Best Casual Restaurants in Ueno / Okachimachi

Dining here was my family’s first meal when we arrived in Tokyo. We had the 15 Kushikatsu omakase, and the host was very nice. She even afforded us a birthday dessert for my dad. I highly recommend dining here with friends, having a few drinks, and enjoying great food.

My number one sushi experience in the whole world. Tremendous care and thought went into the preparation of every ingredient and the entire experience. I shan't share any spoilers here. Enjoy!

We stumbled upon the place on our last night in Tokyo. What a wonderful choice! 

My partner and I were the only customers dining that evening. I speak Japanese and chose to play interpreter for my partner, but the staff seemed quite willing to accommodate us in English. I'm not certain of the exact title of our server (maitre d'?), but he was incredibly friendly and well versed in all things food and drink! The meal itself was delightful, of course. Some highlights included the presentation of the first course (the best hamo I've had all summer: just a little bit warm and soft, and beautifully arranged atop a dewy lotus leaf); the perfect sashimi course (uni with fresh wasabi, tender sumi-ika, and a sensational smoky katsuo (bonito) that had none of the metallic fishy flavor I usually associate with bonito); the hairy crab with a creamy abalone gratin of sorts, served inside a lemon; not to mention the desserts! (a nutty zunda warabi mochi, peach pannacotta with peach jelly and fresh peach slices, and a quenelle of milk tea ice cream). But what really made the night special was the service. (Having the restaurant to ourselves might have helped.) My partner and I were having a little chat about what "umami" actually tastes like, and the entire restaurant staff was able to explain to us, off the top of their heads, the types of amino acids comprising different types of umami flavor -- in seaweed/kelp, tomato, tea, meat, seafood, etc. . They even printed out a chart for us! Even better than "impeccable service" is being made to feel like a welcome guest by those who genuinely know and love food.

Everything was fantastic. Service was amazing. The food was well prepared and delicious.