🐟 A Taste of Matsuyama’s Signature Dish at Taimeshi Akiyoshi Honten

While strolling back to our hotel in the late afternoon, we stumbled upon this humble restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner. Knowing that sea bream (taimeshi) is one of Matsuyama’s regional specialties, we decided to give it a try—and it turned out to be a good decision.

The restaurant was empty at that time, and the atmosphere was calm and traditional. Like many local eateries in Japan, the staff didn’t speak English, but the menu had pictures, so ordering wasn’t an issue.

We ordered their signature taimeshi—the sea bream cooked together with rice in a claypot—and it was absolutely delicious. The freshness of the fish was unmistakable, and it infused the rice with an aromatic, oceanic richness. Each bite was comforting, simple, and full of flavor. We also tried some local sides like fish cakes, which were surprisingly tasty and paired well with the main dish.

The service was quiet and not particularly warm, though we understand it might be due to the language barrier or unfamiliarity with tourists. Regardless, the food spoke for itself.

If you’re in Matsuyama and want to try something truly local, this spot offers a down-to-earth experience of one of the region’s most iconic dishes.

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Post by Crumpled Nomad | Jun 24, 2025