Introduction
Hello, this is GOK from the Shinjuku local media site Daily Shinjuku.
Today, I visited the popular offal restaurant Horumon Chiba Shinjuku, located in Shinjuku Sanchome, and would like to introduce it to you.
A Horumon Restaurant from Kyoto, Now in Shinjuku Sanchome
Horumon Chiba Shinjuku is the Shinjuku branch of a horumon (grilled offal) restaurant originally founded in Kyoto.
The original Kyoto shop was established in 2004 by the late Yoshihiro Chiba with the goal of serving “the most delicious horumon in Japan.”
The restaurant is known for grilling offal on a custom-made square iron plate and finishing the meal with noodles such as soba or udon.
Instead of traditional grill grates, where meat juices drip away, Horumon Chiba developed a square iron plate with a special outlet to collect the flavorful juices.
The juices are directed into a special sauce, allowing guests to enjoy every bit of umami without waste.
In addition to Kyoto, branches are located in Osaka, Shibuya, and Shinjuku.
The Shinjuku branch is about a three-minute walk from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, tucked into a side street off Kaname-dori, an area lined with izakaya. Nearby are popular spots such as Unakushi Yakitori Ufuku and Niboshi Chuka Soba Suzuran.
The restaurant has also been featured on Japanese television programs such as Sakagami & Sashihara’s Unbreakable Shops and Ousama no Brunch.
This was my first visit.
Interior of Horumon Chiba Shinjuku
The interior is compact, consisting of a U-shaped counter with 14 seats.
When I visited after 8:00 p.m. on a weekday, I was able to enter without waiting.
Reservations are available on weekdays, but not on weekends or public holidays.
Due to the location, many customers appear to be office workers stopping by after work.
In front of each counter seat sits the restaurant’s signature square iron plate.
Menu (Partial List)
- Chiba Course (per person) – ¥3,498 (tax included)
- Premium Harami – ¥2,271
- Premium Tongue – ¥2,032
- Premium Tongue Sashimi – ¥2,032
- Harami Sashimi – ¥2,153
- Fresh Senmai – ¥1,064
- Tongue Yukhoe – ¥1,790
- Chilled Tomato – ¥580
- Kimchi – ¥605
The Chiba Course includes five salt-seasoned cuts (Koku Shio), four black-sauce cuts, and a noodle dish (choice of udon or soba).
Although individual items can be ordered, the course is recommended for first-time visitors.
The Chiba Course Experience
Since it was my first visit, I ordered the Chiba Course.
I began with draft beer (¥605) and kimchi (¥605), along with the complimentary simmered appetizer (nikomi).
The nikomi featured tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat with a gentle seasoning. It significantly raised expectations for the horumon to come.
Koku Shio (Five Salt-Seasoned Cuts)
The course begins with five salt-seasoned cuts:
- Aka (short rib trimmings)
- Marucho (small intestine)
- Tsunagi (neck)
- Tankori (throat)
- Abutan (pork tongue)
Each cut is grilled by the staff in front of you to ensure optimal timing.
The special salt sauce has a garlic-forward green onion flavor.
The salt seasoning enhances the sweetness of the fat without becoming heavy, resulting in a well-balanced and satisfying taste.
After finishing the five salt-seasoned cuts and bean sprouts, the iron plate is replaced.
Black Sauce (Four Cuts)
Next, four cuts are grilled with the restaurant’s sweet and savory black sauce:
- Abushin (heart)
- Hoso (small intestine)
- Cheek meat
- Akasen (fourth stomach)
The black sauce pairs especially well with bean sprouts and kimchi.
Every cut was flavorful and high quality, and for Shinjuku, the price felt very reasonable.
Final Dish: Yaki Udon
For the final dish, I chose udon.
The noodles are grilled together with bean sprouts and cabbage, then coated with the special sauce enriched with the juices from the horumon.
A raw egg and chopped green onions are added at the end.
The chewy texture of the udon combined with the rich umami of the horumon creates an outstanding combination.
The aroma from the iron plate enhances the flavor even further, making it difficult to stop eating.
Summary
This time, I introduced Horumon Chiba Shinjuku, a TV-featured horumon restaurant in Shinjuku Sanchome.
The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, even for first-time visitors.
Most customers order the Chiba Course. The staff carefully grill each item and provide explanations about the cuts and how to enjoy them.
After one bite of the final udon, it is easy to understand why the restaurant has so many fans.
If you are interested, I highly recommend visiting.
Shop Information
Name: Horumon Chiba Shinjuku
Address: 1F Torimatsu Building, 3-10-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022
Access: About 3 minutes (201m) from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station
Hours: 17:00–23:00
Closed: None
Seating: 14 counter seats
Payment: Credit cards and electronic money accepted
Smoking: No
Wi-Fi: No
Power Outlets: No
Cover Charge: ¥330
Tabelog Score: 3.40 (as of November 2023)
Looking for the original article in Japanese?
Click here to view the Japanese version on Daily Shinjuku.
https://daily-shinjuku.tokyo/2023/11/22/horumon-chiba-shinjuku/
