Lamugiya is a small, cozy shop tucked away in a residential area about 10 minutes on foot from Tama Plaza Station. Be sure to make reservations–the place was packed when we visited on a weekend night.
The name Lamugiya derives from its specialties, lamb and mugi (barley, i.e. beer). Of course, I highly recommend trying the Lamb Chops (¥450~). They are served grilled brown on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. The top quality meat is prepared in a variety of ways. Besides the popular Salt & Pepper and Lemon & Grain Mustard flavorings, others on the menu included Cilantro and Shinshu Garlic Miso Sauce. When asked why lamb was a focus, owner Susumu Ueno explained that the meat is a common dish in his home prefecture of Nagano. Many associate lamb with Hokkaido because of its well-known Jingisukan dish. However, Nagano is second to Hokkaido in raising sheep.
The restaurant has 8 taps of craft beer (280ml ¥800, 370ml ¥1100, pint ¥1400) with an IPA focus. After sampling many foreign and domestic beers, Ueno became particularly enamored with the style. In order to differentiate itself from other bars in the area, he chose to offer brews mainly from the U.S. West Coast. I thoroughly enjoyed trying Gigantic Brewing’s (Portland, OR) unique Blackberry Bramble, a fruit beer aged in gin barrels.
Ueno tells us “When it comes to lamb and IPA, people tend to have very polarized opinions. I don’t aim to satisfy everyone’s tastes. My goal is to provide the best I possibly can for people seeking the specialties I offer.” It’s clear that he has poured much effort and thought into the creation of his restaurant. When talking with him, his passion to continuously improve upon what he has built is evident.
Inside Lamugiya, there are a total of 18 seats, including those at the counter. Outside, there’s a counter facing a park–convenient for simply grabbing a quick drink outdoors. Take-out options are available, too. Ueno shares that he hopes to open up a second restaurant one day, and eventually start a brewery in Nagano. We wish him luck!