牛たんと和牛焼き 青葉 池袋東武店 at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

Sendai-born beef tongue and wagyu specialist on Tobu Ikebukuro's 13th floor, grilling aged gyutan by hand with secret tare.

Aoba is a Sendai-born gyutan specialist on the 13th floor of Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro, where craftsmen grill each slice of aged beef tongue and wagyu by hand. The meat is finished with a secret tare and grilled to order, so the umami opens up the moment you bite in. The set meals pair the signature tongue with mugimeshi - fluffy rice cooked with pressed barley - plus whisked tororo and a light tail soup, making a rounded Sendai-style plate. The bright, modern dining room welcomes solo diners and families alike, with baby chairs and children's menus available, and delivery is offered through Demae-kan. Open from late morning to ten at night and connected directly to Ikebukuro Station, Aoba is an easy stop whether you are shopping the department store or simply craving a proper tongue set. It brings a taste of Sendai's beef-tongue tradition to west Tokyo without fuss, and it invites you to sit down to a satisfying, reasonably priced meal.