[Yamagata] Yonezawa local food that you definitely want to try! Special feature on lamb gourmet

• Table of Contents
• Why has lamb consumption become so popular in the town of Yonezawa beef?
• The first restaurant where you can enjoy Yonezawa lamb gourmet food is "Hitsujiya NEO"
• Restaurant No. 2 where you can enjoy Yonezawa lamb gourmet food: "Namikata Lamb Shop Meechan Shokudo"
• Be sure to try the lamb dishes that are loved in Yonezawa!

Why has lamb consumption become so popular in the town of Yonezawa beef?

"Yonezawa Beef" is one of the most popular brand beef in Japan. Even if you have never been to Yonezawa City, you may have heard of the name.

It is no exaggeration to say that Yonezawa beef is the face of Yonezawa, with a large cow sculpture placed on the platform at JR Yonezawa Station.

While Yonezawa beef is known nationwide, lamb has long been a favorite local dish.

Why lamb? History dates back to 1918, when the Japanese government issued the "One Million Sheep Plan" to aim for self-sufficiency in wool as part of military strengthening. Ultimately, the plan did not work out, but its impact was felt all over the country, and the number of sheep dairy farmers in Yonezawa City increased, leading to problems with their utilization. At the time, people in Yonezawa (Japan) did not have much of a meat-eating culture, and lamb, which has a stronger flavor than beef, pork, or chicken, was not well received, so the sheep that were raised were not put to good use.

So then, Teiichi Namikata (the first owner of Namikata Mutton Shop), who was an employee of the agricultural cooperative at the time, came up with a miso sauce to remove the distinctive smell of mutton, and by running his own butcher shop, he made an effort to popularize mutton. At first, it seems that he had a lot of difficulties, but his steady efforts to let local people experience the deliciousness and high nutritional value of mutton, such as increasing the opportunities to eat it at a restaurant attached to his shop, gradually bore fruit.

Lamb has now become a part of Yonezawa's local food and is loved by the locals. This food culture was established thanks to the wisdom and efforts of our forefathers.

The first restaurant where you can enjoy Yonezawa lamb gourmet food is "Hitsujiya NEO"

《 Enjoy a slightly luxurious lunchtime with healthy lamb dishes 》

If you want to casually enjoy lamb dishes, Yonezawa's local food, we recommend "Hitsujiya NEO." This restaurant is open not only for dinner but also for lunch, so you can enjoy lamb dishes from noon.

While the restaurant has long been frequented by many locals, recently the number of female customers looking for healthy lamb has increased, and it has become so popular that people from other prefectures (such as Miyagi and Fukushima) make the trip on weekends just to eat here.

The shop's recommended menu items are the "Fresh Lamb Taste Comparison" (2,850 yen), which allows you to compare the taste of three different cuts of lamb, and the "Specialty Miso Yaki" (1,350 yen), a long-loved Yonezawa dish.
*All prices are as of October 2024.

Recommended for those who want to try different cuts of lamb! "Fresh Lamb Taste Comparison"

As they also run a butcher shop, Hitsujiya NEO offers a variety of lamb cuts. The meat is extremely fresh, and for those who want to try different cuts, we recommend the Taste Comparison Set.

There are three types of lamb you can try and compare: thigh, shoulder, and shoulder loin, all served with the restaurant's special sauce. The sauce is based on soy sauce and garlic, with apples and peanuts as secret ingredients, and is rich and sweet, with a slightly spicy flavor that goes well with the fat of the lamb.

You cook each piece of meat yourself, but the key is not to overcook it! It tastes best when it's semi-rare, with just a little red color still remaining.

First of all, the thigh meat is a lean, chewy red meat. It has just the right thickness, so the more you chew it, the more the flavor of the meat comes out, and it is a simple cut that allows you to enjoy the original deliciousness of lamb. It goes perfectly with the rich sauce, and because it is so refreshing, you can eat it all in one go.

The shoulder is a part of the lamb that moves a lot, close to the arm, and is muscular yet has a good amount of fat, creating an excellent balance of these two. In addition, compared to the other two types, it has a stronger lamb-like aroma, making it an irresistible cut for lamb lovers. The taste is firm yet soft and very juicy. With every bite, you can feel the rich umami flavor, and the pleasant aroma that wafts through your nose. It's a cut that you'll find yourself eating in no time, and before you know it, it's gone.

The moment you put it in your mouth, the shoulder loin will spread its delicious flavor. It is a very satisfying cut, with a soft, rich flavor and a matured taste that fills your mouth.

It's hearty yet light, so you can enjoy the pure flavor of the meat right down to the last bite. It also goes well with the soy sauce-based sauce, giving it a rich, Japanese-style flavor.

This is a luxurious and affordable dish that allows you to enjoy three different flavors in one meal. Please enjoy it with rice and beer. (*The writer's favorite is the shoulder.)

The key to this dish is the special sauce made with local miso! "Specialty Miso Yaki"

Hitsujiya NEO's specialty dish is "Miso Yaki". There are two types of meat, frozen lamb and fresh lamb, but the owner recommends the frozen lamb. Frozen lamb retains more of the lamb flavor than fresh lamb, and you can enjoy the wild taste that has a strong gibier feel, and it is said to be addictively delicious.

The miso sauce that is served with the meat is based on miso from a miso shop in Yonezawa City, and is mixed with garlic and apples from Aomori. The sauce was created through trial and error with various combinations, resulting in a rich miso sauce that is full of the owner's particular preferences.

When the shop is not busy, the staff will grill it for you, but you can also enjoy grilling it yourself. There is a grilling manual, so even beginners can grill it with confidence.

Simply place the vegetables on the hot iron plate, spread the meat, and pour the included "magic water" over it, and the aroma of miso will instantly spread, whet your appetite. After a few minutes of enjoying the sizzling sound of the meat, your miso-grilled dish will be ready.

Once cooked, turn down the heat and eat while it's still warm to avoid burning, which is the key to keeping it delicious.

The first thing you notice is the strong aroma of garlic, which is complemented by the savory aroma of roasted miso, building up anticipation.

As you bite into the piping hot meat and chew, the rich flavor of the miso and lamb spreads across your tongue. The meat is just the right thickness, and with each bite the flavor spreads in your mouth, making for a rhythmic taste that will have you eating one bite after the other.

The garlic flavor will stimulate your appetite, making this a dish you'll finish in no time.

*Regular customers apparently eat this on top of rice as "miso-yaki donburi."

At Hitsujiya NEO, you can also enjoy the deliciousness of lamb in set meals and curries during lunch time. Why not stop by on your trip?

Hitsujiya NEO is also open during dinner time, making it the perfect place to enjoy lamb with friends or family and alcohol.

Hitsujiya NEO Store Information

・Business hours: 11:30-14:00 (LO 13:30) 17:00-21:30 (LO 21:00)
・Closed on Wednesdays
・Address: 7-2-47 Kanaike, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0012
・Telephone number: 0238-61-6323
・Payment methods: cash, credit card, electronic money
・Language support: Japanese
・Other: Free Wi-Fi available in the store

Click here for the Hitsujiya NEO Instagram

Restaurant No. 2 where you can enjoy Yonezawa lamb gourmet food: "Namikata Lamb Shop Meechan Shokudo"

An exquisite lamb dinner course that never stops evolving, brought to you by the long-established restaurant that originated "Yoshitsune-yaki"!

This "Namikata Lamb Shop" is the very shop established by Mr. Teiichi Namikata, who fought hard to popularize lamb in Yonezawa. This shop is easily accessible, just a 7-minute walk from Yonezawa Station, and the first floor is a butcher shop where you can purchase fresh lamb mince and lamb chops.

Outside the store, there is a rare vending machine selling frozen lamb! You can easily purchase Genghis Khan and lamb chop steaks 24 hours a day.

"Yoshitsune-yaki" is a dish created by the first owner of the restaurant, Teiichi Namikata, in which lamb and vegetables are mixed with a "secret miso sauce that removes the distinctive smell of lamb," and then grilled in a pot.

At Meechan Shokudo on the second floor of the store, you can enjoy this Yoshitsune-yaki as well as a variety of other lamb dishes.
*Open only during dinner time.

The menu is so extensive that you may have trouble deciding what to order. This time, we have selected a course menu that allows you to enjoy Meechan Shokudo's signature dishes, "Raw Lamb Shabu-Shabu," "Lamb Chop Steak," and "Yoshitsune-yaki," all at once.
*Please note that raw lamb shabu-shabu is only available as part of the course menu (reservations required).

The "Fresh Lamb Shabu-Shabu & Yoshitsune-Yaki Course" includes the three dishes mentioned above as well as a total of eight dishes, including dessert, and comes with two hours of all-you-can-drink (alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic cocktails, soft drinks, etc.), all for a very reasonable price of 5,500 yen (tax included).

For an additional 500 yen, you can enjoy all-you-can-drink sake, shochu, and plum wine, more than 20 types of alcohol selected by Namikata Lamb Shop! This lineup is irresistible for alcohol lovers, including sake brewed in Yamagata Prefecture, "Tenzen Asahitaka" and "Masayamaryu," and the rare shochu "Naka Naka." This is recommended for those who want to enjoy delicious lamb dishes and local sake at the same time.

Enjoy fresh meat in a way that only you can! "Raw Lamb Shabu-Shabu"

This beautiful dish is made from 1mm-thick slices of shoulder and shoulder loin, which have a good balance of lean meat and fat. The fresh, beautiful pink raw lamb meat is ready to eat simply by dipping it in soup stock.
*If heated too much it will become hard.

The cooked meat is served with ponzu sauce or sesame sauce. There is also a wide selection of condiments and seasonings available, so you can adjust the taste to your liking.

The meat is very tender, and feels silky smooth on the tongue. The umami and aroma of lamb fills your mouth, but the meaty smell is not noticeable at all, so even those who have been reluctant to eat lamb in the past should definitely try this dish. Pair it with ponzu sauce to bring out the sweetness, and mix it with sesame sauce to bring out the umami. We recommend trying each sauce and finding the way you like best.

We recommend pairing this with the Daiginjo sake "Masayamaryu Kisaragi." The fruity sweetness spreads in your mouth, complementing the soft sweetness of the raw lamb shabu-shabu, allowing you to enjoy a deep flavor.

Bite into juicy grilled meat on the bone! "Premium Lamb Chop Steak"

The lamb chop steak, which looks and feels impressive, is a popular menu item that you should definitely try when you come to Meechan Shokudo.
The fragrant aroma will whet your appetite.

At first glance it looks thick, but it's so soft that you can bite into it and chew it right away, so you can eat it without using a knife or fork. The more you chew, the more juicy and flavorful the meat juices will overflow into your mouth. However, the fat is light, so it doesn't feel heavy. It's a satisfying dish that lets you enjoy the full flavor of the meat itself.

If you like, you can also enjoy the lamb chops with the balsamic sauce and homemade mustard that comes with them, which will bring out the deliciousness of the lamb chops even more. The homemade mustard in particular is made with extra-large seeds, which were made after repeated trials to match the lamb chops. The mustard seeds are left uncrushed and aged for a long period of time, so the crunchy texture adds a nice accent to the dish.

It is best to pair it with dry sake. Even with simple seasoning, lamb has a rich flavor, and the flavor of the seasonings that bring out the deliciousness of the meat remains. If you drink dry sake, the flavors of each will blend together nicely, leaving you with a clean, clear, pleasant flavor.

Speaking of Yonezawa local food, this is it! "Yoshitsune Yaki"

The secret miso sauce is the key to the flavor of Namikata Lamb Shop's "Yoshitsune Yaki." "Genghis Khan" is also a famous dish in Japan, where thickly sliced lamb and vegetables are grilled on a hot plate, but it uses soy sauce as the sauce.

The name "Yoshitsune Yaki" comes from Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a famous warrior who lived in Japan around the 12th century. One legend that has been passed down is that Minamoto no Yoshitsune traveled to the continent and became Genghis Khan in Mongolia.
*This is just a theory. There are no concrete historical records or evidence remaining.

From this anecdote, the dish was named "Yoshitsune-yaki" as it is seasoned with miso sauce and is different from the lamb dish "Genghis Khan".

Lamb meat for Yoshitsune-yaki. It is seasoned with Namikata's secret miso sauce, specially designed for lamb.

The miso base, garlic, and the secret ingredient, red apples, used in the miso sauce, are all locally produced in Yonezawa. The sauce, which has been handed down since the restaurant was founded, brings out the flavor of the lamb and the sweetness of the vegetables.

The trick to cooking Yoshitsune-yaki well is to place the vegetables around the edge of the iron pot and the meat in the middle. Once you've placed the ingredients, pour the included "magic water" over it, and the steam will fill the table with a fragrant aroma. Finally, mix the meat and vegetables together so that they are cooked evenly, then cook and it's done.

The lamb meat is cut thinly, and the more you chew it, the more delicious the flavor spreads. The miso sauce has just the right balance of saltiness and sweetness, giving the meat a deeper richness. You can really taste the flavor of the lamb itself, so it goes great with rice and alcohol!

The "Fresh Lamb Shabu-Shabu & Yoshitsune-Yaki Course" is a great way to enjoy not only lamb dishes, but also cold noodles and dessert sorbet. It's a very affordable and luxurious course that will satisfy both your stomach and your heart. It's no wonder that there are so many repeat customers.

Dinner reservations are generally taken by phone, but you can also make reservations online. If you are not familiar with making phone calls in Japanese, we recommend making reservations through the online store or Instagram below.

Click here for the Namikata Online Store

Click here for the Namikata Lamb Shop Meechan Shokudo Instagram is here

The current owner, Shinnosuke Namikata, went on a trip to eat mutton all over the world when he took over the family business, and he is reflecting the experiences he gained there in the products and dishes he sells at his restaurant. We can't take our eyes off Meechan Shokudo, which continues to evolve and take on new challenges while inheriting the flavors of its predecessors!

Namikata Lamb Shop Meechan Shokudo Store Information

・Business hours: Wednesday to Sunday 17:00-22:00
・Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
・Address: 2-1-30 Higashi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0026
・Telephone number: 050-5589-7118
・Payment method: cash, credit card
・Language support: Japanese
・Other: Free Wi-Fi available in the store

Be sure to try the lamb dishes that are loved in Yonezawa!

What do you think? We've introduced you to a restaurant where you can enjoy Yonezawa's local food, lamb dishes, to your heart's content.
Speaking of Yonezawa, "Yonezawa beef" and "Yonezawa ramen" are of course must-try dishes, but lamb, which has long been loved by local residents, is also a delicacy that the locals can be equally proud of.

If you visit Yamagata Prefecture in Japan, be sure to try some lamb delicacies in Yonezawa!