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108 West 44th Street, NYC
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Copyright 2006 Sushi Zen, Inc.

Unagi, Anago

Eel (unagi) is commonly used for sushi in the US. It is very nutritious and contains 100 times more vitamin A than other fish. Sea eel or conger eel (anago) is a different species in the same family. Edomae sushi (Tokyo style sushi, nigiri sushi) features anago since it has been found in Tokyo Bay. Unagi, on the other hand, is rarely used in Edomae sushi but very important food in the Japanese diet otherwise.
Unagi, because of its nutritious value, is believed to have an effect on gaining men's sexual drive. Japanese wives would prepare unagi for dinner to suggest their husbands that they want to have an intimate night.
Many Japanese avoid having unagi and umeboshi (pickled plum) at the same time. It is a superstition called "tabeawase" that certain combinations of food have bad effect when taken at the same time. A combination of tempura and watermelon is another example of tabeawase.
At Sushi Zen you can try both unagi and anago.


Unagi


Anago