Issho Ueno
Tokyo
Anmeldelser
Got off the plane at 9pm, instead of getting a shower at the hotel, I went to this restaurant close by for the motsunabe. The motsunabe did not disappoint, service is also very good, they do come to ensure that the pot is ready to eat. The motsunabe soup base is full of flavor with a hint of sweetness is to die for. Prepare to wait if you drop in at the peak late hours.
The Motsunabe was delicious and perfectly seasoned. There was no unpleasant smell at all, and the broth had a unique flavor similar to Korean soybean paste. Definitely worth a try
All foods are delicious. The pot, the sashimi bowl & grilled beef are outstanding. Recommended and it is halal friendly outlet.
Issho Ueno Personal rating: 5** A surprising izakaya experience. What we ate: Signature Miso Beef Intestine Hot Pot 5** — The beef intestine is incredibly fresh and rich. After being lightly seared and simmered for 15–20 minutes, it absorbs the broth beautifully. Each bite bursts with rich, juicy flavor. Paired with refreshing burdock slices, chives, and sweet cabbage, the texture and taste are immensely satisfying. Highly recommended! Grilled Asparagus 5 — Sweet and crisp. Even better with a touch of salt to enhance its natural flavor. Grilled Chicken Wings 5 — Crispy skin that bursts with juice, though the chicken meat itself could be more springy in texture. Chicken Meatballs 5** — Served with soy sauce and an onsen egg. One-Bite Iced Dumplings 4 — The filling tasted fine, but the presentation was imperfect. Grilled Scallops 4 — Standard flavor, not particularly large in size. Summary: The beef intestine hot pot is a must-try, and the other small dishes are decent. Take the elevator to the 7th floor; reservations are not required.
I was looking to try nabe at least once while in Japan—I also just like trying unique things that you can only find in Japan. Thankfully, my wish was granted because my Airbnb was in the Ueno area, and they had this highly rated “motsunabe” place in a random building in Ueno on the 5th floor, I think it was. Compared to most Japanese restaurants I've been to, this place was surprisingly very, very accommodating to foreigners. Not only do they have an English menu, but by far they had the best—or at least were trying their best—to speak English to a foreigner like myself who only barely knew basic speaking Japanese. Anyway, you get a private room no matter the party size. As you’d expect by the name, they specialize in “motsunabe,” a popular Japanese hot pot (nabemono) from Fukuoka, featuring beef or pork offal (motsu) simmered with vegetables like cabbage, garlic, and chives in a flavorful broth, typically soy sauce- or miso-based. I got the miso version with—I think it was—beef offal (internal organs like liver, tongue, tripe), but either way it was really, really good. I like when you get to use the soup ladle fire torch to sear the meat and make sure it's nice and cooked. And as someone who generally doesn't like eating internal organs, I thought it was really good here—the miso nabe broth especially. One thing I also really liked was that they specifically instruct you to wait about 10 minutes for the broth to cook everything. Then the burner turns off on its own once enough time has passed. I looked it up and apparently it's common practice to order “champon” noodles when you finish all the meat so you can absorb all the broth, and thankfully I was able to do that here. I like that when you order the noodles after eating all the meat, they heat up the broth again by turning on the burner. They also have some other unique things here, like Kyushu specialty horse sashimi. I definitely thought it was good but it just tasted like bluefin tuna sushi or something. I highly recommend this place—it’s one of the best nabes I’ve ever had, and they’re even super friendly and accommodating to foreigners, a lot more than the average Japanese restaurant I’ve been to in Tokyo.
