō technique. (Courtesy Tamanoi stable) Tamanoi says: 'Few rikishi these days use skills like breaking the opponent's grip on their mawashi , so I thought video would be ideal for passing on the technical skills people like me acquired in our early days in the sport.' He also hopes that young sumō practitioners all over the world will get useful hints from these videos. 'I'm not going to lie. This is tough training,' Tamanoi explains. (Courtesy Tamanoi stable) In sumō, victories are clear. As a result, there are not so many spectators engaging in detailed discussions of technique, but being able to distinguish the finer points can double enjoyment of the sport. Tamanoi is pleased at the effect his videos have had, with enthusiasts commenting that this visual information has deepened their understanding and appreciation of sumō. Maintaining Decorum Sumō videos are having a revitalizing effect, but rules are in place to ensure that their content upholds the traditions and prestige of the sport. In April 2025, the JSA distributed YouTube channel management guidelines to all its stables. The stables can create their own videos, but only for the purpose of attracting new recruits; rikishi are not allowed to make personal social media content. Content must uphold the culture of sumō and the dignity of the rikishi , meaning, in effect, no 'big eater' contests, no exaggerated sound effects, no pranks, and so forth. Breaching these rules can lead to a JSA ban on all social media activities of the offending stable. No problematic videos have surfaced up to now, so the guidelines seem to be working. Furthermore, in June 2025, the JSA assembled 900 or so oyakata and rikishi at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan for a seminar on social media use. Following an address by Hakkaku, JSA chair and former yokozuna Hokutoumi, experts in the field spoke about the risks of social media use. Originating approximately 600 years ago as wrestling matches held to raise money for temples and shrines, sumō in its present form has existed for more than two and a half centuries, since rules were codified in 1757. Having overcome two major crises—at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate in the 1860s and immediately after World War II—sumō culture continues today with chonmage topknot-wearing rikishi . The social media guidelines promulgated by the JSA demonstrate its embrace of the sport's long tradition alongside its willingness to take advantage of the media of the digital era. JSA chair Hakkaku addresses the audience on May 25, the final day of this year's May tournament, at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan. (© Jiji) Attracting New Recruits Online The JSA recognizes today's new media as a potent recruiting tool. Sold-out grand tournaments, thanks to demand from inbound visitors, would seem to indicate that sumō is on solid ground. But insiders are concerned that an ongoing drop in the number of new recruits for the stables could see sumō wither in the future. In the past, many youngsters aspired to join a sumō stable. In the 51-year span from 1955 to 2005, the number of new recruits fell below 100 per year only three times. In fact, there were three occasions when over 200 young men applied, and 21 times when over 150 did so. But since 2006, there have been fewer than 100 applicants per year, and these days fewer than 70 apply annually. Even though minimum weight and height requirements were de facto eliminated in 2023, this has not stemmed the decline in new recruits. According to Futagoyama, 'Some children who joined kid sumō groups or visited our stable for a hands-on tryout did so after seeing our videos. With fewer and fewer people doing sumō nowadays, I hope these videos can communicate a positive image of our sport.' Tamanoi, meanwhile, notes: 'We've received emails from people who want to give sumō a shot after seeing a video on YouTube, and some of them actually joined a stable later.' Today, sumō stables are trying to find new ways forward, honoring tradition while doing away with outdated conventions. It is clear that YouTube and other social media are essential for communicating how stables have changed over the past few years. With the number of children dwindling and a great many more sports for young people to choose from, sumō is facing headwinds. Nevertheless, the stables are already forging a path toward ensuring the future of sumō as a uniquely Japanese physical culture. (Originally written in Japanese. Banner photo: A collection of YouTube video snapshots capturing the daily life at sumō stables and the deep appeal of wrestling. Courtesy Tamanoi stable and Futagoyama stable.)
Tokyo Weekender
17 hours ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Saori Araki: The Japanese Salarywoman Breaking the Internet
It began with a simple 'good morning' message on X on July 25. Saori Araki posted the greeting alongside a picture of herself in a gray suit while holding a laptop. Taken during a visit to the Japanese design and manufacturing company Takeda, it didn't seem a particularly noteworthy post. Yet six days on and the picture has now garnered more than 76 million views. So why did it go viral? And who is Saori Araki? List of Contents: Not Just a 'Random Salarywomen' Saori Araki Launches YouTube Channel Related Posts Not Just a 'Random Salarywomen' Anyone who regularly scrolls X will likely have seen the photograph of Araki and her puffed-cheek smile by now. Dubbed the 'Japanese salarywoman,' some tweeted to say that she looked like an anime character. Others compared her picture with photos of Western celebrities, most notably Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad campaign. One tweet of Sweeney and Araki side by side along with the words, 'which way western man,' has been viewed more than 37 million times and has over 3,000 comments. The person who posted that then conducted a poll, asking who would win out of the 'sexpot jeans supermodel' and the 'random Japanese salarywomen.' It's all a little juvenile and somewhat misleading, as Araki isn't just a random Japanese salarywoman. On Monday, she posted a message introducing herself in English, stating that while she works in an office, on the side she is 'active as a model and actress.' Also, until earlier this year, she was a member of the J-pop idol group Tokyo Girls Bravo. Saori Araki Launches YouTube Channel Her following as an idol, though, was nothing like it is now as the 'Japanese salarywoman.' Prior to posting that picture on July 25, she had around 7,000 followers on X. She now has more than 250,000. Capitalizing on this newfound fame, Araki launched a YouTube channel . In her first upload, she spoke in English, introducing herself as Sao. She thanked people for watching the video, but later said that if there's not much interest, she 'might just give up.' So far, Araki seems to be taking things in her stride. She's clearly enjoying the exposure and was especially surprised to see that Elon Musk had commented on a Grok Imagine video of her. She retweets many of the memes and often replies to comments. While most of these comments are positive, she already has her critics. Araki has been accused of photoshopping her pictures, with one person posting , 'Stop using face filters.' With the success she's had over the past few days, she's unlikely to li sten to that advice. Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Idol Finally Free After Being Made To Say 'Good Night' to Fans for Entire Year Tohru: The Salaryman Turned Dancing Sensation Yukiko Okada — A Talented Yet Tormented Idol
SoraNews24
a day ago
- SoraNews24
Brand-new theme park in Japan charges foreign tourists 25 percent more than locals for tickets
Welcome, to two-tier pricing park! On July 25, a brand-new theme park opened in the town of Nakijin in Okinawa Prefecture. Called Junglia, the park is obviously looking to highlight its lush greenery and outdoor activities, but it's clear from the preview video that Junglia also wants to present itself as a sort of real-world Jurassic Park, only achieving its dinosaurs through animatronics instead of cloning. Junglia also offers luxurious resort accommodation and spa amenities, boasting the Guinness World Records-certified largest infinity public pool on the planet, dance performances, and dazzling fireworks shows. As you've probably noticed, these are all things with pretty universal appeal, not the sort of thing one needs an intrinsic connection to or studied understanding of Japanese culture to enjoy. And sure enough, Junglia's official website has full English, Chinese, and Korean support, showing that the park is ready to receive visitors from overseas. Oh, and it's also ready to charge foreign tourists significantly higher prices for tickets. If you hop onto the Junglia website's top page, clicking the menu icon in the top right will bring up a spot to click for ticket information. If you're navigating the page's Japanese-language version, it'll inform you that the after-tax prices for tickets to the amusement park area are: ● Adults: 6.930 yen ● Children age 4-11: 4,950 yen However, if you're looking at the English, Chinese, or Korean Junglia site, it'll instead tell you that the prices are: ● Adults: 8.800 yen ● Children age 4-11: 5,940 yen That's because Junglia has an official policy of charging higher admission prices for foreign travelers. The deciding factor isn't ethnicity, but residency, as foreign residents of Japan are eligible for the lower prices. The website indicates though, that they will need to be able to show proof of residence in Japan, with the list of admissible documents and associated stipulations listed as: ● Individual Number Card ● Driver's license, Health Insurance Card, Passport ● Certificate of residence ● Student identification card ● Residence card ● Other official identification cards issued by public organizations Please prepare valid documents that include your name and current address. If your name, current address, etc. are written on the reverse side, that part is also necessary. If these documents alone cannot prove your current address, please also present a utility bill or receipt (issued within the last 3 months) that clearly shows your name and address, such as an electricity, water, gas, or telephone bill. It's unclear if all foreign residents will be required to present such papers before being allowed to enter the park with a lower-priced ticket, or if whether or not to perform checks will be left up to the discretion of employees working the entrance gates. Also worth noting is that in addition to the amusement park area-only tickets discussed above, Junglia also has tickets just for its spa area, as well as combo tickets for both sections of the facility, implying separate ticket gates. These tickets also have tiered pricing for domestic and international travelers, so foreign residents of Japan may need to show their papers twice if they're looking to have the full Junglia experience. ▼ So make sure your resident card doesn't fall out of your pocket if you go ziplining before you hit up that infinity pool. With a 1,870-yen difference between the amusement area adult tickets, Junglia is tacking more than 25 percent extra onto the price for foreign tourists. It's not hard to see why the park's management would be attracted to such a plan. With the yen currently being historically weak against foreign currencies, the difference converts to around US$13, which probably isn't going to seem like all that much when folded into the total cost of an overseas trip. Junglia's managers appear to have designed their pricing plan as a way to maximize revenue by charging foreign tourists a price that locals would balk at, while keeping the prices for domestic guests at a figure they're willing to pay. With overtourism and rising consumer prices being two increasingly common complaints among Japanese people, Junglia's two-tiered pricing hasn't caused much controversy yet. However, unlike other situations that have arisen recently, such as Himeji Castle instilling two-tiered pricing for locals and out-of-towners or Nintendo creating a lower-priced Switch 2 for use inside Japan, Junglia can't claim it's charging overseas tourists more to cope with unexpected maintenance cost increases from a spike in visitor numbers or to prevent international scalping, so this looks like a simple case of trying to boost its bottom line by grabbing some extra cash from foreigners, something that we haven't seen any major theme park in Japan do up until now. Source: Junglia (1, 2), PR Times Images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
