Umami Tasuke

Umami Tasuke is a restaurant that carries on the original taste of Sendai gyutan, located in Kokubuncho, Sendai’s biggest downtown area. Its old-fashioned storefront and the lively energy of the craftsmen can make you feel like you’ve time-traveled. Sendai’s gyutan tradition began in 1948 (Showa 23), and following the founder’s belief that “salt brings out beef tongue’s best flavor,” the restaurant continues to serve salt-seasoned gyutan. The charcoal-grilled tongue is relatively thin, so it’s served quickly, yet the more you chew, the more rich umami spreads—keeping customers coming back. Although the shop is usually busy, turnover is fast, so waits are not typically too long. The menu is simple: only gyutan-yaki, offered as A/B/C set meals depending on the number of slices. The hearty oxtail soup is also very popular. Access is convenient from the Sendai Subway Namboku Line “Kotodai-Koen Station,” about a 3-minute walk from South Exit 2.