Gyūtan-yaki

Gyutan-yaki is grilled beef tongue and a specialty of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture. The word gyutan combines gyu, meaning cattle, with tan, derived from the English word tongue; yaki refers to the grilled preparation. Charcoal grilling is a familiar method, and a serving is commonly accompanied by barley rice, pickles and oxtail soup.^[1][2]

Specialist gyutan restaurants are found around Sendai Station and elsewhere in the city. The association with Sendai remains strong even though beef-tongue dishes are now served across Japan. Beyond the grilled form, the meat also appears in curry, stew, rice bowls and bento meals. These preparations share the ingredient, while gyutan-yaki specifically identifies the grilled dish.^[1][2]