This is Yoon, the store manager. Thank you very much for your continued patronage of our store.
Lately, when I walk around the streets of Otsuka, I’ve started to see a lot of foreign tourists. The number of new hotels around Otsuka Station is increasing, and I feel that the area is becoming a very interesting city where the old-fashioned retro downtown atmosphere intersects with the new global vibrancy.
Our store “Jan” in Otsuka also receives many customers from overseas every day. Inside the store, where many different languages such as English, Chinese, and Korean are spoken, the moment everyone takes a bite of the meat, they all say, “Wagyu is amazing!”
[“wagyu” has become a universal language]
Nowadays, “wagyu” has become a representative of Japanese food culture that is as passionately loved around the world as sushi and tempura, or even more so. Why is Japanese Wagyu beef so highly regarded overseas? As a manager of a yakiniku restaurant, I deal with meat every day and see the reactions of overseas customers, so I would like to explain the reason behind this.
■“Sashimi” and “melting texture” unique to Wagyu beef■
The mainstream of beef overseas is lean meat with a chewy texture. Grass-fed beef, which is grown on vast pastures and fed on grass, is characterized by its natural, wild flavor, but Wagyu beef is completely different.
The most distinctive feature of Wagyu beef is its marbling, which is a fine network of fat between the muscles. When cooked, this marbling begins to melt, creating the unique texture that people overseas say is “melt in the mouth.” In particular, the A5 rank Kuroge Wagyu beef has fine marbling that is truly artistic.
Furthermore, the fat content of Wagyu beef is rich in a flavor component called oleic acid. Oleic acid is also known as the main component of olive oil, which gives it a low melting point (the temperature at which meat fat melts). Because it melts easily under human body temperature, it doesn’t make your stomach feel heavy, and the sweetness of the fat fills your mouth. I feel that the quality of this high-quality fat, which you can never taste with beef from other countries, is one of the biggest reasons why wagyu reigns as a premium food ingredient around the world.
■Fascinating scent “Wagyu incense”■
Another reason why Wagyu beef captivates the world is its unique sweet aroma called “Wagyuko.” A sweet and mellow scent like coconut and peach that rises when heated. The moment we start grilling meat over charcoal at our restaurant, this aroma spreads throughout the restaurant, and the eyes of all our overseas customers light up. This aroma is unique to Wagyu beef and is unique to Wagyu beef.
[Wagyu experience happening at Otsuka’s “Jan”]
Our restaurant “Jan” is a “Yakiniku Stadium Jan Otsuka main store specializing in Kuroge Wagyu beef”, and we have a strong commitment to providing authentic A5 rank Kuroge Wagyu beef at a reasonable price that can only be found in the downtown area.
■Specialty menu items that will surprise overseas customers■
When overseas customers come to our restaurant, there are some menu items that are particularly surprising and impressive.
The top item is our menu with the highest repeat rate.“Wrapped green onion top tongue”is. This is a proud masterpiece that uses only the rarest part of the tongue, and wraps plenty of specially made fluffy green onions inside. By steam-grilling it on a wire rack, the juicy flavor of the tongue and the sweetness of the green onions come together. There are many countries overseas where the culture of eating tongue is weak, but as a store manager, it’s a real joy to see customers’ eyes widen as they take a bite.
And one more thing that you can’t miss is“Large sirloin”is. This is a style where you enjoy a large piece of wagyu beef that is quickly grilled and served on top of the special egg rice that comes with the set. Some people from overseas may resist the idea of eating raw eggs at first, but once they experience the perfect combination of the sweetness of Wagyu beef fat, the special sauce, and the rich egg yolk intertwined with white rice, their plates will be empty in no time. This menu, which is yakiniku but also has the essence of sukiyaki, is highly praised as a truly Japanese food experience.
■Bringing the deliciousness of rare parts to the world■
Also,“Wagyu fillet”or“Wagyu Misuji”Rare parts such as these are also very popular. Fillet is the ultimate in lean meat, and is the ultimate in tenderness, making it perfect for those who want to experience the flavor of the meat directly. The beautifully marbled misuji is truly a “meat fatty tuna” and is enjoyed with its rich aroma and melt-in-the-mouth texture. Being able to enjoy the delicate differences in taste of each part is a unique feature of Wagyu beef.
[Why is “Jan” able to provide the highest quality Wagyu beef at a reasonable price?]
When you try to eat Wagyu beef overseas, it is treated as an incredible luxury item. Even in Japan, if you go to a high-end restaurant in the city center, you’ll find top-quality A5 Kuroge Wagyu beef that costs tens of thousands of yen per meal. Why can you enjoy it at such an affordable price at our store?
We are rooted in the city of Otsuka,“We want people to enjoy the deliciousness of real Wagyu beef more easily, eat their fill, and smile.”Because I have that belief. Of course we can develop our own purchasing routes, but we can also eliminate unnecessary costs.The price is like a downtown, but the taste is like a high-end restaurant.We adhere to this concept.
Otsuka has a wide variety of faces, from modern hotels to back alleys packed with old-fashioned public baths and izakayas. Even though it’s a station next to Ikebukuro, there’s a kind of human atmosphere that makes you feel at ease. Here you can find the real daily life of Tokyo, without it becoming too much of a tourist destination. I think that’s why our restaurant, “Jan,” is chosen not only by local customers who know what’s really delicious, but also by highly sensitive overseas travelers who are looking for an “authentic experience” that can’t be found in guidebooks.
[Taste Japan’s treasure “Wagyu” in Otsuka]
“Wagyu” is highly praised overseas and continues to fascinate people all over the world. Be sure to try out the true deliciousness of A5-ranked Japanese black beef, the highest quality, for yourself at Jan in Otsuka.
“Today I want to eat delicious meat and get healthy!” “I want to make my loved ones happy!” “I want to let my friends from overseas experience authentic Japanese Yakiniku!”
In such a case, please leave it to our store. I, the manager, Yun, and all the staff look forward to your visit, providing you with warm hospitality and the best quality meat. Please come and experience the instinctive Yakiniku that is overwhelmingly cost-effective.
[Store information/reservations]
We look forward to your visit. It’s especially crowded on weekends, so it’s very convenient to make reservations online in advance!
- Official store name: Kuroge Wagyu Beef Specialty Yakiniku Stadium Jan Otsuka Main Branch
- address: 1F SK Building, 2-11-1 Kita-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- telephone number:03-3910-9065
- Click here to make a reservation:https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1323/A132302/13168261/
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