Anglerfish Hotpot at Omori （大森のあんこう鍋）

What? Omori, Japanese restaurant specialising in seafood and anglerfish hotpot.

Where? Ajidokoro Omori, Isohama 3152-1, Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture

11:30〜14:30, 17:00〜20:30. Closed Monday.

About

Established in 1981, Omori is one of several restaurants in Oarai where you can try one of Oarai's most famous dishes, anko nabe or anglerfish hotpot. Anglerfish can be caught in various places around Japan but the currents off the Ibaraki Coast make it ideal for anglerfish, with females growing up to 40kg in size.

Oarai's famous hot pot uses seven parts of the fish: the white meat, ovaries, stomach, liver, gills, skin and fins. Anglerfish itself has no flavour so the hot pot takes on the flavour of the vegetables and stock used. At Omori, the hot pot uses vegetables such as spring onions, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms and carrots with an anglerfish stock.

The anglerfish season runs from around November to March so be sure to visit Oarai in the winter if you'd like to try anko nabe. If you're visiting in the summer, Omori also serves local sardine dishes as well as Japanese staples like sashimi, tempura and rice bowls.

Website (Japanese only)