Sendai Travel Guide for Food Lovers: 3 best eateries near Sendai Sta. to savor autumn and winter food from Offshore Sanriku

‘Offshore Sanriku’ in the Pacific Ocean facing Miyagi prefecture is the place where the warm current joins with the cold one. Besides, clear water from mountains pours into the sea through the ria coast, so two types of planktons are breeding. A great variety of fish gather here to eat these planktons, and the amount of catches is abundant. Thus, Offshore Sanriku is recognized as one of the world’s three major fishing spots along with the coast of Norway and Grand Banks in Canada. This time, we focused on seafood from Offshore Sanriku whose best season is winter and fall. We’re going to introduce 3 recommended eateries near Sendai Station for food lovers.

Local dish with about 400 years of history offered only for fall -“Arahama Sendai Shop”

‘Harako Meshi (はらこ飯, Salmon and Salmon Roe Rice)’ is one of the local dishes leading Miyagi prefecture: salmon simmered with soy sauce, sake and sweet rice wine and salmon roe are topped on rice cooked with salmon broth. It’s said that this local dish was born at Watari-cho (亘理町) in the southern part of Miyagi. In the 1600s, Masamune Date, the lord of Sendai, visited Watari-cho and surprised at how delicious Harako Meshi was. If you crave for eating such Harako Meshi, “Arahama Sendai Shop (あら浜 仙台店)” is our recommendation. The owner-chef knows the ins and outs of the sea and seafood because he was a fisherman. He carefully selects autumn salmon and salmon roe grown in offshore Sanriku without compromising and uses the kind of rice suitable for Harako Meshi. It’s offered only for the best seasons of autumn salmon, between early September and early December. The taste created by seasoned rice with the broth rich in Umami of salmon, fatty salmon and salmon roe with a nice pop texture is unique to Arahama.

Opening Hours	Lunch 11:30AM – 2:00PM／Dinner 5:00PM – 9:00PM Closed on Wednesday and New Year’s Holidays *If Wednesday is a holiday, it closes on the next day. *They have about two irregular holidays once a month.
Address	Saito Building 1F, 1-10-15 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Access	A 11-minute walk from Sendai Station／A 16-minute walk from Sendai Washington Hotel
URL	http://www.arahama.jp/

You can try a luxury brand of Bigeye tuna ‘Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono’ from 780 yen -The Tuna specialty restaurant “Maguroya Yamamoto”

Bigeye tuna are caught in Offshore Sanriku from September to December and landed at a fish market at Shiogama city in the center part of Miyagi prefecture. Especially, the ones, that have excellent freshness and color, fat and taste and are recognized by fish brokers, are called ‘Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono (三陸塩竈ひがしもの).’ Bigeye tuna that can satisfy these strict standards is so rare that it’s said to be 1 in 100. Anyway, “Maguroya Yamamoto (まぐろ屋 やまもと)” offers this branded tuna for reasonable prices. It’s a tuna specialty restaurant where you can eat various dishes using tuna, such as Sashimi and rice bowl, from around 500 yen. They prepare ‘Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono’ during only its best season for surprising price: Sashimi is 780 yen, Rice Bowl is 1,980 yen. It seems that the owner can get high-quality Sanriku Shiogama Higashimono for reasonable prices because he works in the wholesale market as a fish broker. Lots of thick and fatty fish fillets are topped on rice and fill your mouth with mouth-watering flavors.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 11:00PM　Open all year round
Address	Higashi-Ichi Market 1F, 4-5-16 Ichiban-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Access	A 16-minute walk from Sendai Station／A 19-minute walk from Sendai Washington Hotel
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4021345/

You can enjoy a full-course meal made from oyster from Matsushima Bay -“Kaki Matsushima Kouha Sendai Station East Exit Shop”

Matsushima Bay has a superb view created by 260 large and small islands and ria coast. In the calm and shallow bay, oyster farming began in the middle of 1800 and became in earnest in late 1800s. Today, most of the oyster farms in Japan use seed oysters from Matsushima Bay. The oysters, that grew up until the time perfect for eating in the bay, are a little small. But, they are firm-textured and have rich Umami. Having the main shop at Matsushima, “Kaki Matsushima Kouha Sendai Station East Exit Shop (かき松島 こうは 仙台駅東口店)” is an oyster specialty restaurant allowing even those who don’t have enough time to visit Matsushima savor carefully selected oysters from Matsushima Bay. Our recommendation is ‘Oyster Express (オイスターエクスプレス, reservation required).’ It’s a course meal containing Shabu-Shabu, Hitsumabushi (chopped broiled oyster over rice) and more. In addition, there are a great variety of oyster dishes such as appetizers and hot pot. By the way, the season from October to March is the best season for eating oyster. The nourishing body is fatty, and the rich and has a creamy taste that contains plenty of sea scent.

Opening Hours	6:00PM – 9:00PM　Irregular Holidays *We recommend you contact with this restaurant before visiting.
Address	2F 2-2-2 Tsutsujigaoka, Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Sendai Prefecture
Access	A 11-minute walk from Sendai Station／A 16-minute walk from Sendai Washington Hotel
URL	http://www.kakikouha.com/sendaiekihigasigutiten.html