I visited this restaurant after waiting for 1 hour and 30 minutes at Kayaba Coffee, a famous spot in Yanaka. I ordered a set that includes ochazuke. First, a variety of small dishes arrived, all homemade by an old lady from Sado. They were simple and delicious. Then came the rice with sashimi, miso soup, and pickles. I put the sashimi on the rice and later enjoyed ochazuke. The owner kindly said to leave the fish if I couldn't finish it, and that I could ask for more rice. The sashimi was fresh and delicious, and I ended up eating a bit too much because the rice was so tasty.

I visited Ueno Zoo from early in the morning. By the time it was past 12:00, my feet were starting to feel tired, so I decided to have lunch outside and then re-enter the zoo to avoid the crowds. After being turned away from one restaurant due to the Golden Week rush, I called another restaurant that seemed less crowded and luckily they had just had a customer leave, so I was able to get a table. The restaurant had a modest appearance, but it seemed like a nice Japanese restaurant for dinner (Sado's delicious food shop). The lunch I had was carefully prepared and delicious. I had the Seasonal Fish Chazuke set meal and a coffee. The restaurant was small but cozy, and the owner and staff were very friendly and made my lunch experience enjoyable. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on a Saturday before 12 o'clock. The place was just about full. The menu offered two main dishes: fish sashimi rice bowl or teriyaki pork cutlet rice bowl, each priced at 1,650 yen. The meal comes with appetizers made with Sado Island ingredients, rice, and miso soup. The appetizers include miso-flavored konjac, rolled omelette, boiled green vegetables, simmered pumpkin, boiled broccoli, simmered beans, and more. The food is made with Sado Island ingredients and emphasizes natural flavors, allowing you to enjoy your meal with peace of mind. The attentive service is very comforting.

I visited for lunch. I arrived around 12:30. There were 6 people waiting in front of the restaurant. I entered around 1:00. I ordered the "seasonal fish ochazuke" and a draft beer. Six appetizers were served. Then, a special sesame sauce-coated fish arrived. The fish included bonito, yellowtail, and autumn salmon. It was delicious! Along with white rice, miso soup, and pickles. The sesame sauce-coated fish was really tasty! The rice, miso soup, and the "oke sa persimmon" from the appetizers were also delicious. I couldn't resist buying the "oke sa persimmon" they were selling on my way out. Thank you for the meal.

Located in a quiet residential area, this quaint restaurant exudes a nostalgic atmosphere. The interior is stylish and clean, exceeding expectations. The lunch menu offers two options: seafood ochazuke and tare-katsu, both made with ingredients sourced from the owner's hometown of Sado. Today, I tried the seafood ochazuke. I started with sashimi on rice and then enjoyed the remaining ingredients in ochazuke style, similar to hitsumabushi. The taste was excellent, and the portion was just right. I thoroughly enjoyed and finished the meal.

Lunch Set with Seasonal Fish Tea Rice Bowl for 1,650 yen. I went with my friends from my university research lab on a Sunday afternoon without a reservation. We were able to get in without much of a wait. Although I forgot to take a picture of the main dish, everything was carefully prepared and the calm atmosphere was nice.

Today I took a walk near Ueno Park and had lunch at "Nanohana", which offers a variety of Niigata dishes. We started with an appetizer platter, with everything except the tamagoyaki being sent from the owner's hometown in Niigata. I had the "Tarekatsu Don", made with high-quality fillet meat. The tartar sauce was also delicious. My wife had the "Seasonal Fish Ochazuke", with sashimi of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. We poured dashi over it and enjoyed the meal. It was a lunch that made us feel a little bit elegant.

Located on the way from Ueno Park to Yanaka near Tokyo University of the Arts, around 1:00 PM, my daughter was taking her nap time. I checked the baby stroller... The interior of the restaurant has a counter and table seats, but it doesn't feel very spacious. However, the owner's personality was very nice, and I felt warm when I received a very good response. The owner came out from inside and even brought a chair outside for us, showing great kindness. There were two couples sitting at the counter. The seasonal fish ochazuke (rice with tea) for 1650 yen was delicious. The lunch is limited to one hour. First, we had dishes like tofu, konjac, simmered fish, and rolled omelet made with ingredients from Sado Island, all carefully prepared and very tasty! Sado Island seems like their hometown. The pickled cabbage and miso soup were also gently flavored, something I would like to have every morning to start the day! Today's fish were tuna, yellowtail, and salmon. The tuna was served with wasabi and seaweed, while the yellowtail and salmon were prepared for ochazuke. The owner explained everything very carefully. The tuna we had as is, and the yellowtail and salmon for ochazuke were all incredibly delicious. I would like to visit again during a less busy time when the baby stroller might not be in the way of other customers.

Ueno Sakuragi is a quiet restaurant located in the back area of Ueno Park. They use ingredients from Sado Island, which is their specialty. For lunch, they offer a bit pricey but delicious "seasonal fish ochazuke" for 1,650 yen, which comes with a bottle of beer. It's a great choice for a weekend brunch. The appetizer platter includes konjac and miso soup made from Sado Island ingredients. The simmered beans with cream cheese in the middle are a great combination. The konjac has a unique texture different from what you find in convenience stores. It makes you want to drink sake rather than beer. Next comes the ochazuke set. They recommend starting with the fish and rice dipped in sauce. The tuna dipped in sesame sauce pairs well with the glossy rice. It's really delicious. And then, the ochazuke with salmon and yellowtail is incredibly tasty. The hojicha used is not too strong and has a good aroma (it seems to be a dashi tea with kombu salt), and the crispy rice crackers add a nice texture. This is what ochazuke should taste like! I was impressed by the perfect balance of aroma, texture, and flavor. When I think of ochazuke, I used to think of the one from Nagatanien, but experiencing the deliciousness of real ochazuke made with real tea was amazing. It seems like this restaurant also pays attention to the dishes they use. The rice bowl was made of a beautiful shiny pottery. This is a place where you can enjoy a bit of healthy food and indulge in a luxurious mood. It's a bit expensive, but the deliciousness makes it worth it, so it's a nice treat for yourself once in a while.

I went for a walk in an almost unknown area from Komagome to Tabata, Nippori, and Yanaka on a nice sunny day. Before it got crowded, I searched on Tabelog and visited a restaurant that focuses on Sado ingredients and sake. For lunch, there were two completely different choices. The first appetizer was the same, but you could choose between pork cutlet or seasonal fish ochazuke. With a wide selection of sake, I decided to go with the Kintsuru Hana Blue Label from Kato Sake Brewery, which was elegant and flavorful. I enjoyed it with a variety of appetizers. The vegetables in the appetizer were also made with Sado ingredients, but the seasoning was ordinary. However, it tasted great with sake. The seasonal fish was tuna, yellowtail, and salmon with sesame sauce. I saved some yellowtail and salmon for the ochazuke. The tuna didn't seem to go well with ochazuke, so I ate it separately with rice. The rice was a bit firm but delicious, made from Sado rice. I had seconds and enjoyed the ochazuke with yellowtail, which paired well. The salmon was okay. Overall, it was a delicious and enjoyable meal.

I visited this restaurant after seeing the "Art as it is" exhibition at the Tokyo University of the Arts Museum. It is located in a residential area and has a high rating on Tabelog. The lunch menu consists of only two options: ochazuke and tarekatsu. We ordered one of each. Both dishes came with appetizers, which were served quickly. The quality was good, although the prices were a bit high. The appetizers included three types of vegetables and tofu seasoned with salt. The vegetables were organically grown in Sado and the eggplant had a nice flavor from the broth. The ochazuke had slices of tuna, mackerel, and salmon with sesame dressing, and the sashimi was of good quality. The tarekatsu had a light but firm texture with an elegant sauce. The miso soup was also refined and flavorful. (September 2020)

I visited Nohana for lunch on a regular day. It is located an 8-minute walk from Nippori Station, about an 8-minute walk from Nezu Station, and a 15-minute walk from Ueno Station. Today, I decided to walk from Nippori Station as a form of exercise. The restaurant is situated in a residential area, and if you're not paying attention, you might walk past it. Nohana is a small restaurant run by the head chef from Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. They serve delicious dishes made with organic vegetables and fresh fish sent from his hometown of Sado. I arrived at 12 o'clock and was seated at the counter. The interior had a sophisticated Japanese atmosphere with a sense of cleanliness. When seated, cold water and a hot towel were brought to me. I ordered the seasonal fish ochazuke for 1,650 yen including tax. There was also a Niigata specialty called tarekatsu available. The food was served in just 4 minutes. The meal consisted of 5 appetizers, rice, sashimi, miso soup, and pickles. The 5 appetizer platter consisted of items all from Sado except for the tamagoyaki. They were all gently seasoned, allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine. The rich homemade tofu was particularly delicious. The sashimi had a refined sesame dressing and the aged natural sashimi had a unique umami flavor. I had seconds of rice and turned it into ochazuke with Sado's hojicha and kombu salt dashi. They also make their own miso using ingredients like vegetables, rice, and koji from Sado. It felt like I was in Sado rather than just eating food from Sado! For dinner, they offer a wide selection of sake that can only be found in Sado. The attentive service from the head chef made the lunchtime experience very satisfying. I will definitely visit again to see the head chef. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

About a 15-minute walk to the left from Nekoday Station in Tokyo, turning right at the Yanaka Reien intersection and walking 30 meters into a residential area, you will find a small, quiet shop called "Nanohana." Here, you can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine using ingredients from Sado Island. The dishes, which are abundant in seafood and mountain delicacies, are truly authentic! After enjoying sashimi, simmered dishes, and grilled dishes, you will finish with a hot tea poured over pickles soaked in sesame sauce on Sado Island rice to make a delicious ochazuke. It's really delicious! This restaurant has given me a different surprise every time I have visited. Please note that this place only serves lunch, and it can be a bit pricey for dinner. It is conveniently located near the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno and Ueno Zoo, so be sure to stop by for lunch! Reservations for lunch are not accepted.

☆The atmosphere inside the restaurant is a bit cramped, but the clean interior is appealing☆ Menu ordered: Ochazuke lunch☆ Taste: Many dishes were made by the owner's mother from Sado, and they were very delicious. The portion size is small, but the price is low, so I am very satisfied.☆ Excellent cost performance☆ Price: 1600 yen

Arrived at 11:30 and there was a line with 3 groups ahead of me. Many elderly customers, so the turnover was very slow, waited 30 minutes to be seated. Ended up sitting apart from my friends. The restaurant was not as spacious as expected. Automatically ordered the only menu option, today's lunch for 1550 yen. When asked if I wanted water or tea, I said both, but was told I could only choose one. Disappointing. Received a small appetizer first (probably made with vegetables from the owner's hometown in Sado). The main dish came next, with tuna, yellowtail, another type of sashimi, rice, and condiments for ochazuke. The sashimi rice was delicious. You can get one more serving of rice, so I made ochazuke. It was a tasty lunch, but the wait time and rushed service were a bit of a downside.

Since my daughter's exam is coming up, we went to visit the grave. We got off at Nezu station, bought some flowers on the way (peach blossoms), and had lunch alone at a nearby restaurant while my sister was busy with a memorial service. The restaurant was called "Nanohana" and I had been curious about it on the way to Ueno Park from the temple. It was just before lunchtime and I sat at the counter, but it quickly filled up. Many people had reservations, and there was an English menu, with many foreigners present. The lunch options were limited to the daily special or seasonal fish ochazuke for ¥1550. The appetizers included homemade konjac with yuzu miso, sesame-dressed vitamin greens, black beans with cream cheese, stir-fried squid legs, rolled omelette, and Sado Island rice tofu. The fish trio was served first with sesame sauce, followed by a rice refill and then enjoyed with dashi. I also had a glass of white wine, Espino Chardonnay from Chile, for ¥630. When I asked, it seemed like they received fish and vegetables from their family in Sado, so I thought, "If it's from Sado, they must have delicious Japanese sake too." They confirmed that they had a sake menu, so I thought, "Next time, I'll try the sake!"

On Saturday, I was looking for a place to have lunch around Nezu, where I had been before. I found this restaurant that I had marked as wanting to visit. The weather was nice and sunny, so I decided to take a walk from Ueno Park. It was midday and I had to wait for about 15-20 minutes in front of the restaurant. It wasn't too bad because it was warm and sunny. I was curious about Sado cuisine, but the vegetables and fish were all elegant and delicious. The rice was cooked firm and very tasty. I found another favorite restaurant.

Located in a quiet residential area beyond Yanaka Cemetery from Nippori Station, this restaurant was packed when I visited on a weekend afternoon. I opted for the reserved course menu (priced at 5,400 yen including tax) at the end of the counter, and it became clear why this place is so popular. The ingredients and sake are all sourced from the owner's hometown of Sado. With fish that freely swim in the Sea of Japan and sake that brings out the flavors, it feels like you are dining at a coastal restaurant in Sado. The meal started with tenderly simmered octopus served with mashed potatoes spread with cream. This was followed by a selection of small dishes that paired well with the sake. The assortment included cod milt, sweet squid, pickled cauliflower, boiled spinach, fragrant Sado tofu, and rolled omelet with dashi. The rich aroma of Sado's local sake, Kanekura, complemented the dishes perfectly. A bowl of miso soup with maple-shaped wheat gluten from Murakami, Niigata, was served with salted mackerel, sablefish, crunchy bay scallops, and dried squid. The thickly sliced mackerel had a firm texture, while the squid was incredibly sweet when eaten with a hint of salt. The grilled dish featured silver cod enhanced by koji fermentation. The meal concluded with yellowtail rice porridge. The tender yellowtail had a satisfying texture, making it a delicious finish. For dessert, we enjoyed juicy and sweet oranges and pears grown by the owner's mother, along with coffee. We shared a bottle of beer and four servings of Sado sake (unfiltered, regular, and premium) between the two of us, totaling around 7,000 yen per person. It was truly a delightful dining experience that made us feel as if we were in Sado.

Anyway, a restaurant that focuses on ingredients from Sado Island to Niigata, serving carefully crafted delicious Japanese cuisine. It is run by a couple from Sado Island. I visited with a friend and we ordered the smallest course menu (5400 yen excluding tax) for two people, along with a full bottle of organic red wine and a Sado Island organic apple juice. In total, we paid 15,490 yen including tax. Each dish was meticulously prepared and delicious. The wife kindly explained each dish as it was served. The attentive service and timing of each course were impressive. We were too full for rice at the end, so they offered to make tai chazuke for us (hence the photo without rice, just miso sea bream and cucumber with mustard). If you're looking for casual yet delicious and attentive Japanese cuisine, I would definitely go back.

The restaurant serves dishes that bring out the goodness of pesticide-free vegetables. They are able to source rare vegetables that are not commonly found in the city because they grow their own vegetables at their family home. They also make their own miso using soybeans.