The best treat in Sendai! What is the secret hidden in the beef tongue? ? [Miyagi Prefecture]

When naming three things that Sendai is famous for, it is safe to say that "Date Masamune" and "beef tongue" always come up

In particular, when people who have only ever eaten beef tongue at ordinary yakiniku restaurants try it in Sendai, they praise it highly, saying it is "so delicious it will change your outlook on life."

In the past, it was thought that only tourists ate it, but recently, beef tongue has become so popular that office workers in Sendai line up to eat it at lunchtime. This time, we will introduce Sendai beef tongue!

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Sendai beef and Sendai beef tongue are completely different!

Sendai beef is the brand beef of Sendai

This is the only super brand beef in Japan that is allowed to be called A-5 or B-5, the highest grade for meat quality, based on the "Carcass Trading Standards" established by the Japan Meat Grading Association

"I can't believe I can eat beef tongue made from such beef...!"

This is unfortunate news for tourists who are coming here with high hopes

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Sendai beef tongue is from America

It goes without saying, but there's no way you can casually eat high-end brand beef for lunch. What's more, beef tongue is a rare cut that can only be taken once per cow

If you could eat Sendai beef tongue, you'd probably only find it at a super high-end restaurant or a traditional Japanese restaurant that doesn't accept first-time customers

So why is it called Sendai beef tongue? In fact, grilled beef tongue is said to have originated in Sendai

It was developed by the owner of a yakitori restaurant in Ichibancho. Grilled beef tongue made with beef tongue and tail soup made with beef tail became famous nationwide as they suited Japanese tastes

By the way, this person is from Yamagata Prefecture

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The appeal of beef tongue

The ingredients are from America, the developer is from Yamagata Prefecture, and the beef tongue is a bit lackluster, but the flavor is second to none

Compared to regular yakiniku restaurants, Sendai beef tongue is characterized by the fact that all restaurants serve it in extra-thick slices. The thick meat is satisfying, yet easy to chew, and the crunchy texture is addictive no matter how many times you eat it. In addition to salt, soy sauce and miso are also popular seasonings, but my recommendation is undoubtedly salt. Even though it is simply seasoned with salt, the umami that overflows from the ingredients will enliven your mouth

The oxtail soup is made by slowly simmering beef tail meat cut off from the bone and squeezing out all the broth, giving it a punchy flavor. The squeezed-out oxtail is also served in the soup, and it falls apart in your mouth, creating an addictive flavor

Writing this is making me hungry

Now it's time to take a look at the long-awaited photo of beef tongue

This volume!

When ordering a set of grilled Sendai beef tongue, most restaurants serve three pieces. The accompanying pickles are the perfect way to reset your palate. I'm impressed that people in the past came up with such an exquisite set

Served on the side is miso nanban (green chili peppers pickled in miso)

As the creator is from Yamagata, most restaurants use green chili peppers from Yamagata. It's a little spicy, so please be careful when eating it with small children!

Barley rice is the most common staple food

If you want to eat it with rice, try ordering a beef tongue bowl. Some restaurants use barley rice in their bowls, so be sure to check with the staff before ordering

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Other beef tongue dishes

In addition to grilled beef tongue, there are a variety of other menu items

Some of the more popular ones include stew, curry, and meatballs

You can also eat it as tongue sashimi or beef tongue sushi. These are made with Sendai Kuroge Wagyu beef, not American beef, so they are hygienic (though you do so at your own risk)

As souvenirs, in addition to pre-packaged grilled beef tongue, there is also smoked beef tongue, and at the JoJo exhibition that was held recently, miso-marinated beef tongue was sold as a collaboration item (currently unavailable for purchase)

If you've come all the way to Sendai, why not try other ways of eating beef tongue, not just grilled?

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