Roast beef bowl is the best at 980 yen.

Located on the way from Nippori Station to Yanaka Ginza, a little off the main street down a side alley, this restaurant is a hidden gem. I stumbled upon it while exploring Yanaka and was drawn in by the appealing menu on the sign. The interior is bright and welcoming, with a mix of small tables and a counter. The husband cooks while the wife manages the front of the house, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. The lunch menu offers a variety of rice bowl dishes and set meals, with prices ranging from 700 to 1350 yen. I opted for the Menchi Katsu Donburi for 800 yen, which came with miso soup, side dishes, and pickles. The rice bowl was topped with shredded cabbage and a large, crispy and juicy menchi katsu. The sweet sauce added even more flavor to the dish. The miso soup was a unique red miso variety, not too strong but delicious. The side dishes, including pickled vegetables, were also tasty. The portion size was just right for me, but it might be a bit small for those with bigger appetites. Overall, I found the meal to be good value for money in the somewhat pricey dining scene of Yanaka. I look forward to trying their set meals next time.

My husband, our 1-year-old baby, and I visited the restaurant. We were able to bring the stroller inside, and the staff were very friendly. I ordered the eel bowl, and my husband ordered the roast beef bowl. The eel bowl was decently tasty, but it had a slightly sweet flavor like teriyaki sauce, giving it a bit of a boxed lunch vibe. The roast beef from my husband's bowl was really delicious, made with good quality meat. If we go again, I would like to try the roast beef bowl or another chicken dish that I haven't had yet. The portion size was just right for me as a woman, but my husband felt it was a bit small. The friendly atmosphere and careful cooking make me want to visit again.

I didn't do any research beforehand, but I casually walked into Ginza Tanaka. It was lunchtime and I could enjoy a set meal at a great price. The restaurant is small with about 6 tables. The menu isn't extensive, but the prices are great. The customers were mostly couples and groups of women. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl set and was surprised to find that the miso soup was red miso. I had the image of red miso being from Aichi, but it tasted good and I finished it all. Now that I'm full, let's take a stroll around Ginza!

The day wasn't quite warm enough to be considered sunny, but it was slightly warmer, so I decided to take a little walk up Nanakusa-zaka and try out "Yanaka Foods Asahiya," located on the right-hand side. There aren't many homey diner-style restaurants in this area, so this place may be a valuable find in a sense. It was a bit past 1 pm when I arrived for a late lunch, and the cozy atmosphere inside the restaurant had six customers already there, past the peak lunch hour. I managed to secure a table for two and after some hesitation, I decided to avoid fried foods and ordered the "Conger Eel Bowl Lunch" for 950 yen! I was also intrigued by the Roast Beef Bowl for 950 yen, but I'll save that for next time. The place seems to be run by a husband and wife team, giving off a casual vibe where you can relax and enjoy your meal. Before long, the "Conger Eel Bowl" arrived surprisingly quickly! It came with red miso soup, pickles, and a side dish, making it a decent lunch set. I started with a simple miso soup with seaweed only, which I personally enjoyed, and the comforting taste of the red miso soup was a nice touch. The main dish, the Conger Eel Bowl, had conger eel simmered in a slightly sweet sauce, finely chopped for easy eating. I also tried the simmered hijiki and pickles, which complemented the meal nicely. Despite being the last to arrive, I was the first to pay, but it was nice to have a quick and satisfying Japanese lunch. Next time, I'll try the Roast Beef Bowl or maybe challenge the "Big Menchi Katsu Set" for 1150 yen, which is a fried dish. I thought the restaurant was underrated with a 3-star rating on Tabelog, so I'll give it 3.5 stars! As mentioned before, it's a rare find in an area with few diner-style restaurants. Plus, they're open at night, making it a convenient spot for solo diners. Below is the main "Conger Eel Bowl"! The finely chopped conger eel is simmered in a slightly sweet sauce, making it easy to eat! Pickles and side dish! The side dish is simmered hijiki, a rare find for solo diners. The crispy cucumber pickles are also a nice touch. The piping hot red miso soup, which I personally like, is also good! It only contains seaweed as an ingredient!

This restaurant is a lunch eatery located along Surugadai Street (towards the Asakura Sculpture Museum). I happened to come across it while strolling around this area during lunchtime, so I decided to go in for a meal. They offer set meals like chicken minced bowl, minced cutlet bowl, and pork and beef bowl. I chose the chicken teriyaki bowl set (800 yen). The set meal comes with miso soup, a small side dish, and pickles. The taste is quite ordinary. The price may be a bit on the expensive side, but many lunch eateries around Nippori Station tend to be pricey, so this might be the norm. It's not the kind of place you would specifically visit while exploring Yanaka and Sendagi, but it seems to be a regular spot for locals in the neighborhood.

After strolling through Yanaka, I was feeling hungry and stumbled upon this restaurant. They mainly serve donburi dishes, with about 6 options listed. There were several choices for both meat and fish, but I decided to go with the eel bowl as it had been a while since I had eel. The eel bowl lunch set costs 950 yen and comes with eel bowl, pickles, miso soup, and simmered dish. The eel pieces on the bowl were finely chopped and had a slightly sweet flavor. It was a bit on the rich side, but the small pieces made it less noticeable. Personally, I would have preferred the eel to be cut into larger pieces to better enjoy the texture. However, I noticed that there were many families with small children dining there, so the current size and flavor might be more suitable for them. The miso soup was made with red miso, which is not commonly seen in the Kanto region. The portion size seemed just right for women, but men might find the bowl a bit on the smaller side. They also offer roast beef and tuna donburi for under 1000 yen, so I would like to try those next time.

"Located not far from Nippori Station, there is a restaurant called 'Yanaka Foods Asahiya.' I was surprised to find such a place, and since they also serve lunch, I decided to have the 'Chicken Karaage Set Meal.' It was quite a generous portion, and the chicken pieces were large and satisfying. The chicken seemed to be marinated in soy sauce, which paired well with the rice. The miso soup, with wakame seaweed, was simple yet flavorful. Overall, it was a nice dining experience. Thank you for the meal."

Just a 2-minute walk from Nippori Station, there is a shop near Yanaka Ginza. Originally a rice shop, I stopped by in the evening for a quick dinner break from work. Despite planning to go to the Chinese restaurant Ichiryu on the other side, I ended up at Asahiya and had the Pork Ginger Bowl (large size) for 780 yen. The hot rice and Niigata pork were excellent. The shop has a long, homey kitchen feel, and Mr. and Mrs. Kato provide friendly service. They also serve alcohol at night, so it's a safe and cozy spot for solo diners in the downtown area.

"Menchi Katsu set meal and roast beef bowl"