The coastal town of Shiogama is known as a fierce battleground for sushi, boasting one of the highest catches of fresh tuna and production volumes of processed fish products in Japan. In addition to sushi restaurants, Shiogama is home to many establishments using local seafood and long-established restaurants that have been loved by the locals for many years. In this column, we will introduce five popular gourmet spots in Shiogama that need no introduction. If you are looking for a delicious place to eat lunch or dinner in Shiogama, please use this as a reference.
Located at the entrance to Marine Gate Shiogama, this Italian restaurant offers stunning harbor views. The lunch menu features a wide variety of options, including about four pizza and four pasta sets, as well as meat and fish sets. The pasta and pizzas generously use fresh seafood delivered directly from the Shiogama market, allowing you to enjoy Blair Marina's original and creatively prepared dishes. As a special touch, when you order pasta, they grate Grana Padano cheese right in front of your table.
The restaurant was almost full, with a noticeable number of families and female customers, and the lively voices of people enjoying their holiday lunch filled the air, demonstrating its immense popularity. The waitstaff were busy and never stopped to attend to customers, but their cheerful voices filled the restaurant, creating a pleasant atmosphere for enjoying a meal. Blair Marina's hospitality was exceptional; the coffee I requested "after the meal, please" was brought to me naturally just as I finished my meal. I felt that they were paying close attention to each table, and I truly appreciated their attentive service.
In Shiogama, there are three ramen shops that are considered the go-to place for ramen, and "Rairaiken" is one of them. This long-established restaurant has been in business for over 70 years and is loved by people of all ages, from local students and families to elderly couples.
This Chinese noodle shop is located along Route 3, a 1-2 minute walk from the shrine approach exit of Hon-Shiogama Station. I entered the shop just after its opening time of 11:00 AM, but it was full, probably because it was peak time.
Signs are posted throughout the restaurant requiring customers to wear masks when not eating or drinking, and thorough hand sanitization is required before sitting down, demonstrating that they have taken every precaution against COVID-19.
The restaurant is packed during peak hours every day, and the staff are constantly busy, but it's known for its incredibly fast service, with food arriving in about 5 minutes after ordering.
The ramen and fried rice I ordered this time both had a simple yet carefully prepared taste reminiscent of the good old days. It seems that some regulars come here every day just for this taste. With ramen priced at 580 yen and fried rice at 600 yen, the incredible value for money explains why this place still enjoys such strong support in Shiogama.
This is one of Miyagi Prefecture's leading sushi restaurants. It's a famous establishment that locals recommend, saying, "If you're going to eat sushi in Shiogama, you have to go to Sushi Tetsu!" It's so popular that customers come from far and wide all year round.
This restaurant, a pioneer in spreading Shiogama sushi throughout Japan, is also featured in the book "Shiogama Sushi Tetsu Monogatari" (The Story of Shiogama Sushi Tetsu).
The menu features "nigiri" and "chirashi" sushi, categorized into four ranks, along with a selection of à la carte dishes and sushi rolls.
"Nigiri" is served on a large Arita ware plate decorated with red patterns, and includes various types of sushi such as nigiri, gunkan, and maki.
The "chirashi" features cucumbers with decorative cuts that are both artistic and impressive. These decorative cuts seem to be inspired by Matsushima. Both dishes are visually appealing and exciting even before you take a bite.
The seafood caught in the Sanriku Sea offers a wide variety of delicacies depending on the season. Among them, Sushi Tetsu's particular focus is on "Sasanishiki" rice, harvested locally in the Osaki Plain in northern Miyagi Prefecture, and "fresh tuna" sourced from top-class intermediaries. For gunkanmaki (battleship rolls), they use fragrant nori seaweed from the local Matsushima Bay. Sushi Tetsu is characterized by more than fulfilling the three conditions for delicious sushi: fish, rice, and nori.
Shiogama sushi uses plenty of fresh seafood sourced from the Shiogama wholesale market and Sasanishiki rice from Miyagi Prefecture, a renowned rice-producing region. Please come and experience its deliciousness for yourself.
In the November 2021 Tabelog conveyor belt sushi rankings, it reigned as the 6th best conveyor belt sushi restaurant in the Tohoku region.
This is a famous restaurant that has been featured on numerous TV shows and in the media, including being recommended by the comedy duo Sandwichman, who are from Miyagi Prefecture, as their favorite sushi restaurant in their hometown.
My recommendation is the "mako shark heart sashimi," which is only available from autumn to the end of the year. It has absolutely no fishy smell, a soft yet springy texture similar to spot prawns, and is delicious with ponzu sauce.
When it comes to sweets in Shiogama, this is the place! A gelato specialty shop run by the second generation of a fruit shop that has been in business for over 50 years. Their authentic gelato, popular with locals, has been featured on television and in the media many times.
The menu apparently changes with the seasons, and there were so many interesting flavors and tempting options that I couldn't help but wonder which one to choose.
There are two ways to order: in a cup or in a cone (+50 yen). Flavors are divided into premium and regular flavors, and the price varies depending on the combination. • Regular Single (¥410) • Regular Double (¥464) • Premium Single (¥507) • Premium Double (¥615) • Regular Premium Double (¥594)
After much deliberation, I decided to order the Regular Premium Double this time.
Cassata: A cheese ice cream with dried fruit and nuts. It has a fragrant flavor and a crunchy texture, making it a refined taste.
Persimmon: An unusual flavor for fruit ice cream. It has no strong aftertaste and a smooth texture, like a ripe persimmon.
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