Nagomitei Tanakaya

Centrally located in Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Nagomitei Tanakaya is headed by chef Tanaka Katashi. Since childhood, Katashi gravitated towards the life of a chef, catching and cooking his own fish daily. Now, with over 35 years in the restaurant industry, he prepares the menu by paying attention to the origin of his ingredients and special consideration towards his guests. The restaurant's specialties include the conger eel, which is dried overnight — and yet another is “hitori-nabe” (hot pot for one), allowing diners to enjoy a one-portion hot pot in the company of the chef at the counter (though recently Chef Tanaka has started taking orders only from parties of two diners and up). Those looking to upgrade their course menu options are also welcome to supplement with additions from the a la carte list — it's the best way to try everything on the restaurant's extensive menu. There are more than 25 kinds of a la carte dishes to choose from. The overnight-dried conger eel pairs beautifully with nihonshu (sake). Hiroshima is known all over Japan for the quality of its oysters, and here at Nagomitei, the oyster tempura dish is especially succulent. For those who prefer to avoid seafood, the ginkgo nut tempura is another extremely popular option. Another speciality is bikkuri dashimaki tamago, a large omelet that uses five eggs. The chef often goes to the market to choose fresh and seasonal ingredients, so guests can also savor seasonal fish, like pike. Nagomitei Tanakaya is located a 9-minute walk from Fukuromachi Station on foot, just south of the famed Peace Boulevard, which runs through the Peace Memorial Park. Easy to get to, reasonably priced and served with the widest of smiles, it's popular both among visitors from overseas and locals alike.