One after another, as expected, the "Goku" beef tongue at "Rikyu" is delicious. I won't repeat the fact that I write about it every time. However, based on my experience of trying various beef tongues in Sendai and Tokyo, I have not encountered any beef tongue that surpasses the taste of "Rikyu" "Goku" beef tongue. Of course, everyone has their own preferences, but my criteria are basically the original taste of the beef tongue with just a little saltiness. Whether the sauce is delicious or the smoky flavor of the grill is good, those are secondary factors, and in that sense, it is not an exaggeration to say that I judge based solely on the primary deliciousness. "Beef Tongue Goku Teishoku (2 pieces, 4 slices)" (2,387 yen) + "Large Beef Tongue (3 slices)" (825 yen) - As shown in the photo. As I have written before, the Goku beef tongue is the best. The original flavor of the beef tongue, the light sprinkling of salt, the texture that comes from grilling, it's all there. This thick-cut beef tongue from Rikyu seems to be emphasizing the original taste of the beef tongue more than anywhere else, with minimal seasoning. I think it's only aged with a light sprinkling of salt, but I feel like they are cherishing the umami inherent in beef tongue. When you chew, the umami of the meat juice that comes out gently is not too much, not too fatty, and elegantly smooth. The slight saltiness blends with that flavor, and a hint of smoky grilling adds to the deliciousness of the beef tongue. I always end up with the same kind of review, but that's what I think, so there's no helping it. This time, I tried adding something I had never eaten before, the "Large Beef Tongue," for comparison. For lack of a better term, if the "Goku" beef tongue is meat, the "Large" beef tongue is on the level of ham. Not just in terms of texture and thickness, but that's how I felt. Well, it's a delicious ham, I mean beef tongue... Thank you for the meal. (By Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2023.9.6) (195 reviews/3.25)

The restaurant is located on the 7th floor of Esola. I visited after they opened. Looking at the menu, the main dish is definitely beef tongue, with the classic beef tongue set meal being a popular choice. I decided to order the premium beef tongue set meal (3 slices) and added grated yam with egg. The difference between the regular beef tongue and the premium one is said to be in the thickness and tenderness. The brown rice comes in a free large portion, so I ordered it in a large size this time. [I only eat dishes where the ingredients are cooked over direct heat, such as yakitori, eel, and yakiniku, if they are grilled over charcoal. Of course, broiling with a gas burner is equivalent. If it's grilled with gas, the smell of gas sticks to the food and the quality of the ingredients is lost. So whenever I visit a restaurant, I always call ahead to confirm whether they use gas or charcoal. I don't go to restaurants that use gas for grilling. Among charcoal grills, white charcoal, also known as Ubame oak charcoal, is the best. The far-infrared effect of charcoal, the smoke of meat juice and sauce dripping onto the charcoal, enhance the aroma, making the flavor more fragrant and delicious.] I have confirmed that they use charcoal for grilling here. After a while, the dishes were ready. The thick beef tongue, 3 slices or 6 pieces, was grilled with salt and pepper, giving it a nice charcoal aroma. It was thick, tender, and delicious. When it comes to beef tongue and brown rice, grated yam is a must. They go well together. Although the premium beef tongue is a bit expensive in terms of cost-performance, I think it's nice to indulge in thick, charcoal-grilled beef tongue once in a while. I paid with a credit card this time, although electronic money is also accepted.

Saturday afternoon lunch, anyone? (^_^) Yes, I was drawn to the delicious memories of eating in Sendai, so I went to Rikyu. But, I had my eye on the premium core tongue, and when I jumped into the menu, I ended up ordering the Toro rice. I asked the staff if the Toro was wagyu beef, and they were like, "Huh?!" and then said, "It's tuna Toro!" I was like, "What?!" and then they quickly corrected themselves, "It's beef!" I must have looked like a newbie with a "beginner" badge on my chest (^_^) Anyway, the Toro rice, premium core tongue, tongue soup, and the additional order of tongue meatballs were all perfect for lunch. Ah, it was a perfect afternoon! Enjoy!

I came to Gyutan Riku-san after a long time. Here, a regular highball costs 290 yen, and a handsome highball costs 390 yen, which makes me happy because the alcohol is cheap. It's nice to be able to compare the miso and salt flavors of the beef tongue. The staff is also bright and creates a fun atmosphere, which I think is good.

The Go To Eat tickets were running out, so I decided to visit this restaurant. Exiting the Yurakucho Line ticket gate, I found myself at Echika. From there, I took the escalator to the first floor and then the elevator to the upper floors. Although it has been around for over 10 years, I had never really been inside as it seemed a bit flashy. I took the elevator to the 7th floor where there were tenants such as a chicken restaurant, a sushi restaurant, and the restaurant I visited. The whole space was sparkling clean and had a high-class feel. I arrived around 1:30 pm and the restaurant was about half full. I don't think there are many people in Ikebukuro willing to spend 2,000 yen for lunch. Personally, I probably wouldn't have come if I didn't have the Go To Eat ticket. I ordered the beef tongue set meal for 2,409 yen and a side of grated yam for 220 yen. The salad was delicious, including the dressing and the salad itself. The oxtail soup had a good flavor, light and with plenty of green onions. When I added pepper, the flavor deepened and it tasted great. The portion size was substantial. The pickled Chinese cabbage served as a light accompaniment, complementing the beef tongue well. The beef tongue was tender and easy to chew, although I found it a bit too salty. The miso flavor was borderline, but the salt flavor was too overpowering, numbing my taste buds. Overall, it was a bit disappointing. I'm unsure about revisiting this restaurant, but Echika is clean, bright, and has a nice view, so I plan to visit other eateries there in the future.

Located on the 7th floor of Esora at the west exit of Ikebukuro, this restaurant is a popular spot for beef tongue from the hometown of Sendai. I had made a reservation for dinner, and was seated at a table. I started off with a cold beer to relax. While they also offer set meals, I decided to order beef tongue as a side dish for my beer. I ordered 2 pieces of thick-cut beef tongue and tongue stew. The tongue stew arrived first, and it was tender and flavorful. I used to not be a fan of tongue stew, but I've grown to enjoy it recently. The stew at this restaurant was delicious. As I savored the stew with my beer, the beef tongue arrived. The first time I tried thick-cut beef tongue in Sendai, I was amazed by its texture and flavor. It had been a while, but it was still delicious. Of course, it paired perfectly with the beer. While I had it as a side for beer on this day, beef tongue also goes well with barley rice or grated yam. I enjoyed the delicious beef tongue and tongue stew in a casual atmosphere. It was a satisfying dinner.

Beef tongue set meal (3 pieces, 6 slices) with free extra rice. The rice is barley rice, served in a large bowl with a generous portion. For children, half of the rice is cut into smaller pieces. The beef tongue is juicy and delicious, although some parts may be a bit tough. The oxtail soup is a bit lacking in flavor. The pickles are light and refreshing, a nice palate cleanser. The dessert is a steamed bun filled with matcha, red bean paste, and cream. The matcha flavor is authentic and delicious.

I wanted to eat Ikinari Steak's beef tongue, so I searched if there was one in Ikebukuro... and I found it! I went there for lunch. I took the elevator to the 7th floor. The restaurant was small, with about 30% of the tables occupied. I wanted thick beef tongue, so I ordered the salt-flavored beef tongue. It was ready in about 10 minutes. The beef tongue wasn't very big, but it had a nice texture with a salty flavor. It went well with the barley rice. The pickled cabbage was a bit disappointing as it had a fridge smell. The spicy green chili pepper that came with it was tasty but a bit too spicy for me. I also had grated yam with raw egg yolk and special soy sauce on the side, which was delicious. After the meal, I felt like I had visited Sendai and had a great time.

There are many things to consider, but when I feel like I messed up, I treat myself to "Gokumi" to cheer myself up. Switching gears is important. If something seems hopeless, try changing your perspective completely and tackle things you've been putting off. Why not do things in reverse order? Thank you, Toshihisa. Thank you, "Gokumi." It's definitely Abekan (lol).

In the era of business trips in 2021, it was always a must to get pumped up at Gransta Rikyu in Tokyo Station before departing on a business trip. Now that it's available everywhere, you can eat it anytime, but I personally like the Rikyu at Jojo's Atre or Esola in Ikebukuro because you can drink there. I've eaten at the main store in Sendai during a business trip, but there wasn't much of a difference. I stopped by Esola for the first time in a while. By the way, I've only ever ordered the "Gokumi" because I don't want to miss out. Usually, if I'm getting a set meal, I'll go for 4 pieces or 8 slices, and if I'm just drinking, I'll go for 5 pieces or 10 slices. The chewiness, juicy meat juices, and lingering umami flavor~♪ Goes well with beer~♪ Sometimes there are disappointing stores, but... still, is the Gokumi a bit small?

Next to Ikebukuro Station, there is a beef tongue restaurant located inside "Esola". I first tried it when they started serving it in Sendai, and I still remember how delicious it was. The beef tongue set meal with 4 pieces of 8-cut beef tongue costs 2,211 yen. The rice portion is normal. The person next to me ordered a large portion of rice and it was a huge amount. The taste can vary depending on the chef grilling it, but this time it was delicious!! It goes really well with barley rice. I want to savor it slowly, but if the tongue gets cold, it becomes tough. However, the sensation of chewing it tightly is also delicious. As of May 2021, all the restaurants on the same floor of "Esola" are temporarily closed. The overall atmosphere is dim, resembling a dystopia. It's tough to survive without alcohol, so are they open because they can or because they have to...? It's a harsh world. Oh, and for a beef tongue set meal, it also comes with dessert and a small side dish. Furthermore, the menu at Rikyu is expanding rapidly. It's difficult to stick to just one set meal. I think there's a rule that once a menu starts to become unfocused, it's in trouble... Personally, I hope this restaurant stays open. Anyway, the beef tongue set meal is a masterpiece. Thank you for the meal~.

Located on the 7th floor of the commercial facility directly connected to Ikebukuro Station, this place was surprisingly empty on weekdays. Unlike typical gyutan (beef tongue) set meals, it came with plenty of pickled vegetables, which seemed to be nutritious. I also tried the gyutan stew, and the meat was incredibly tender and delicious. It was almost melting in my mouth! It also came with grated yam, but it was not seasoned, so I added soy sauce from the table to suit my taste. I personally prefer when the grated yam has some dashi (broth) in it, so I felt it was slightly lacking in that aspect, but overall, the gyutan was so tasty that I could overlook that.

When you exit the ticket gate at Ikebukuro Station and head towards the west exit, you will find the station building "Esola". On the 7th floor of this building is a popular beef tongue restaurant from Sendai. I first tried beef tongue in Sendai over 10 years ago and was amazed by its thickness and deliciousness. Since I haven't had the chance to go to Sendai recently, I decided to visit this restaurant to have the authentic taste once again. It was a busy afternoon near the end of the year, and I had to wait for about 10 minutes before being seated at a clean table in the middle of the restaurant. I started with a glass of draft beer. For food, we ordered beef tongue set meals and tongue stew to share. The beef tongue was still thick and had a great texture and flavor. It really is delicious! It goes well with beer too. The tongue stew was surprisingly tender and had a different texture and taste compared to beef stew, but it was also delicious. While rice might go well with it, I continued to enjoy my beer. Having a luxurious lunch with beef tongue and tongue stew as snacks was a delightful experience. Although I usually enjoy stew and grilled skewers for lunch, indulging in such a luxurious meal was also enjoyable. I now have a craving to visit Sendai again and have the authentic beef tongue.

Ikebukuro Metropolitan Exit, located on the 7th floor, is a favorite spot for Mr. Rikyu's daughter. We arrived at exactly 11 o'clock and were seated immediately. The daughter ordered the Beef Tongue Taste Comparison Set, while I ordered the Beef Tongue Extreme Set with 4 pieces of 8 slices each. First, small dishes were served, followed by barley rice, soup, surprisingly dessert first, and then the main dish of beef tongue arrived! The Extreme beef tongue was thickly cut, providing a satisfying chewiness. It was cooked rare, making it incredibly juicy inside. When eaten with the green chili miso pickle, the flavor becomes even more delicious. The white cabbage pickles provided were light and tasty. The Taste Comparison set included salt-grilled and miso-grilled beef tongue. Although thinner than the Extreme set, it still had a satisfying meatiness. Personally, I found the thinner slices easier to eat and more crispy. The oxtail soup had plenty of green onions and contained about 4 small pieces of oxtail meat. Adding some pepper as an accent made it even more delicious. I wanted to have seconds of the soup alone! I'm not a big fan of rice, so I ordered grated yam as an addition. With some soy sauce on it, it was easy to eat. I ordered the grated yam with egg yolk, and with a little soy sauce on the barley rice, I finished every last bite! Thank you for the meal!

This is a shop on the 7th floor of Esola at Ikebukuro West Exit. It has been a while since I visited Esola, and the shops have changed quite a bit. There used to be a lot of miscellaneous goods stores, but this one has its main store in Sendai. Speaking of Sendai, it's known for its beef tongue dishes. The Kofuku set meal costs 1,892 yen including tax, and it includes 4 slices of beef tongue. You can choose from three types of mini beef tongue stew: curry, tomato stew, or beef tongue stew. I chose the beef tongue stew. The set also includes a mini salad, oxtail soup, and barley rice. You can choose the portion size of the rice. For dessert, they serve seasonal Japanese sweets like the Date tea cream daifuku, which is delicious. The miso Kofuku set meal costs 1,892 yen and comes with a salad with two slices of smoked beef tongue, plenty of cabbage, and tomato stew. The beef tongue is abundant with carrots and potatoes. The oxtail soup has three pieces of tail and plenty of green onions for a refreshing taste. There is a mountain of pickles and two types of spicy miso. The Date tea cream daifuku is filled with cream and red bean paste, covered in plenty of matcha. The beef tongue is thick and chewy, offering a satisfying taste. You can choose from three flavors: salt, miso, and extreme. There are plenty of options to choose from, making it an enjoyable experience. Even men will be satisfied with the amount of food. Overall, it was a satisfying dining experience with a variety of choices.

When I went on a business trip to Sendai last time, I didn't eat the beef tongue at Riku and went home. Since there are several branches in Tokyo, I finally stopped by on the evening of the first day of work in Ikebukuro for several days. Here, I ordered the beef tongue with salt and oxtail soup as a single item. The oxtail soup was decently delicious. The shredded leeks were a bit coarse. The taste was not chemical, but the tenderness of the oxtail meat was decent. The beef tongue had a good chewy texture and was quite delicious, but I prefer it to be a bit milder. Overall, it's relatively tasty, I guess? The side pickles had a good volume, which was quite pleasing. I think the chili oil with beef at Riku is delicious.

Unearthed from the archives. The first time I tried thick-cut beef tongue in Sendai, it was at Rikyu. At that time, I only knew thin slices, so I remember trembling at the deliciousness. Rikyu has since expanded to Ikebukuro, and even after several years, it remains the go-to place for beef tongue set meals at lunchtime. The atmosphere can vary depending on the chef, but today's meal was excellent!

Since the long weekend in March, it has been half a year since I got off at Ikebukuro. The town is crowded as usual. Everyone is wearing masks, but nothing else seems to have changed. The public hall has been replaced by a huge building with many tenants. After finishing exploring Ikebukuro, I got hungry and went to Etika for some beef tongue. It's a bit cramped but has a cozy hideaway feel. When I want to eat a hearty beef tongue, I come here instead of Negishi. I ordered the usual set. The beef tongue is thick and satisfying to eat, with a good flavor that goes well with the barley rice. Unfortunately, there are no free refills for grated yam, but if you order it, you might end up with too much food (laughs). The price is a bit higher than Negishi, but considering the appetizer of tongue, the large meat in the tail soup, and the dessert, it's quite a good value with a lot of volume. It's also quieter and more relaxing to eat here than at Negishi. It seems like a place where you can come alone. It was quite a treat. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. After enjoying Ikebukuro after a long time, I headed straight home.

I usually go to various beef tongue restaurants, but on this day, I went to the chain called Rikyu, which is known for being cost-effective. It is located inside the station. Since I visited in the evening, I decided to order a la carte instead of a set meal. I ordered the Beef Tongue Extreme Grilled and Miso as individual items. While waiting for the beef tongue, I enjoyed a beer. The Extreme Thick-Cut Beef Tongue and Miso Grilled are both incredibly delicious. In particular, the Extreme Thick-Cut Beef Tongue has a great chewy texture and the lemon flavor pairs perfectly with it. The miso grilled beef tongue has a strong miso flavor, making it enjoyable on its own. If you want to enjoy beef tongue and beer, this is the place to go.

After finishing work and feeling hungry, I got off at Ikebukuro station! I wandered around and decided to go to a beef tongue restaurant called "Rikyu" in Esola. It was the weekend, so I was wondering if I could go in alone – when I reached the 7th floor and saw that the restaurant was not crowded. I thought I would be seated at the counter, but I was shown to a table instead. Looking around, I noticed that the seats were filling up quickly. I ordered the beef tongue set meal for 1650 yen, which included 3 slices of beef tongue, a generous portion of barley rice, free extra rice, oxtail soup, a small side dish, and pickles. Of course, the spicy pickles, which are the perfect companion for beef tongue, were included. The beef tongue had a good thickness and a nice chewy texture without being overcooked, with just the right amount of rareness. The portion size was just right, and the pickled cabbage side dish was plentiful and a nice palate cleanser. I particularly enjoyed the oxtail soup, which had plenty of leeks and a rich broth. Overall, it was a satisfying meal, although I wished that grated yam had been included in the set meal. I forgot to order it separately, but it was still a great dining experience. "Thank you for the meal."

For the past 20 years, I have been wanting to eat beef tongue. Finally, today felt like the day to fulfill that wish, and when I thought of beef tongue, I immediately decided to visit Rikyu after seeing the set menu of eel, roast beef, and beef tongue in front of the shop! (The previous day was the Midsummer Day of the Ox). Upon entering the shop, I confirmed that the shop was located on a high floor with a good view. I was seated at the best seat by the window!! (However, the seats next to other customers felt very close...) The atmosphere inside the shop was lively, and I could hear the staff's voices clearly when repeating the orders! I ordered the set meal that included the eel, roast beef bowl, and beef tongue, which was the reason for my visit!! But then!!! The staff seemed flustered⁉︎ After that, I saw them talking with the kitchen staff and realized that it was a limited menu only available on the previous day, the Midsummer Day of the Ox. I was nervous about what would happen next, but luckily, my order was accepted^_^ I felt more excited than usual about my order, haha. After waiting for about 8 minutes, something that looked absolutely delicious arrived. When I took a bite of the eel, it was like entering a whole new world... Next, the beef tongue. "This is what I wanted to eat." The thickly sliced tongue was completely different from the beef tongue I usually eat at yakiniku chains, and I was impressed. And when I ate it with the carefully prepared barley rice, I couldn't stop eating. Before I knew it, I had reached the last bite, and I finished it. The price was around 2000 yen, so I indulged a little, but I felt no guilt at all, which is proof that I had enjoyed something delicious! Rikyu's beef tongue not only offers delicious beef tongue but also pays attention to the rice served with it!! I want to go again~