Tohoku gourmet

[Fukushima Prefecture] Aizu's "horse sashimi" is delicious! Introducing restaurants that serve horse meat dishes

When you think of a famous place for horse meat dishes and horse sashimi, what comes to mind? In fact, the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is a hidden specialty of horse meat dishes . It is an area where you can eat delicious horse sashimi.

This time, we will introduce recommended restaurants and butcher shops in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture where you can eat delicious horse meat dishes. Why not come and experience the exquisite taste of the meat, where the more you chew it, the more you can taste the umami?

Why is horse sashimi so famous in the Aizu region?

The Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is a region where horse meat dishes are widely eaten

horsemeat

When it comes to famous horse meat production areas, many people may think of Kumamoto Prefecture. However, Fukushima Prefecture is the second largest producer of horse meat in Japan . Horse meat has become so integral to people's lives that horse meat is sold regularly at local supermarkets.

It is thought that the horse meat culture took root in the Aizu region because it was once a key transportation hub. Horses supported people's lives when transporting goods and farming. In addition, the location of a horse auction ground in Aizubange Town may have been one of the reasons why horse meat was easy to obtain

Snowy scenery and horse-drawn carriage

Horse meat dishes have a long history, people were eating horse meat around the time of the Boshin War . However, it seems that eating raw horse meat is only a relatively recent phenomenon. It is thought that around the 1950s, as refrigerators began to become more common, it became easier to eat fresh horse meat at home, and this led to its widespread popularity.

What is unique about Aizu horse sashimi? The secret to its deliciousness is the quality of the meat and the sauce

The characteristics of Aizu horse sashimi "lean meat" and "miso .

In Kumamoto Prefecture, marbled meat with fat marbling is preferred for horse sashimi, while in Aizu, tender lean meat is preferred , allowing you to enjoy the light flavor of the meat.

Horse sashimi

The difference in meat comes from the type of horse used. In Kumamoto and Aomori prefectures, sturdy "heavy breed" horses used for farming are used, while in Aizu, slender "light breed" horses used for racing and riding are used

When eating Aizu horse sashimi, it is common to mix the special miso with soy sauce. The miso used for horse sashimi is mustard miso, which has a spicy kick from garlic and chili peppers. This salty and spicy flavor further enhances the umami of the lean meat

Aizu horse sashimi is low in fat, so even if you eat too much, it won't make you feel heavy. It's a popular dish that goes well with alcohol or rice

Enjoy delicious horse meat dishes! Introducing recommended restaurants in Aizu

Aizu horse sashimi is made with light, mild lean meat and a bold, spicy special mustard miso. We introduce three recommended restaurants in Aizu where you can enjoy delicious horse meat dishes

  • Tsuruga
  • Sakashita Drive-In
  • Yoshita

Aizu local cuisine and cherry blossom hotpot Tsuruga

This local cuisine restaurant has expanded to include locations in Fukushima Prefecture and Akasaka, Tokyo. You can enjoy the charms of horse meat to the fullest with dishes such as horse sashimi made with rare cuts like chateaubriand and mane, and sakura hotpot, which brings out the delicious flavor of horse meat

Another great thing about sightseeing is that you can sample a wide variety of Aizu's traditional foods

Tsuruga Main Store <Information>

  • Name: Tsuruga main store
  • Address: 4-21 Toeicho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 965-0872
  • URL: https://turuga829.com/
  • Gourmet site

Google Map

Sakashita Drive-In

This restaurant serves reasonably priced and delicious horse meat dishes in Aizubange Town, where horse meat and horse sashimi are deeply rooted in the food culture. You can enjoy a variety of horse meat dishes, including horse sashimi, cherry steak, and stewed horse meat. You can also purchase horse meat at the attached butcher shop (Hori Shoten)

Sakashita Drive-In <Information>

  • Name: Sakashita Drive-in
  • Address: 446 Kawajiri, Kawajiri, Furumachi, Aizubange Town, Kawanuma District, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-6549
  • Business hours: 11:00-21:00
  • Holidays: Open daily (except New Year's Day)
  • Gourmet site

Google Map

Yoshita

This popular restaurant serves high-quality horse meat dishes at reasonable prices, including horse sashimi, sakura nabe (hot pot), and nigiri sushi made with sakura meat. In the evening, you can enjoy a sophisticated time with delicious Aizu local sake, which has a different appeal from lunch. Why not enjoy a feast of horse meat with someone special?

Yoshita <Information>

  • Name: Yoshishita
  • Address: 5-14 Toeicho, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, 965-0872
  • Business hours: 11:00-14:00 / 17:00-22:00
  • Holidays: Irregular (mainly Sundays)
  • Gourmet site

Google Map

summary

This time, we introduced horse sashimi, a hidden specialty of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture

Horse meat has been an important part of the Aizu region's food culture since the days when the area flourished as a key transportation hub. Aizu horse sashimi, which features lean, flavorful lean meat served with special miso, is so delicious it goes perfectly with both rice and sake. If you visit Aizu, why not give it a try?

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