Best Cheap Restaurants in Ueno For Thrifty Eaters (2024 Edition)
Ueno is one of Tokyo’s main shopping and sightseeing districts, and it’s also a great place to dine for cheap. Cheap Ueno restaurants can be found all throughout the area, serving up tasty food at a great price sure to match your budget. In this article, we’ll introduce our picks for the best cheap Ueno restaurants for some affordable grub while exploring Tokyo.
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1. Yoseya (Ueno)
Yoseya is in a convenient location close to the Iriya Exit of Ueno Station, Tokyo. Here, they serve authentic kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl) - their specialty - made with fresh seafood and sold at a reasonable price. There is a relaxing atmosphere, and you can take off your shoes while dining in the zashiki (straw mat room). The menu also includes other items, such as a set meal with sushi and delicious miso soup.
The stand-out among this restaurant's specialties is the Bikkuri-don. It is a rice bowl dish that is nearly overflowing with seafood like tuna, shrimp, scallops, and squid. You'll be convinced of the super high quality and freshness of the seafood with your first bite!
2. Shinsen-an (Okachimachi)
Shinsen-an has a very welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for anyone to stop in. Their soba (buckwheat noodles) are freshly handmade and have a firm and chewy texture. Of course, adding on items from the side menu, such as tempura, makes it even more delicious!
Another must-try is the Dashi-maki Tamago, which is a very soft tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) with a unique Japanese flavor that comes from the dashi (broth). Try eaing it together with daikon oroshi (grated Japanese radish) for an extra tasty experience!
3. Yamabe Ueno Branch (Ueno-okachimachi, Ueno-hirokoji)
Yamabe is a restaurant in Ameyoko that specializes in tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet). This area has vibrant and colorful signboards everywhere, so the purely Japanese appearance of this restaurant makes it stand out. When you sit at the counter seat in the restaurant, you can watch the tonkatsu being deep fried in front of you.
The Pork Loin Cutlet Set Meal is under 1,000 yen even if you order a large portion. The crispy batter-coated pork cutlet is thick and tender, but not too fatty, so you can eat a lot!
4. Tempura Tendon Tenya Ueno Branch (Ueno)
Tempura Tendon Tenya is famous for their ten-don (rice bowls topped with deep‐fried fish and vegetables). It is a popular restaurant due to its numerous branches, low prices, and of course, its tasty ten-don! It is a dish that many people can't get enough of!
There is also a summer-only menu. The Natsu Ten-don (summer ten-don) is a gorgeous dish topped with tempura of shrimp, lotus root, anago (eel), green beans, and megochi (big-eyed flathead). The price is higher than the usual ten-don, but as it is limited only to summer, you should try it if you get the opportunity!
A delicious lunch at a reasonable price makes for a happy traveller. There are many such restaurants in Ueno and a lot of delicious lunch options to choose from, so why not try one of these options for lunch to recharge your energy before going back to shopping in the afternoon?
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The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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