I visited "Tonmaru" after a long time. I saw a tweet about their "Senbero Set" on Twitter and it caught my interest, so I decided to check it out. By mentioning that I saw their tweet on Twitter, I received the power of original turmeric as a bonus! It was written on the receipt, "Thank you (・∀・) by Tonmaru," which was really nice. The Senbero Set costs 1000 yen (excluding tax) and includes 2 drinks and 4 skewers. You can choose from drinks priced at 300 yen, 350 yen, and 380 yen. Of course, you can also have two glasses of draft beer. Skewers start from 120 yen each. I quickly finished the drinks, including two glasses of draft beer, and enjoyed the crunchy skewers. They also have craft beer available, so after finishing the Senbero Set, I continued with regular drinks. They offer a weekly rotating craft beer for 400 yen per glass. On this day, they had "On the Cloud" [Wheat Ale] and "496 Yonkyuroku" [IPL]. I also ordered some snacks to go with the drinks. It's not often that you can find a 400 yen craft beer elsewhere. I will definitely come back again to see what new varieties they have next time.

We had a reservation for a drinking party with 7 people in Ueno on Saturday. Lately, all the izakayas around Ueno have been crowded and it's hard to get in with a group, but this place accepts reservations in advance which was really helpful. The food was delicious, the prices were reasonable, and it turned out to be a great drinking party. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I went there for the first time! The atmosphere is like a traditional Japanese izakaya, not too noisy but just right! The beef tongue sashimi, liver sashimi, and heart sashimi that I was looking forward to were all delicious, and the tripe was also tender and tasty! They have a wide variety of drinks, and the beer, wine, and highball were all delicious!

This is a regular izakaya. You can drink draft beer for 330 yen, and craft beer (Yona Yona Ale, Spring Valley) for 500 yen. It was delicious. I had skewers of harami and pancreas. I also tried dishes like natto sandwiched in Tochio aburaage and grated wasabi on nagaimo. The prices were very reasonable and overall it was great.

When it comes to the highlights of Tokyo, it's enjoying yakitori with a glass of Hoppy! The famous Daichu President in Ueno was full, so I wandered around and found Tonmaru. The restaurant had spacious table seating, so I could enjoy my meal leisurely even on a holiday. We ordered the usual yakitori items like chicken liver and chicken thigh. The staff, who I believe were Korean, were very friendly. The standout dish was the braised beef tendon with tomatoes, served with three slices of baguette - very stylish! All the waitresses were beautiful too. (lol)

I had some drinks and ordered plenty of snacks, and it cost me about 2,000 yen per person! I was surprised by how cheap it was. I was seated near the entrance, so every time a customer came in or out, the door would open. It was cold this time of year, but the food and drinks were delicious. The staff also regularly checked in on us and made it easy to place orders. I was satisfied!

I went to an art museum in Ueno for the first time in a while and then had dinner. I made a same-day reservation through Tabelog. It was a holiday, so there were a lot of people around Ameyoko. The popular drinking spots were packed with customers. Our restaurant also became full shortly after we entered. We ordered several types of yakitori, grilled pork, and karaage. We also added some mushroom tempura and a few skewers. The taste was neither good nor bad, just average. The mushroom tempura was interesting as it was made like tempura mix. However, there weren't enough staff on the floor, and even though the waitresses were very busy, it took a while for our drink orders to be taken. Once we placed the order, the drinks came quickly, but it was a bit tough for someone like me who drinks a lot. Thank you for the meal!

I arrived at this restaurant in the Ueno area looking for a casual spot for solo drinking. While there are many popular yakitori places, I wanted to avoid crowded places due to the current situation. The restaurant didn't seem too busy from the outside, which was perfect. I was seated by a continental-looking lady and ordered a Super Dry beer. The appetizers were fish paste and thick fried tofu in oden broth, which were delicious. The menu mainly consisted of various grilled skewers, raw meat dishes, fried foods, and grilled items. I forgot to order it this time, but the pork belly roll was recommended. The drink menu included shochu and sake. I started with the tongue sashimi, which was beautifully presented on a plate with plenty of green onions. It was seasoned with sesame oil and salt, and went well with beer. The beef tendon stewed with tomatoes, marked as recommended, was served in a heat-resistant dish and was flavorful. I enjoyed it with a lemon sour while ordering skewers. The pork belly and green onion skewer was cooked perfectly, blending the fattiness of the pork belly with the onions. The liver skewer had a slight unpleasant smell. The rare cut called "Nannan" had a nice chewy texture. I paired the skewers with hot sake from the menu, but it was extremely hot (laughs). The menu was diverse and unique, and the seating was spacious and not too crowded, making it a comfortable place to spend time. It may be a hidden gem due to the fierce competition nearby. I'll try the pork belly roll next time.

[First Visit] January 2022, Saturday, 5:00 PM reservation I did a lot of research before booking here. I searched for places with the conditions "Ueno," "Vice Sour," and "No smoking." Since I was set on having a Vice Sour, I found about 10 places that matched the criteria, but out of those, 9 were smoking allowed, which I wanted to avoid. I narrowed it down to non-smoking or heat-not-burn tobacco possible places, and ultimately decided on this one. The separate restrooms for men and women were also nice, and the place was cleaner than I expected! I liked the self-serve style of Vice Sour, and the skewers were delicious! Quail, pork, etc. I'm glad I chose this place! On a side note, I didn't see anyone smoking heat-not-burn tobacco inside the store.

I had already eaten dinner, but I received a message saying let's have a drink together in Ueno, and I was told that "Dasshutsu Sakaba Tonmaru" is a good place, so I went there for a light drink. Tonmaru is located between Ueno Station and Okachimachi Station. It has a great atmosphere of a casual izakaya. I started with a toast with a draft beer (Asahi Super Dry). A medium-sized glass for 300 yen is quite cheap. The appetizer was mozuku seaweed vinegar. Tsubu Chanja for 490 yen was a good mix of crunchy tsubu clams with a nice spicy kick. The seared tongue sashimi for 380 yen had a great texture and flavor with the seared aroma and green onions. I also tried Dassai 39 sake since they had a variety of options. The pork guts sashimi for 380 yen had a mild and refreshing taste without any strong flavor. The warm vinegar motsu for 480 yen was a Fukuoka specialty, but this one was a warm simmered vinegar motsu with a gentle and light taste. The texture of the motsu was good, making it a great dish to pair with drinks. The deep-fried burdock for 330 yen had a great texture and was a satisfying snack. I ended with a Yamazaki highball. The wasabi-pickled nagaimo for 390 yen had a crunchy texture that was enjoyable. The fresh and mild pork motsu, various appetizers with great textures, especially the motsu, were outstanding. It was a great time catching up with a friend after a long time over drinks.

There are many restaurants to drink at in Ueno, and there are delicious restaurants to eat motsu-yaki (grilled offal), so I had been curious about this place but hadn't visited yet. On holidays, all the restaurants are crowded with tourists. Famous places like Daitoryo have especially long waits. Personally, I have never thought that motsu-yaki at any of the old establishments was delicious. Among the many places I couldn't get into, I remembered this hidden gem that was away from the main street and decided to try it for the first time. The dishes I ordered were as follows: - Tsukune (chicken meatballs), kashira (pig's head), white motsu (offal) - Nikumaki (meat rolls) - Tomato stew - Potato salad - Fried burdock - Potato fritters The tomato stew was a unique dish for a motsu-yaki restaurant and was definitely not bad. The potato salad was a bit too watery and lacked some crunch. The white motsu had a strong rubbery texture and smell that I didn't like. The meat rolls were consistently good and overall delicious. Since the main street is crowded, this place is convenient for making reservations and securing a seat.

The shop sells draft beer for 300 yen, but I prefer highballs which cost 380 yen. It's cheap, but I feel like I'm losing out because of the small glass. The food is surprisingly cheap too, like a skewer for 120 yen each. I ordered a lot and was pleasantly surprised by how delicious they were. I ended up ordering more. The complimentary appetizer of mozuku vinegar was a nice touch for me.

The yakitori made only with domestic pork is grilled over charcoal. It is a popular pub that exudes a retro atmosphere while maintaining cleanliness. It is suitable for both groups and solo diners. Skewers can be ordered individually, starting from 120 yen (excluding tax). In addition to pork, they also offer chicken and beef options. Although I didn't order the "pork belly roll," I slightly regret not trying it. This time, my heart leaned towards the "beef tendon simmered in tomato" and the "homemade tuna cutlet" rather than the skewers. It's important not to judge the quality of skewers based on just two pieces... There were other interesting menu items for side dishes, but I decided to consult my stomach and call it a day. ---Menu Items--- - Beef Tendon Simmered in Tomato (490 yen) The gentle acidity of the tomato is just right. The simmering sauce alone is enjoyable. It might be nice to have some bread to soak up the sauce. The beef tendon, the guest of honor, is of a decent quantity. It may be hard to tell from the picture, but... Not everything is melt-in-your-mouth tender, but there is a variety of textures, with some pieces having a firm presence in the pool of sauce. - Liver (120 yen) - White Motsu (120 yen) You can choose between a thick and sweet sauce or salt. The quality of the skewers is decent. The liver has a mild flavor without any unpleasant taste. On the other hand, the white motsu falls slightly short. The slightly deteriorating chewiness is noticeable sooner. - Homemade Tuna Cutlet (580 yen) Consistently mild yet thick tuna performs well throughout. The lightly fried coating is modest, enhancing the tuna. - Junmai Ginjo "Josenjo" (90ml) (450 yen) - Tokubetsu Honjozo Sake "Koshino Kanbai" (90ml) (490 yen) - Otoshi (300 yen) ---Usage Scene +α--- - Solo dinner - Visited around 17:20 on a weekday - No waiting time, seated at the counter

On March 17, 2019, there was a casual gathering for a temporary return of a person named Mairebi in Fukuoka. The meeting point was Ueno Station at 3:00 PM, and after wandering around, we finally arrived at the restaurant. I, personally, was visiting Ueno Station for the first time, so I had to rely on Mairebi's sense of direction. There were 5 of us, and we started with a toast with Hoppy. The appetizer was marinated olives. As usual with this group, I left the food selection to others. We mainly ordered inexpensive grilled skewers (yakitori) and some side dishes. The dishes were nothing out of the ordinary, but the side dishes seemed to emphasize thickness. The sweet potato tempura and pork cutlet were not particularly large in size, but they were presented with an emphasis on thickness. The grilled skewers were cooked quickly and were the perfect size for nibbling. Although not particularly memorable, the restaurant had a cozy izakaya atmosphere. We lingered for a while, waiting for Mairebi, who arrived late, and the bill came out to around 3,000 yen per person. Despite opening early, we were treated with a generous appetizer, and I had a great time catching up with Mairebi after a long time.

When my friend from Fukuoka came to Tokyo, we went on an eating and drinking tour in Ueno and O-cho. I was late by an hour and a half due to work, but the first place we went to was a familiar spot off the main street in Ameyoko. The atmosphere was relatively quiet with a few customers. We started with some draft beer and ordered salt-grilled skewers. The conversation was lively with everyone already in a drinking mood, while I struggled to keep up. It felt like a pre-party from the night before, with some members already tipsy. I focused more on drinking than enjoying the food, and ended up drinking four beers in 40 minutes. Despite being late, everyone treated me to the food and drinks at the first stop of our tour.

Here it comes again, here comes that person from Fukuoka. Hana-chan, a follower who admires Yokohama, visits Yokohama from Fukuoka a few times a year. Each time, a ladder sake tour is organized, and we are always invited. This time, the stage is Ueno/Okachimachi. Starting with 5 people, excluding 2 who were late due to work. Where to go next? The 5 of us start walking around looking for a place. It's only 3 pm, but on a Sunday in this area, every restaurant is crowded. We decide to go to a restaurant that Hana-chan had researched in advance, and there were no other customers. We were warmly welcomed even though the restaurant was still preparing to open. I start with a Hoppy shiro (400 yen) - cheers! The appetizers were marinated marron and kikurage stir-fry. The dishes we ordered included beef tendon tomato stew (490 yen), pork belly umeboshi shiso roll (160 yen), jumbo satsuma-age (580 yen), natto sandwiched in Tochio fried tofu (480 yen), thick-cut ham katsu (490 yen), domestic pork BIG loin katsu (680 yen), cow's head, liver, white motsu (each 120 yen), crushed chanja, firefly squid pickled in seaweed (each 490 yen), cream cheese sake lees pickles (390 yen), tomato pork belly grill (160 yen), and we are going all out from the first restaurant. And that's because we stayed there for 3 hours even though it was the first stop. This doesn't seem like a ladder sake tour anymore! (laughs) The beef tendon tomato stew and Tochio fried tofu, which have a Western twist, were particularly delicious. We ended up staying for quite a while, missing the timing to leave the first restaurant. It's already dark outside (laughs). Now, let's head to the next restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

A MyReviewer from Fukuoka was coming, so we had a regular drinking party. We gathered at Okachimachi Station and went to several candidate restaurants, but they were all full. After wandering for about 10 minutes, we ended up at this restaurant. There was a sign saying "Open" outside, but there were no customers inside. We entered the restaurant and were guided to a table near the entrance. Let's toast to the reunion. I had a "Hoppy White" for 400 yen. It was mostly about drinking, but we also ordered some food. Here is what we ordered: - Beef tendon stewed in tomato for 490 yen. It was recommended as the best among the three types of stew. It was light and tasty with no strong smell. - Pork belly rolls for 160 yen. I had the asparagus version, and others had plum and shiso. The pork belly and crunchy asparagus were delicious. - Jumbo sweet potato tempura for 580 yen. It was indeed jumbo, but the texture was a bit soft for tempura. - Thick-cut fried tofu with natto for 480 yen. It was delicious with natto and bonito flakes in between the thick tofu slices. - Thick-cut ham cutlet for 490 yen. It was crispy and tasty, but a bit expensive. - Liver, head, and white tripe for 120 yen each. Liver and head were tasty, but the white tripe was dry. - Cream cheese marinated in sake lees for 390 yen. It had a mature taste with sake lees. - Crushed clams for 490 yen. The crunchy texture and spicy seasoning made it a perfect drinking snack. - BIG pork loin cutlet for 680 yen. It was unusual to have pork loin cutlet at a motsu-yaki restaurant, but the price and portion were good. - Marinated squid for 490 yen. A good dish for sake, but we were mostly drinking Hoppy that day. - Pork belly rolls for 160 yen. We ordered the tomato version for everyone, but I requested quail instead because I don't like warm tomatoes. We also had a Vice Sour, more Hoppy White, and Nakadori. We stayed longer than planned and ended up spending around 4,000 yen per person. Now, let's head to the next restaurant.

My regular drinking party with Mairebi-sama, it seems like this was the 7th time already since I moved to Fukuoka a year and a half ago. Every time I come to Yokohama, Mairebi-sama kindly accompanies me, and I am truly grateful to them. This time we went to Ueno. I thought there would be plenty of places for lunch drinking in Ueno, but on a Sunday, the first standing bar I planned to go to already had a line. Other promising places were also extremely crowded. From the list I had, we chose this restaurant. When I looked inside, there were no customers and they were still cleaning! (I felt a little uneasy...) But when I asked the staff, they said we could come in. Later I checked the website and it seems we were a little early compared to their opening hours. Thank you to the staff at the restaurant! There were 5 of us in total, we sat at a table near the entrance. I had a draft beer, and the others had Hoppy and other drinks for a toast! Please refer to the images for the food. I will only review the dishes that left an impression. The stew with tomato flavor reminded me of the tomato stew from school lunches. The skewers like kashira (pig cheek) and liver were all delicious. The "big" sweet potato tempura was served on a small plate for some reason, and it was crispy and delicious, but it felt a bit small for the portion. The Changja (spicy stir-fried clams) was a great snack with drinks, but a little more would have been nice. While waiting for Mairebi-sama who finished work... well, in the end we ended up staying here for almost 3 hours. The food was decently delicious, but the precious atmosphere where I could leisurely talk with Mairebi-sama whom I hadn't seen in a while, in the bustling Ueno area on the weekend, was valuable. Overall, it was fine, I guess. Haha, thank you for the meal!

January 2019, Tokyo Ameyoko. It was crowded due to the New Year, so I decided to enter the "Taishu Sakaba Tonmaru" restaurant. I ordered a Tomato Highball for ¥350 and a White Hoppy for ¥400 to start off. The appetizer for ¥300 was disappointing. I wish I could have skipped it. For snacks, I ordered the Tochioage with natto sandwich for ¥480, the 3 kinds of mushroom tempura for ¥390, and skewers of liver, tongue, pork belly, and pork diaphragm for ¥120 each. It took a while for the food to come out, but that's understandable given how busy it was. The Tochioage with natto was delicious with a nice natto flavor. I ordered another Hoppy for ¥200 and finished the meal. The total bill was ¥3240 for 2 people. Overall, it was slightly different from what I expected. I felt a bit disappointed with the service this time.

The prices are relatively reasonable, but due to the lack of staff, if you miss the timing to order, you may end up hungry for a while. You can order just one item, but since there is no explanation of the grilled items, customers may have trouble figuring out which is which when they are served. Just eat whatever! Also, the receipt is different from typical izakayas as it just lists drinks and food, so it's hard to tell if there were any ordering or payment mistakes.

I visited this place for day drinking as they opened at 3 pm on Saturday. I was the first customer as I entered right when they opened. The vinegar motsu (offal) was warm and tasted like motsunabe (offal hot pot). Other menu items were typical of izakaya (Japanese pub) style. Good value for the price. A great place to stop by for a drink during the day.