Mitsuwa continues to be a source of excitement, and not just during their annual Gourmet Food Fair, thanks to new concepts like Gyutan Tsukasa, a Japanese chain that specializes in beef tongue dishes.

The company has three branches in Sendai, located in northeast Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, and a fourth location situated in Saitama, outside of Tokyo. Gyutan opened a stall inside Mitsuwa Costa Mesa food court in 2013. Chef Koji Aizama and his culinary team masterfully grill scored slices of meat. Tongue also factors into stews and curries, though it’s never juicier or more flavorful than when it’s grilled. True to Japanese form, the meat comes with dishes that deliver complementary flavors and textures, such as tart, crunchy pickled vegetables and slimy mountain yam.

Stalls ring the Mitsuwa Costa Mesa food court, including Gyutan Tsukasa’s window, which features a stylized menu with words that read like calligraphy. At the base of the counter, the owners display models of all the available plates. Order at the counter and peak into the tiny kitchen to see said tongues grilling or stewing, then grab a table in the central “courtyard.”

Tsukasa Set ($9.50) features grilled, scored tongue served with spicy “wasabi,” pickled greens, miso’d green chile pepper, a salad with Italian dressing, barley-flecked rice, boneless oxtail soup with pepper and scallions, slimy mountain yam dusted with nori powder, and tongue stew with thick burgundy hued sauce and a drizzle of heavy whipping cream.

Gyutan Curry ($7.50) features a sweeter, tan onion-flecked curry served with barley rice, pickled red ginger, a salad touting Italian dressing, and boneless oxtail soup with pepper and scallions.