One of the most popular items in Japanese 烧肉 is beef 牛舌, usually served with a sprinkle of salt and grilled over 炭火. On menus, you will often find two types: Jo-Tan (Premium 牛舌) and Regular Tan. But what exactly is the difference?
In this article, we will explain the different parts of beef 牛舌 and how they are used in 烧肉. Finally, we will introduce how 黑5, a famous 烧肉 restaurant in 池袋 and 歌舞伎町店, Tokyo, serves beef 牛舌 with a unique style and careful preparation.
The Parts of Beef 牛舌
A whole beef 牛舌 weighs about 1–1.2 kg and is divided into several sections, each with a distinct texture and flavor.
Tan-Moto (Base)
The thick, fatty base of the 牛舌. Extremely tender and juicy. This is the part used for Jo-Tan or Special Premium 牛舌.
Tan-Naka (Middle)
The middle part of the 牛舌. Leaner than the base, with a good balance of meat and fat. This section is usually served as Regular Tan.
Tan-Saki (Tip)
The front tip of the 牛舌. Very chewy and tough, usually not served as 烧肉. Instead, it is often minced for other uses.
Tan-Shita (Underside)
The underside muscle of the 牛舌. While not commonly grilled, it has excellent flavor when simmered. At 黑5, 和牛 Tan-Shita is served as a special menu item.
Jo-Tan vs Regular Tan
Jo-Tan (Premium 牛舌)
- Part: Tan-Moto (the base)
- Texture: Very soft, rich marbling, melts in your mouth
- Taste: Intense umami, perfect with just salt and lemon
Regular Tan
- Part: Tan-Naka (the middle)
- Texture: Firm bite, moderate chewiness
- Taste: Light and refreshing, easy to enjoy in many slices
In short, Jo-Tan is a luxurious cut with high fat content and tenderness, while Regular Tan is more affordable and easier to eat in larger portions.
黑5’s Unique Approach to Beef 牛舌
Here we would like to introduce 黑5, a 烧肉 restaurant with locations in 池袋 and 歌舞伎町店, Tokyo. Known for offering rare 和牛 cuts at reasonable prices, 黑5 is famous for its “Yaki-Bugyo” style, where the staff carefully grill your meat over high-quality 炭火 to serve it at the perfect moment.
黑5 handles beef 牛舌 with great detail, using different sections in different ways.
How 黑5 Uses Each Part of the 牛舌
Jo-Tan = Tan-Moto
For Premium Jo-Tan, 黑5 uses the Tan-Moto of U.S. beef 牛舌, served thick-cut and grilled over 炭火 for a juicy flavor.
Even more special: each day, only two whole 和牛 beef 牛舌s arrive at each restaurant. From these, the 和牛 Tan-Moto is served as “Special Jo-Tan,” offering an unforgettable 和牛 experience.
Regular Tan = Tan-Naka
Regular Tan is usually made from U.S. Tan-Naka, offering a firmer bite. But sometimes 和牛 Tan-Naka is mixed into the Regular Tan – if you’re lucky, you might get 和牛 in your regular order!
Tan-Saki (Tip)
Too tough for 烧肉, so it is minced and used for staff meals. Nothing is wasted at 黑5.
Tan-Shita (Underside)
U.S. Tan-Shita is simmered in a sweet and savory stew. Meanwhile, 和牛 Tan-Shita has a unique crunchy texture and is offered as a special menu item. Many fans say this is a must-try cut at 黑5.
The Rarity of 和牛 牛舌
和牛 牛舌 is extremely rare in Japan and seldom appears on the market. Thanks to 黑5’s special connections, each branch receives only two 牛舌s per day. This allows guests to enjoy:
- 和牛 Tan-Moto = served as Special Jo-Tan
- 和牛 Tan-Naka = occasionally mixed into Regular Tan
- 和牛 Tan-Shita = offered as a unique menu item
This level of variety and quality makes dining at 黑5 an exclusive experience for 烧肉 lovers.
炭火-Grilled Flavor at 黑5
At 黑5, the staff grill each slice of 牛舌 carefully over high-temperature 炭火, flipping it often to keep it tender. Jo-Tan is cooked lightly to preserve its juiciness, while Regular Tan is grilled until slightly crispy for texture. A squeeze of lemon is all you need to enjoy the pure flavor.
Enjoying Beef 牛舌 at 黑5
Understanding the difference between Jo-Tan and Regular Tan makes ordering 烧肉 even more exciting. At 黑5, you can taste both U.S. and rare 和牛 牛舌, prepared in the best possible way.
The limited supply of 和牛 牛舌 means that finding it on the menu feels like winning a prize. Many regulars visit hoping for that special chance.
If you want to experience the true depth of Japanese 烧肉 in Tokyo, 黑5’s Jo-Tan and Special 和牛 Tan are a must-try.
和牛 烧肉 黑5
IKEBUKURO Main Restrant
1F Shima 100 building ,2-46-3, 池袋, Toshima-ku , Tokyo 171-0014
https://en.黑5.net/restaurant/honten
和牛 烧肉 黑5
IKEBUKURO East Exit Restrant
2F Need Building, 1-42-16 Higashi-池袋, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
https://en.黑5.net/restaurant/higashiguchi
和牛 烧肉 黑5
歌舞伎町店
1F Sankei Building, 2-21-4 歌舞伎町店, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
https://en.黑5.net/restaurant/kabukicho
Official Instagram: @黑5烧肉
