Live Sanzoku-yaki Red Label Set by Meat Kobo Kawaba: Famous Ham and Sausages from Gunma

Which roadside stations deserve to be called famous? More and more appear in the media today, but Den-en Plaza Kawaba in Gunma has consistently ranked among Japan’s best for roughly a decade.

I visited about ten years ago and ate a platter of ham and sausages called Sanzoku-yaki. Recently, I found the same product in the Shoku no Eki section at Pasar Miyoshi.

Because I live in Tokyo and rarely travel deep into Gunma, I took the opportunity to buy it.

I remembered it as delicious, but the atmosphere of Den-en Plaza may have contributed to that memory. I wanted to see whether the packaged version would stand on its own.

Live Sanzoku-yaki Red Label Set (Meat Kobo Kawaba)

A black-label version was also available, but I chose the red label this time. The names sound almost like beer.

When people think of Den-en Plaza Kawaba, its live-cooked Sanzoku-yaki is famous.
It has appeared in the media and now attracts long lines.

Being able to enjoy at home the Sanzoku-yaki normally found well inside Gunma made this an immediate purchase.

A 220-gram package cost 540 yen, nearly the same price as at Den-en Plaza.

It must be stored below 5°C. The best-before date is printed on the back and was roughly two weeks after purchase.

What Did the Live Sanzoku-yaki Red Label Set Taste Like?

This original Kawaba-style mustard is extraordinarily delicious.

When I previously ate freshly cooked Sanzoku-yaki at Den-en Plaza, the sausages and ham were excellent, but this accompanying mustard impressed me just as much.

I became such a fan that I even bought the powdered mustard separately to take home.

Mix the powder with water and leave it for about 30 minutes.

Tiny particles are visible throughout the yellow mustard—perhaps spices or herbs. Whatever they are, the result is uniquely aromatic.

I cooked everything according to the instructions.

The sausages have a crisp snap and a juicy center.
They release plenty of meat juices and pair perfectly with the special mustard.
The bacon has a firm bite and a deeply meaty character—you truly feel that you are eating meat.
This is the kind of food that makes beer difficult to stop drinking.

I was moved to find that it tasted just like the Sanzoku-yaki I had eaten at Den-en Plaza years earlier.

The volume, flavor, and price are all convincing, and I highly recommend the set.

Thank you for the meal!

Live Sanzoku-yaki Red Label Set Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer