Nabehide: The Best Beef Hot Pot I've Had So Far!

It isn't just any beef hot pot, this restaurant specializes in motsu nabe, or intestine hot pot. It may sound unappetizing, but you should really give beef intestine a try (in particular the small intestine). It's a common favourite at yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurants for its juiciness when you bite into it. Also called horumon (sounds like the english hormone, but it has different roots), this cut of meat may look like a hunk of fat, but a lot of it is actually collagen which is what makes it so plump when cooked. Putting it into a hot pot makes the soup fill with great umami flavours from the fat.

What made the hot pot one of the best I've ever had at Nabehide was the broth. We ordered the most popular, the white miso broth. The miso gives it a kind of creaminess and its flavour goes so well with the motsu. Sometimes motsu can have a peculiar smell to it, but the restaurant prepares it well to rid the meat of any strange smells. The strong garlic flavour not only adds an accent to the broth, it also helps get rid of the motsu smell. The pot is brought to the table already to eat, no waiting for it to be done. I think this is to prevent the motsu from overcooking, shrinking and becoming rubbery. The veggies in the soup also go well in the pot. The nira (resembling a flat green onion stalk, also known as Chinese chives) has a hint of garlic flavour, and the large pieces of cabbage add some sweetness. The soup coats the veggies well so they are just as delicious as the intestine.

Motsu hot pot

Other dishes tried were the gyu aburi (red meat that has been grilled/fired on the outside), and the nama senmai (stomach) in a house-made ponzu sauce. Both were great. However I'd skip the pickled cucumber, a bit too salty with the addition of msg sprinkled on top.

It's a busy restaurant and I can see why. You may not need a reservation, but it is a small restaurant so I'd recommend one especially if you have a party of more than two.

Area: Iwatsuka Station (Higashiyama Line), 岩塚駅（東山線）
Restaurant: Nabe Hide 鍋秀
Website and Map: http://nabehide-iwatsuka.com/access/
Hours: 5-11pm (LO 10:30pm), Sundays and Holidays 4-11pm