Shigematsu Hanten: The Real-Deal Yakibuta Tamago Meshi in Imabari (Roast Pork & Egg Rice Bowl)

2026/07/18

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Imabari, the Shikoku-side gateway of the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, has one dish that locals will send you to before anything else: yakibuta tamago meshi — a bowl of rice topped with sliced roast pork, runny fried eggs, and a sweet-savoury sauce. If you finish the ride at JR Imabari Station and want the most authentic version, Shigematsu Hanten is the name to know. It sits just off the main street a short walk from the station, so it is an easy stop whether you arrive by bike, train, or car.

What is yakibuta tamago meshi?

Yakibuta tamago meshi is Imabari’s best-known “B-kyu gourmet” — honest, affordable local comfort food rather than fine dining. The dish is simple in description and addictive in practice: warm rice, slices of Chinese-style roast pork (char siu), one or two soft fried eggs on top, and a sweet, soy-based sauce poured over everything. You break the yolk, mix it through, and eat.

The dish was born as makanai — a quick staff meal cooked in the back of a Chinese restaurant called Gobankaku, which has since closed. Cooks loved it because it was fast, filling, and delicious, and when they went out on their own they put it on their menus. Today it is said that around sixty restaurants across Imabari serve their own version, and the dish has become a symbol of the city.

Why Shigematsu Hanten is worth the detour

Among all those shops, Shigematsu Hanten holds a special place. It was opened by a cook who had trained at Gobankaku, the very restaurant where the dish began — so this is the orthodox line, the “real deal.” When Japanese TV crews come to film yakibuta tamago meshi, Shigematsu Hanten is very often the first place they show.

The restaurant itself is an old-school neighbourhood Chinese diner. It sits a little off the main road and blends so quietly into the streetscape that you might walk past it if you did not know it was there. Step inside, though, and the walls tell the story: they are covered in signed shikishi boards from the many celebrities and TV personalities who have eaten here over the years.

The bowl itself

Shigematsu Hanten’s roast pork is a mix of shredded belly and leaner cuts, balanced so that it folds beautifully into the sauce, rice, and egg. The sauce is on the sweeter side but keeps a firm soy backbone — the kind of savoury-sweet flavour that, regulars will tell you, would go just as well with a cold beer as with lunch.

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The dish comes in several sizes. The small still arrives with two eggs and is plenty for most people; the medium and large step up to three eggs with more rice and pork (the largest size is generally not available on Sundays and holidays). Prices run roughly from around 450 yen for the small up to around 950 yen for the largest, though it is always worth checking the current menu when you order. There are also set meals — for example a combination with a bowl of ramen and a small salad — if you want a fuller lunch, plus other hearty dishes like fried rice.

Good to know before you go

Is it tourist-friendly? It is a small, genuinely local diner, not a polished tourist spot — which is exactly its charm. Pointing at the photo menu works fine, and the dish is easy to enjoy without any Japanese.

How long does it take? Yakibuta tamago meshi is famous for coming out fast, so it suits a quick, satisfying lunch between sightseeing or riding.

When is it busy? Lunchtime is the peak; arriving a little before or after the midday rush usually means a shorter wait.

Getting there: It is a short walk from JR Imabari Station, making it a convenient first or last stop on a Shimanami Kaido trip.

Make a half-day of it

Because Shigematsu Hanten is close to the station and city centre, it pairs easily with the rest of Imabari. Have an early lunch here, then walk or ride over to Imabari Castle, one of Japan’s finest “sea castles,” in the afternoon. If you are exploring the Shimanami Kaido by bike, this is an ideal refuelling stop before or after crossing the bridges. And if one bowl leaves you curious how the other famous shops compare, Imabari has two more long-established restaurants known nationwide for the same dish — see our guide below.

Restaurant information

Shigematsu Hanten (重松飯店)
Address: 5-4-47 Taisho-machi, Imabari City, Ehime
Tel: 0898-22-6452
Hours: Tue–Sat 11:45–14:00 (LO 13:45) & 18:00–22:00 (LO 21:30); Sun & holidays 11:45–14:00 (LO 13:45) & 18:00–21:00 (LO 20:30)
Closed: Mondays
Please check the latest hours and prices before visiting, as they may change.