Tan Ichi

A restaurant that has been around since 1902 or the 35th year of Meiji, Tan Ichi is the restaurant connected to the Ryokan: Chichibukan. It specializes in a particular regional cuisine made with Ayu Sweetfish.

Tan Ichi makes a great stop during a day trip to Nagatoro.

What is Tan Ichi Like?

This is an ideal lunch spot for those who want to try a unique regional staple in Japanese cuisine. Ayu Sweetfish is a type of trout that lives in the Arakawa River and is usually enjoyed salted and grilled over fire throughout Japan, but at Tan Ichi, you can enjoy this locally plentiful fish in any way and form. The staff speak minimal English but the menu is in simple Japanese, and the staff are eager to interact with you.

The menu is on the larger side, but we wholeheartedly recommend the Ayu meshi set, famous for its unique cooking method of cooking the rice in a metal pot with a pair of grilled ayu sweetfish and then covered with green onions. It comes with a selection of pickled vegetables and grilled eggplant with Ayu karaage covered in a sweet and sour sauce.

Besides this lunch set, they also have a wide variety of ayu cooked in a variety of ways; our top recommendation is the classic salted Ayu grilled over flame and Ayu steamed and cooked using sake. We also recommend shaved ice, which is perfect on a hot summer’s day, and soba for those who prefer eating something besides Ayu.

What to know before visiting Tan Ichi

Do you need reservations?

No reservation is needed for lunch. However, at the moment, dinner is reservation only.

Anything to go?

The Restaurant has grilled and salted Ayu on a stick to go, as well as a variety of pickled and iced vegetable snacks on hot summer days. If you prefer to buy something to take home, Tan-ichi sells marinated and preserved Ayu Sweetfish for sale on the stalls outside.

Last order time?

3:00 p.m. for their Ayu meshi set, though heads up, there is a chance they could run out of Ayu for the day and close shop early.

Other info.

Takeout & Delivery: Takeout option available for grilled salted ayu and chilled vegetable snacks on a stick, no delivery.

by Patrick Balfe