My First Time Tasting Gyūtan 牛タン and My Approach to New Foods!

When traveling, I take one single approach when it comes to tasting new foods!

Send it!! Try Everything and All!!

No matter how exotic or different the food seems, I do try and keep an open mind and will try it!

It usually involves asking around / looking up the local specialty dishes that are famous in that area or originated there. For this particular meal I was starving from my travels and had to get the big dinner set!

In Sendai, You eat Gyūtan 牛タン!
That is a grilled beef tongue! 🐮😛

I was a bit hesitant at first to try it but it was delicious! Traditionally this set comes with a beef tail soup, salad and barley rice! As you see here!

I love the Japanese style salad dressing, it's a little bit sweet and savory, and has just enough flavor that is clean and lets the lettuce shine through!

This really is a lot of food! Good value yeah?!

But on to the beef soup! It was so nice, I believe it was a miso base with green onions.

Pickled cabbage serving as kind of a Banchan / chaser for the gyūtan itself and other beef dishes in the set. There was also a fermented bean side dish that was similar to Nato but I forgot the name of it, as well as a small mushroom soup that was light and refreshing.

All of these side / support dishes really just help with the bold flavors of the Gyūtan! Thus letting the beef tongue shine even more!

Let's talk about the Gyūtan now!

From a westerners (US) point of view, these cuts are usually not too common to see in a restaurant setting. The "Nasty Bits" as Anthony Bourdain would call them.

But I think Tony has a point here and these "Nasty Bits" truly are the best part! These unique and "rare" cuts in our part of the world (from the US), are just a normal thing elsewhere!
I mean these cuts are still special but just more accepted and common in other places.

I also believe this is a better way to treat the animal as well! Truly using all the parts and pieces of the animal and not letting anything go to waste! Which is a good indicator and skill of a good cook!

So how does the Gyūtan taste?!

Surprisingly light and clean! Flavor wise it was similar to a nice BBQ beef that is lightly charred. Keeping the seasonings simple, just salt. Utilizing the freshness of the ingredients and smokiness of the charcoal grill.

Texture wise it has a little snap, kind of like the beef sausages on the plate. But overall nice and easy to eat if you like beef! Not chewy at all!

Oh! One last thing! The Yebisu beer! It was a perfect compliment to this dinner set! Haha! Super refreshing and just cuts all the fat and beef flavor, cleansing your palette for the next bite!

Try to have an open mind when traveling and tasting new foods! Who knows, it might be your next favorite food!

Anyways!

Big Dawgs Gotta Eat!

-Albert