Must-try foods in Hiroshima! 6 traditional, long-established and trending new foods

Lemon & Oyster Garden SANGO: Relax and enjoy oysters by the river

"Lemon & Oyster Garden SANGO" opened in a corner of the tourist spot "Kyobashi River Open Cafe" in the Kyobashi area of Hashimotocho, Naka Ward. It is an Italian bar where you can enjoy a relaxing time along the river, just like Hiroshima, which is also known as the city of water.

The bright, glass-walled restaurant lets in plenty of sunlight and has 22 tables. There is also a terrace, where you can enjoy a pleasant breeze on special days, creating a special atmosphere.

We toasted with "Oyster City Pale Ale / Hiroshima Craft" (1,100 yen including tax). This beer uses oyster shells in the brewing process, which allows the minerals in the shells to dissolve into the beer, resulting in a mellow taste. It's refreshing, easy to drink, and delicious.

A great dish to go with beer is Hiroshima's specialty "Aburi Cornelia" (980 yen including tax). It's thinly sliced but chewy, and the flavor spreads as you bite into it, with the black pepper and lemon accents being just right. It's also rich in collagen and gelatin, so it's a very popular menu item with women.

"Sea urchin hominy with yolk" (920 yen including tax). Spinach and sea urchin fried in butter, topped with diced bacon, makes this a satisfying dish. Mix it with the runny egg yolk, place it on a baguette and enjoy. You can feel the richness of the rich egg yolk, but the flavor of the butter and the presence of the sea urchin are not lost!

The drink that goes with it is actually Japanese sake. The "Yoshinozuru - Yakigaki ni Ichijona Junmaishu" (1 go, 1,000 yen, tax included) is a deliberately low-alcohol drink with only 10% alcohol. It has a slightly fragrant, fruity, and refreshing taste.

And of course, you can't go wrong with raw oysters! If you order the "Assorted Raw Oysters 4 Pieces (Magaki)" (2,300 yen including tax), you can enjoy raw oysters carefully selected by region and season.
The lineup for the day was four types: "Uchiumi" from Hiroshima, "Senposhi" from Hokkaido, "Naruto" from Tokushima, and "Aioi" from Hyogo. They are all different in size and flavor, and comparing the deliciousness of each one is a blissful experience!

An Italian bar where you can enjoy the different atmospheres at lunch and dinner. Enjoy Hiroshima's unique cuisine and drinks with a beautiful view and relax in the slow flow of time.

Lemon & Oyster Garden SANGO

Enjoy the specialty oysters and conger eel rice in a charming Japanese space at Kakiden

Kakiden, a 40-year-old long-established local restaurant located a 5-minute walk from Hiroshima Station, serves not only oyster dishes, but also conger eel dishes, including conger eel rice, which is a local favorite.

The restaurant has a historic Japanese atmosphere, and is equipped with not only table seating but also private rooms and sunken kotatsu tables. You can relax in a comfortable Japanese atmosphere.

The first thing you should try is the "Usuzuri Anago" (2,000 yen including tax). Fresh, live local conger eel is thinly sliced and served as sashimi, with the refreshing combination of green onions, grated momiji leaf daikon radish, and ponzu sauce.

This transparent, thin slicing is the work of a professional! When I tried it, it had a chewy yet moist texture, and a deep flavor and sweetness that you wouldn't expect from white meat. I couldn't stop eating it after trying it for the first time.

"Kaki Mikuni Yaki" (320 yen including tax) is made by placing the oyster meat inside an oyster shell, pouring a special sauce containing onions, carrots, garlic, etc., and baking it in the oven.
They use "Kaki Komachi," a Hiroshima brand of oysters that have been bred to be delicious even in the summer, and the thick, plump oysters go perfectly with the rich sauce!

This "Kamimushi" (650 yen including tax) also uses "Kaki Komachi". This is a masterpiece steamed with a sauce made from a blend of sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, etc. The moment you bite into it, the fragrant flavor spreads softly and the rich oyster meat melts in your mouth.

The "Conger Eel Rice" (1,000 yen including tax), which is as popular as the oysters, is served in a large bamboo steamer! The set also includes pickles, small side dishes, and miso soup.

When you open the lid, you'll find a generous amount of plump steamed conger eel, topped with colorful ingredients such as seaweed, mitsuba (Japanese parsley), shredded egg, and pickled ginger, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors.

The rice is cooked in broth made from the bones of the conger eel, topped with the stewed conger eel and finished with a special sauce. The fluffy conger eel and the slightly firm cooked rice create an elegant marriage. It's very filling and very satisfying!

From a la carte dishes centered around oysters and conger eel to hotpots and rice as a final dish, enjoy popular local specialties in the atmosphere that only a long-established restaurant can offer.

Oyster Legend

Whether it's traditional cuisine that continues to preserve the flavor of the past, or the latest gourmet cuisine that incorporates new elements in appearance and taste, both dishes are full of the passion of the restaurant. If you visit Hiroshima, be sure to enjoy a tour of both long-established and new gourmet restaurants.

Interview and text: Hatsumi Ito