Ueno is a bustling area filled with shops, eateries, beloved attractions like Ueno Park, along with hotels and drugstores. It is a top destination, especially favored by families and budget-conscious travelers.

When it comes to dining in Ueno, there's a wide array of options, with yakiniku (BBQ) restaurants being highly recommended. Ueno is renowned in Tokyo for its all-you-can-eat yakiniku spots, including well-known venues like Yakiniku Youshokudou and Ueno Taishoen.

For sushi and sashimi enthusiasts, Numazuko Kaisho and Miura Misaki Port offer excellent value. Notable spots for unagi rice include Izuei and Unatoto, while ramen lovers shouldn't miss Ramen Kamo to Negi and Men-dokoro Hanada.

These culinary delights are concentrated around Ueno Station, Ameyoko Shopping Street, Okachimachi, and Ueno Hirokoji. Next, we'll explore these areas in detail to highlight the must-try eateries, preparing you for a culinary journey through Ueno!

Ueno Station, operated by JRis the central hub of the entire area.

It provides access to the Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro, and serves as a stop for the Shinkansen, bustling with activity from all directions.

The high pedestrian traffic fosters numerous shopping malls and restaurants, renowned for their plentiful yakiniku and izakaya options, conveniently located for dining immediately upon exiting the station.

When it comes to yakiniku in Japan, you've got to try Wagyu beef. Nikuya no Daidokoro is famous for its amazing deals on A4 and A5 grade Wagyu, especially their PREMIUM Wagyu all-you-can-eat package loved by tourists. You can feast on thick-cut beef tongue, Wagyu brisket, 2cm thick sirloin steaks, and more, with unlimited servings of seafood, stone pot bibimbap, and curry rice. They even offer cool extras like a meat tower or meat cake for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.

Booking is easy with a QR code and English interface for non-Japanese speakers. They have a spot right by Ueno Station and another just a 4-minute walk away at Nikuya no Daidokoro Ueno Park Front, in case the first one's packed.

Tokuri is a renowned chain of Yakiniku restaurants in Tokyo, known for sourcing whole, meticulously selected Wagyu cattle. Their menu features a range of premium Wagyu beef cuts like diaphragm, ribeye, tenderloin, and tongue, alongside specialties such as Wagyu sushi and raw Wagyu. Diners can also enjoy Korean cold noodles, stone pot rice, and raw egg rice (options vary), catering to those who crave variety and diverse flavors.

The restaurant offers spacious, clean seating with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer scenic views. Located opposite Ueno Station, it's conveniently positioned for visitors to Ueno Park, museums, and the zoo, making it an ideal dining choice for families and groups of friends.

If you're concerned about all-you-can-eat options, USHIHACHI offers a different approach as the "Japanese Yakiniku restaurant with the highest value for money." They focus on set and à la carte meals, carefully selecting whole Kuroge Wagyu cows. Even their affordable tasting sets feature three types of Wagyu beef from the upper belly and diaphragm, complemented by dishes like salmon roe sushi, Korean cold noodles, and handmade silken tofu pudding. USHIHACHI promises satisfaction without the need for all-you-can-eat.

Unlike traditional Yakiniku spots known for smoky atmospheres, USHIHACHI embraces a chic, modern style popular among Japan's young professionals. If you're craving Wagyu beef Yakiniku but prefer a more controlled dining experience, this restaurant is an excellent choice.

For those looking to try something different, consider diving into Japan's Western cuisine! This bistro, established by Chef Tohyama, who has a background in French cuisine at luxury hotels, offers a delightful fusion of French and Japanese culinary traditions. The signature dish, "French demi-glace hamburger steak," is rich and juicy, with the dark sauce and chewy hamburger patty creating a delectable combination. Another highlight is the "Kagoshima chicken leg steak," which takes a fresh and tender approach, pairing perfectly with its crispy skin and a light soy sauce flavor.

Lunch per person costs around 2,000 to 3,000 yen, which might be slightly pricier, but the bistro's elegant yet relaxed atmosphere makes it suitable even for families with children. If you're tired of the usual Yakiniku, ramen, or sushi, trying out Japan's Western cuisine is sure to impress!

If you've traveled by train in Japan, you've likely seen the adorable Suica Penguin mascot on Suica cards. Inside JR Ueno Station's shopping complex, "ecute Ueno," you'll find a delightful Suica Penguin-themed café and store that opened on October 12, 2023. The café serves Mont Blanc pancakes, latte coffees, and more, all featuring the charming Suica Penguin or iconic Ueno panda images, adding to its appeal.

Adjacent to the café is a merchandise area offering exclusive items like Suica Penguin plushies, T-shirts, and water bottles—ideal as gifts or souvenirs. Be sure to explore the selection after enjoying a relaxing break at the café.

*The Suica Penguin is the mascot character of the "Suica" by East Japan Railway Company.

Ameyoko is a bustling shopping street located under the train tracks, stretching from JR Ueno Station to JR Okachimachi Station, easily accessible via the Shinobazu exit of Ueno Station. It's a favorite spot for tourists seeking drugstore cosmetics and souvenirs like "Futaba's sweets," and it also boasts a diverse range of dining options.

From "Minatoya's" seafood bowls and takoyaki to "Ramen Duck to Onion," these eateries epitomize everyday Japanese cuisine. You'll also find numerous yakitori izakayas and barbecue bars, providing a taste of Japan's lively atmosphere right in the heart of the city.

In Japan, unagi (eel) bowls are typically a luxurious dish costing several thousand yen. However, at Unatoto Unagi, you can enjoy a bowl of unagi don for as little as 590 yen, making it accessible for international visitors eager to try grilled eel without breaking the bank. For a more traditional experience, the 1,100 yen "Unagi San-Shoku" (three ways to enjoy eel) is highly recommended. It begins with pure eel, adds wasabi for a flavor twist, and finishes with tea poured over to create eel tea rice—a delicious and affordable introduction to this classic Japanese dish!

If you're curious about the popularity of unagi bowls in Japan but are hesitant to spend a lot, this place is an excellent starting point to explore this delicacy.

Niku no Ohyama, directly operated by a butcher shop, is renowned for its fried delicacies, offering exceptional value. Their signature fried meat cake for takeout costs just 220 yen, with a Wagyu version available for 420 yen. They also offer a dine-in area with lunchtime specials, including a recommended set meal featuring curry croquettes, hamburger steaks, fried shrimp, fried ham, rice, and access to a drink bar—all for just 1,000 yen. Every item is freshly fried to crispy, juicy perfection, so watch out—it's hot!

For a budget-friendly lunch option, this spot comes highly recommended. Alternatively, on a pleasant day, consider picking up some fried meat cakes or fried ham snacks and enjoying a picnic in Ueno Park—it's a delightful experience.

Located in the alleys of Ueno, Numazuko Kaisho specializes in fresh seafood straight from the harbor. They offer a buffet featuring fried foods, meat dishes, Chinese cuisine, and a personal sashimi platter for each diner. Their 45-minute all-you-can-eat lunch deal is priced at just 1,200 yen, making it incredibly economical. Additionally, there's a self-service drink area where you can add all-you-can-drink alcoholic beverages for 30 minutes at only 450 yen, making it a tempting choice for a midday drink.

The wooden storefront exudes a bold and unrestrained vibe, perfectly complementing Ameyoko's down-to-earth atmosphere. With its affordable prices, Numazuko Kaisho is an excellent spot to enjoy a satisfying meal without breaking the bank during lunchtime.

For those who love fresh sushi, Miura Misaki Port Ueno is a must-visit conveyor belt sushi restaurant! Once seated, you'll be greeted by an array of generously topped sushi making its rounds, all offered at surprisingly low prices. Tuna belly battleship sushi is just 110 yen, while others, like the sweet shrimp battleship sushi at 490 yen and the conger eel battleship sushi at 350 yen (prices exclude tax), can be picked directly from the conveyor belt or ordered from the chef. A fulfilling meal here will cost you about 3,000 to 4,000 yen.

The menu includes notes in both Chinese and English, making it very friendly for children and international visitors. This popular spot often has a queue, so to avoid the crowd, it's recommended to visit right at opening or during the off-peak hours in the afternoon!

Hachinoki, a revered establishment with a fifty-year legacy, specializes in all-you-can-eat high-grade meats, including domestic beef, Yamagata beef, and Kagoshima pork. Guests can choose between a kelp broth hot pot or beef sukiyaki pot. The featured dish showcases frost-bitten domestic beef, known for its pink hue and beautiful marbling, served with locally-sourced Japanese vegetables and wide noodles that leave a delightful, lasting flavor.

The restaurant's ambiance is authentically Japanese, featuring tatami mats, sunken kotatsu seating, and private booth rooms, ensuring a relaxed and comfortable dining experience. For budget-conscious diners, the lunchtime set menu comes highly recommended!

Less than a 10-minute stroll from Ueno Station along the vibrant Ameyoko Shopping Street leads you to the bustling Okachimachi area. This neighborhood thrives with activity, intersected by JR Okachimachi Station, Toei Subway Ueno-okachimachi Station, and Tokyo Metro Naka-okachimachi Station, making it a hub of transportation. Known for its lively atmosphere, Okachimachi boasts a wide range of dining options that reflect the modest pricing style of Ameyoko. These eateries are favored by both international visitors and locals alike.

Have you ever seen a beef bowl so generously filled with meat that it spills over the edge? This is from a donburi specialty shop, with its first location opening in the Shinbashi area of Tokyo, a favorite among local office workers. Due to its popularity, a second location was opened in Okachimachi in March 2023. Their signature dish features large portions of meat on top of savory rice. The photo shows a meat donburi on the left and a sukiyaki beef donburi on the right, both with tender, flavorful meat that's been stewed for a long time, paired perfectly with white rice for a truly energizing bite. For those who might find just a donburi too light, an additional 250 yen upgrades you to a set meal with more rice, greens, miso soup, and pickled vegetables.

The most affordable beef bowl is priced at just 690 yen (excluding tax), making it super wallet-friendly for budget-conscious diners. If you're looking to save money but want to avoid the typical chain donburi shops, this place offers a slice of local office worker's lunchtime happiness. It's also a great spot for a quick and easy meal before heading back to your hotel after a late night out!

Oyster enthusiasts, listen up! This oyster specialty restaurant, operated by a company involved in oyster farming and wholesaling, serves oysters purified with deep-sea water, ensuring freshness and rich mineral content. Located on the 6th floor of PARCO_ya Ueno department store since May 2023, it offers a diverse array of oyster dishes. Choices range from platters featuring oysters from various regions of Japan to mixed platters pairing oysters with meats or sashimi, grilled oysters, fried oysters, and more. The menu also includes pasta and a selection of drinks to complement your oyster feast.

If you're craving a variety of oyster delights at a reasonable price, this restaurant offers plenty of options that are sure to please. During lunchtime, for an additional 980 yen, you can upgrade your main dish to a set meal including oysters and an appetizer, making it a true haven for oyster aficionados!

This long-established wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) store in Ueno, founded in 1913, boasts a century-long history. Usagiya's most popular item is its freshly made dorayaki, priced at 240 yen each. Holding the warm, fluffy dorayaki filled with a not-too-sweet, finely textured red bean paste is a delightfully comforting experience that perfectly encapsulates why this shop has stood the test of time. After purchasing, you can enjoy your treats warm inside the store or take dorayaki, monaka, and rabbit-shaped sweet buns for a picnic in Ueno Park, or as souvenirs if you're heading back home.

Just a minute's walk away is another gem, the Usagiya CAFÉ, known for its French toast, shaved ice, and other creative snacks. The highlight is the "Usagi Pancake," available only if ordered within 10 minutes of opening in the morning. This unique breakfast snack features dorayaki batter filled with cultured butter and Tokachi red beans, a treat you won't want to miss. Arrive late or when it's too crowded, and you might just miss out.

Apart from Ameyoko and Ueno-okachimachi Station, there's also Ueno Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro nearby. The shops around Ameyoko maintain Ueno's tradition of being down-to-earth and budget-friendly. Meanwhile, closer to Ueno Park, establishments tend towards a more refined and elegant atmosphere. For instance, the renowned sukiyaki restaurant "Ningyocho Imahan" and the famous unagi (eel) bowls at "Izu-ei" are particularly popular among international visitors in this area.

Near Ueno Park and Ameyoko, Izuei is a renowned unagi (eel) bowl specialty restaurant with a history spanning 300 years. They use prized Japanese "Mikawa eel" and their sauce is made from soy sauce and mirin, without added sugar. The eel is steamed and grilled, basted three times for maximum flavor infusion. The result is a mild, smooth taste with tender kabayaki eel and a slightly sweet sauce that complements rice perfectly. If you're willing to spend a bit more on a dining experience and love unagi, this upscale restaurant in Ueno comes highly recommended.

The menu is available in English, Chinese, and Korean, so international visitors need not worry. Besides the main store, the Ueno area also hosts branches at Shinobazutei and Umegawatei. If the main location is too crowded, these are worth checking out as well.

For those who dream of feasting on crab in Japan, GOZZO Ueno-Hirokoji next to Ueno Hirokoji Station is the place to be. The restaurant serves red snow crab directly shipped from Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture, offering an all-you-can-eat style where taking a whole crab to your plate is all part of the experience!

Initially, the staff will demonstrate how to cut the crab with scissors, turning you into a crab-eating expert on the spot. The boiled crab is deliciously sweet on its own, but heating it on the table's grill adds an extra layer of flavor. You can indulge in crab roe and crab liver to your heart's content. The buffet also includes crab chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), fried chicken, grilled fish, and other dishes, with drinks and alcohol available unlimitedly. Many locals treat it like an izakaya, coming here for a drink.

With prices starting around 10,000 yen, if you're a crab lover and want to experience the joy of eating as much crab as you can, this is the perfect opportunity to try your hand and indulge to the fullest!

Ueno is a culinary paradise, catering to every taste with its range of offerings, from upscale all-you-can-eat venues to budget-friendly set meals and street food adventures. These establishments are cherished by both tourists and locals alike, some with a history spanning over a century, deeply rooted in the area's heritage. If any of these spots intrigue you, consider booking ahead to streamline your journey and bypass queues, ensuring a seamless dining experience.

(Note: This information was compiled in November 2023. For the latest updates, please refer to the official websites of the mentioned venues.)