Gyutan
Gyutan is thick-sliced beef tongue, salted or lightly marinated and grilled over charcoal until the edges char. It is chewy-tender with a clean, beefy flavor and none of the richness of fatty cuts.
IZAKAYA SNACKS
ABOUT
Gyutan is thick-sliced beef tongue, salted or lightly marinated and grilled over charcoal until the edges char. It is chewy-tender with a clean, beefy flavor and none of the richness of fatty cuts.
DIETARY NOTES
VegetarianVEGETARIAN
Not vegetarianCharcoal-grilled beef tongue, usually just salted.
PorkPORK
No pork in the standard version.
AlcoholALCOHOL
No cooking alcohol (mirin / sake) in the standard version.
AllergensCOMMON ALLERGENS
None of the major allergens in the basic version.
General guidance for the standard version of this dish. Recipes vary by shop and region — always confirm with the restaurant if you have an allergy or a religious dietary requirement.
DETAILS
OriginORIGIN
Popularized in Sendai just after WWII, when a local yakitori cook began serving grilled tongue; it grew into the city’s defining dish, sold at dozens of specialist restaurants near Sendai Station.
How to EatHOW TO EAT
Ordered as a set (teishoku) with barley rice, pickled vegetables, and a clear oxtail soup. Squeeze the wedge of yuzu or dab the spicy miso, and alternate bites of tongue and rice.
FrequencyFREQUENCY
Rare — Luxury / special
PricePRICE
¥1,500〜¥3,000