Kamaboko I’ve always had trouble explaining what Kamaboko is, as we don’t really have a common equivalent in the west. There’s honestly no literal translation that conveys what it is accurately. I’ve heard it described as a ‘fish cake’ but it differs greatly from what is considered a fish cake in the west, so I’ve…

Fried Oysters, Matsushima Bay Matsushima Bay is ranked as one of Japan’s three traditional scenic spots. The bay overlooking the Pacific coast contains hundreds of small picturesque islands, best enjoyed by one of the daily boat rides. The town of Matsushima is also well known for it’s seafood – in particular it’s giant Oysters. We…

Ishinomaki Stir Fried Noodles, Yakisoba Yakisoba is about as simple a food dish can get – fried noodles in a bowl, mixed with small pieces of chopped pork hidden within and a small pile of pickled ginger. But it all adds up to one of the cheapest, most filling dishes you can buy in Japan…

Braised Pork Ramen, (Chashumen) This evening we headed into Sendai’s main nightlife entertainment district, Kokubuncho (国分町）and grabbed a bowl of braised pork ramen (chashumen) for dinner. When it comes to ramen, I don’t normally eat out at chain restaurants – independent ramen restaurants are where it’s at – however, I make an exception for Sendai-ko…

Shaved Ice Outside of Sendai station we came across some stands selling various festival foods and desserts, as the Sendai Jazz festival is currently in full swing. It was here we grabbed one of the most popular sweets at Japanese festivals, Kakigori, a dessert comprised of shaved ice and flavoured syrup. There were a range…

Caw Tongue For our first stop we dropped into Tsukasa, one of Sendai’s most popular and best regarded restaurants for trying the local dish, Cow Tongue. I remember the first time someone mentioned it to me, I was hesitant to try it, due to the image I had in my mind of what it would…