Salaam
His story is clearly real. He is a human being and had a spouse . He ate and drank like we do.
When something figurative is being portrayed in the Quran, it's clear. For example in 7:719
"They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning)." or 2:71
“Then your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder “ (Quran 2: 74).