Kyushu Spring 2014 九州春季之旅 - Ichi Nii San Tenmonkan Branch いちにいさん天 文館店

Visited 24.03.2014

First night in Kagoshima. First thing that came to my mind was to find a good restaurant that serves superior kurobuta (black fur pig) that Kagoshima is proud of! Have bought kurobuta from Kagoshima from Isetan in Singapore to savour during steamboat sessions at home and I love the sweetness and tender texture of the meat. Followed the travel guide book - took the electric tram from Kagoshima Chuo to the shopping district of Tenmonkan. Ichi nii san is easily distinguished by this huge symbol of Kurobuta's rear and its short tail with white marking at the end.

Bottom center: Dipped the meat into "soba tsuyu"; Bottom right: yuzu pepper can be added to ponzu sauce.

Kurobuta vs soba. Ordered the shabu shabu set which comes with kurobuta, vegetables, meatballs and buckwheat soba. Kagoshima's kurobuta is raised on sweet potatoes which gives the meat that distinct flavour and sweetness. Ichi nii san selects the belly portion of kurobuta for shabu shabu. Only a few swishes of each thinly sliced of rosy marbled meat in boiling water is required and the mouth watering meat is ready for consumption! Ichi nii san actually originated as a restaurant selling buckwheat soba. Therefore, instead of the usual sesame dipping sauce provided for shabu shabu, Ichi nii san created their very own ponzu sauce, known as "soba tsuyu", to match both the meat and soba. Spicy yuzu pepper and crispy white spring onions (白ねぎ) can be added to the sauce to further elevate the taste of the meat. Was my first time eating shabu shabu this way and I enjoyed my dipping sauce with a huge serving of freshly cut white spring onions. Had a satisfying dinner as the meat did not disappoint at all. Looks like Kagoshima's kurobuta is going to stay on our menu for future steamboat sessions back at home!

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Ichi Nii San Tenmonkan Branch いちにいさん 天文館店
鹿児島市東千石町11-6　そばビル2・3F (2nd & 3rd floor)
Opening hrs: 1130 - 2200 hrs
http://ichiniisan.jp/


Other branches in Kagoshima:

Ichi Nii San Kagoshima AMU Plaza
鹿児島市中央町1番1 アミュプラザ鹿児島5F (5th floor)
Opening hrs: 1100 - 2300 hrs