What to Eat in Sendai: Essential Local Dishes Beyond Gyutan

• Table of Contents
• The Charm and Gourmet Culture of Sendai
• Must-Try Gourmet Foods in Sendai
• Enjoy the Taste of Sendai at the Stadium

The Charm and Gourmet Culture of Sendai

Sendai, the City of Trees, is the largest city in Tohoku, attractive for its natural scenery and historic streets. It is also known as the place associated with Date Masamune, and offers excellent access to popular tourist destinations such as Matsushima and Shiogama.

Sendai is also a treasure trove of gourmet food, where you can enjoy a wide variety of cuisine, from fresh seafood and mountain produce, and local dishes made with local ingredients, to modern creative cuisine. There are also many famous restaurants loved by locals, so you can discover the flavors that are unique to Sendai.

Must-Try Gourmet Foods in Sendai

Sendai is home to a wide variety of local delicacies that make use of local ingredients. From classics like beef tongue and zunda mochi to beloved local dishes and delicacies, there are plenty of must-try dishes to try.

Here we will introduce some recommended gourmet foods that you should definitely try when visiting Sendai.

Sendai Beef

Source: Sendai Beef Yakiniku Tomoji Main Branch

Sendai Beef is a brand of Wagyu beef that is rare nationwide and is limited to the highest grades of A5 and B5. It is characterized by a balance of marbling and lean meat, and finely textured meat, and is carefully raised by registered farmers in Miyagi Prefecture.

Best Sendai Beef Restaurants — Our Top Picks

Oysters

Source: Oyster Hut Tobiume Sendai Station Branch

Miyagi Prefecture is one of the leading oyster producing areas in Japan, and you can enjoy extremely fresh oyster dishes in Sendai as well.

Top Oyster Restaurants in Sendai

Sea Squirt

Source: Sea squirt & Junmai sake bar Sendai Sendai Station store

Known as the "pineapple of the sea," sea squirts are a rare seafood that offer five distinct flavors: sweet, salty, umami, sour, and bitter. Miyagi Prefecture boasts the highest catch of sea squirts in Japan, and you can enjoy a variety of dishes made with fresh sea squirts.

Where to Eat Hoya (Sea Squirt) & Fresh Seafood

Seri Nabe (Watercress Hotpot)

"Seri-nabe," where you can enjoy Miyagi Prefecture-produced seri (Japanese parsley) down to the roots without waste, is a Sendai specialty from winter to spring. Characterized by its crisp texture and high fragrance, once you try it, it's an unforgettable taste.

Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Noodles)

Quote: Ryutei

Ryutei, a long-established restaurant in Sendai City, is said to be the birthplace of chilled Chinese noodles, which have spread throughout the country. This Chinese restaurant was founded in 1931, and its original menu item, "Cold Noodles," is served in a unique style, with luxurious ingredients such as jellyfish, steamed chicken, and roast pork served on separate plates. The acidity and temperature of the chilled water are carefully adjusted to make the dish more palatable even in the hot season, and it continues to be loved all year round.

Where to Eat Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Noodles) in Sendai

Japanese Sake

Source: Japanese Sake Restaurant Sanichimarusen

Miyagi 's sake, produced thanks to its cold climate, pure water, and the skills of Nanbu master brewers, is characterized by its light, dry taste, yet rich in flavor.

Sake Guide (Nihonshu)

Enjoy the Taste of Sendai at the Stadium

Once you've sampled all the Sendai cuisine, finish off your day by watching a game at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi . Inside the stadium, you can casually enjoy the flavors of Sendai , such as fried gourd, beef tongue skewers, and Tohoku sake, and experience the unity of gourmet food and cheering all at once.

How to Enjoy Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi — Food, Goods & Tips

Access to Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi — Trains, Bus & Taxi

Purchase Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi Tickets at Tickets in Japan

Buy Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Tickets