Today is Friday, and I met up with some former colleagues whom I hadn't seen in about 5 years. We decided to meet at Ueno Station, which is easily accessible from Tokyo Station, and went to a Chinese restaurant called Umelan. We took two escalators to the 3rd floor where the restaurant is located. Despite it being 6:30 pm on a Friday, there were only about 4-5 groups of customers inside. - The pickled mustard greens (Zaasai) were generously portioned and had great value for money. They were well-balanced with mild acidity and not too spicy, making them easy to eat. - The steamed chicken was a moist and tender 300g chicken thigh, full of flavor. The sauce was simple and refreshing with a vinegar soy sauce flavor. - The spring rolls were crispy and hot, with a filling that was thick and plentiful. The strong ginger flavor might not be suitable for children. - The pan-fried dumplings were flavorful and well-cooked, with a generous portion that was great for sharing. - The shrimp fried rice had plump shrimp pieces and a slightly oily texture, but the simple flavor allowed the egg to shine through. - The Umelan yakisoba was a signature dish with a thick sauce inside, served on crispy noodles. Mixing the crispy and soft noodles together with the sauce created a unique texture. The high viscosity of the sauce made it a bit oily. All the dishes were served surprisingly quickly. The prices varied across the menu, so it wasn't particularly cheap, which might explain why it wasn't crowded on a Friday. There were a few customers dining in, and with several locations in the Kanto region, it seemed like a convenient option for dining.

I had yakisoba with beef at this restaurant. The outside was crispy and when I looked underneath, there was plenty of beef filling. It had a slightly spicy kick and was delicious. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is clean and you can experience a high-class Chinese vibe. There was no immediate seating when I entered, but it is a place where you can relax and enjoy your meal.

It was a full-fledged Chinese restaurant where employees were speaking Chinese. It was past 9 pm and I felt like eating pan-fried dumplings, so I came here. The skin was a bit dry and I didn't like the seasoning of the meat inside. Maybe because they focus more on boiled dumplings. The Meiran fried noodles were like fried noodles placed on top of the spring roll filling. It tasted as I had imagined. Next time, I'll try starting with the boiled dumplings.

In late June. Today, I went to Ueno Mori Sakura Terrace 3F for lunch at Ume Ran. It's been about 2-3 years since I last visited. I wanted to eat Ume Ran's yakisoba today! After some hesitation, I decided to order the Ran Gozen set (1980 yen) a bit indulgently. It includes half-sized Ume Ran yakisoba, seafood stir-fry, shark fin soup, three kinds of appetizers, and almond tofu. After a short wait, the dishes arrived. Although I came for the yakisoba, I started with the seafood stir-fry. It was delicious. The simple seasoning really brought out the flavors of the squid, shrimp, and vegetables. Now, onto the yakisoba. It was about 20cm in diameter. This was the half size, believe it or not. The crispy surface of the yakisoba noodles was hard to break, but inside, there was a hot and generous amount of pork, bean sprouts, onions, and other toppings covered in sauce. This yakisoba seemed never-ending as I ate, but I managed to finish it in the end. I am full. It was a very delicious yakisoba and Chinese meal. Thank you for the meal.

I tried the A set (only available on weekdays) at Ran Gozen. The price for the Ran Gozen is 1,100 yen, while the regular Ran Gozen is 1,980 yen. The taste was ★★★★, the atmosphere was ★★★, and the service was ★★★. I would definitely visit again. I wanted to try the famous yakisoba at Ume Ran, so I decided to visit. There were so many menu options, but I chose the set so I could try a variety of dishes. Even though the yakisoba was a half portion in the set, it was still satisfying. The appetizers, soup, and seafood stir-fry were all delicious.

Visited after the Matisse exhibition at 7:00 pm on Friday. The restaurant had a spacious and somewhat upscale atmosphere. Their yakisoba is famous, but I decided to try something different from what my wife ordered. Both dishes were incredibly generous in portion size, so it's best to be mindful when ordering. I had the Pork Belly on Rice for 1,050 yen. The camera on my phone wasn't working properly, so I couldn't take any pictures. The dish had an unfamiliar aroma of spices, different from star anise. The sweet and savory sauce was piping hot, and the pork belly was thick and chewy. Despite the effort to chew, it was delicious. I also tried the Ume Ran Yakisoba for 970 yen. It was a flat yakisoba with the ingredients hidden underneath. Surprisingly, it was also quite filling, even when shared between two people. The crispy burnt parts added a nice texture, although it may feel a bit oily.

It's been a while. The deliciousness is consistent as always. I chose the shrimp chili. The large and firm shrimp was plentiful. The crispy and chewy parts of the noodles were really tasty. I also ordered some dumplings. Shrimp dumplings and jade dumplings. Both were delicious with a firm texture.

I remembered lining up before the opening to eat yakisoba with this filling at Ume no Hana in Yokohama Chinatown over 10 years ago. By chance, I found the Ume no Hana sign near the parking lot, so I nostalgically went in.

On New Year's Day morning, I visited the local shrine for Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year). It was much smoother than usual, probably because I went earlier than usual. With some time to spare, I decided to visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. It had been a while since I visited on New Year's Day, as I usually go on the second day or later. When I got off the subway, it was extremely crowded. The police were directing people to line up in a zigzag pattern along the Kaminarimon Street. It may not have been the most crowded I've seen, but it felt like people were not concerned about COVID at all. After about an hour, I finally managed to make my way to the main hall for prayers. Along the way, I noticed some people lacking in manners, but thanks to the police and security guards, I was able to make my Hatsumode smoothly. It was already 3:00 PM and I hadn't had lunch yet, so I was hungry. I decided to escape the crowds in Asakusa and head to Ueno on the Ginza Line. I was surprised to see that 70% of the passengers in the same train car were inbound tourists. I found a restaurant in Ueno and went in. Located on the third floor of Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace, this Chinese restaurant chain is famous for its unique style of yakisoba, with the sauce on the inside and the noodles on the outside. I ordered their basic Umelan Yakisoba for 970 yen. After waiting for about 7-8 minutes, the first dish arrived. Strangely, it took another 5 minutes after my friend started eating for the second dish to arrive. The second dish had a lighter color on the surface compared to the first one. When I tried it, I found that the yakisoba lacked the crispy, crunchy texture and smoky flavor. The noodles were stuck together due to the egg that was mixed in and cooked. I had tried yakisoba at the main branch of (Yu) Gentyu Shoji in Yokohama Chinatown before, and while it wasn't very smoky either, this one was even less so. I tried a bite of my friend's noodles, and they were slightly more flavorful. However, my friend complained about the lack of egg in theirs. Despite being saved as a lunch refugee, I wish they would eliminate the inconsistency in the finished product, and I would prefer the noodles to be crispier.

I visited "Ume Ran Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace Store" around 11 am on a holiday in November 2022. It is located on the 3rd floor of Ueno no Mori Sakura Terrace, just outside Keisei Ueno Station. I visited this restaurant for a meal before heading to the art museum. The spacious restaurant was about 70% full, and I sat at a large table with another person. After looking at the menu, I ordered the "Beef Belly Meat Rice Bowl" for ¥1,050. The dish was served after a 10-minute wait. It was a generous portion of beef belly meat on top of rice in a Chinese-style bowl. Unfortunately, it did not come with soup. The soy sauce-flavored sauce on the rice was easy to eat with just the right amount of saltiness. The vegetables were cooked perfectly, providing a nice texture. The beef belly meat was tender and flavorful, offering a satisfying chew. Drizzling vinegar from the table added a nice touch of acidity to the dish. It was a different taste from typical Chinese restaurants, and I enjoyed it. The "Beef Belly Meat Rice Bowl" was quite filling, and I felt satisfied after finishing it. It was definitely worth more than the ¥1,050 price tag. Besides their famous yakisoba, "Ume Ran" offers other delicious dishes as well. By the time I left the restaurant, there was a line forming outside.

Having dinner with a friend. We decided on a cafe for our planning meeting. Even though it's a cafe, I'm drinking white wine haha. We chose UmeRan, which is quite close to the cafe. It's located in Sakura Terrace, which I didn't know before. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. We ordered the classic UmeRan yakisoba. It arrived quickly and brought back memories. The yakisoba is unique as the sauce is underneath the noodles, making them stay firm for longer. It was delicious and had a good amount of toppings. One plate was enough for me. I was considering trying something else, but ended up sticking with this. I'd like to go back there again and take my time next time.

At 3:30 pm, there were a lot of people in Ueno for lunch, and even at this time, you couldn't get into a restaurant around Ameyoko without waiting in line. So I went to Sakura Terrace. Since it was a bit of an awkward time, some stores were still preparing and not crowded. I found a good cost-effective option here. The autumn special set had a slightly spicy sauce hidden under the noodles. It tasted like the sauce you would find in a spring roll, so I wished it was a more typical sauce. It was too greasy for me.

Saigo-san's statue stands on a hill where there is a significant height difference between the Ueno Sakura Terrace and the central street, which used to mark the boundary between the Yamate (upscale) and Shitamachi (downtown) areas due to the Musashino Plateau cliff line. To move freely up and down without passing through the JR ticket gates, it is recommended to use the elevator or escalator at Ueno Sakura Terrace. Today, I finally entered the restaurant that caught my attention with its "Ume Ran Yakisoba" and draft beer set for 2,180 yen. The beer, edamame, shrimp chili, and yakisoba were served in that order. The dish even had a flower garnish, which was a pleasant surprise. I will now describe each dish in the order they were served. 1) Edamame: Not very flavorful. 2) Shrimp chili: Quite ordinary, nothing special. 3) Yakisoba: This was the only delicious dish. The restaurant's website described it as crispy yakisoba with a hot and savory sauce containing pork, bean sprouts, and onions. It was truly outstanding. It felt like an omelet made with yakisoba, combining the taste and texture of "sauce-covered crispy yakisoba" in an omelet form with Chinese-style ingredients. The surface of the yakisoba had a texture like scrambled eggs, making it a bit challenging to eat without a knife. I had to use both the shrimp chili spoon and the yakisoba spoon to cut the noodles. It was a bit challenging, but it was also fun. It would have been easier with a knife and fork, though. The restaurant seems to have multiple branches, and it's convenient to find one in Tokyo where it's not too crowded. The rarity factor has decreased compared to when it was only available in Yokohama, but it's still appreciated. Looking at the company overview, it seems there are two different branches under the same family name. Perhaps they are relatives? Is Ume Ran Shinkan also different from the others?

After visiting the grave, we returned to Ueno for lunch. My daughter wanted fried rice, so we decided to try Umeyan, a restaurant known for its yakisoba with filling in between. We ordered the five-flavor fried rice (950 yen - elegant and delicious), stir-fried water spinach (1380 yen - well-seasoned, although I find it interesting that water spinach costs the same as pea shoot stir-fry, and I can't help but feel cheap for choosing the more expensive water spinach), Umeyan yakisoba (970 yen - visually interesting with filling in between, but I personally prefer regular yakisoba), and daikon mochi (2 pieces, 400 yen - slightly soft daikon mochi). I found the fried rice more delicious than the Umeyan yakisoba.

When you come here, many people may be most interested in the famous plum orchid yakisoba, but I recommend ordering a course or a few dishes to share. This time, my friend and I had the Bamboo Course. Here is what we had in order: * Appetizers - each dish had a distinct flavor, giving the impression that proper dishes would be served. * Large shrimp in chili sauce - not overly sweet, with a good balance of acidity. The shrimp had a thick coating, similar to shrimp mayo with chili sauce. * Shumai and steamed shrimp dumplings - neither good nor bad. * Stir-fried seafood and vegetables - simple but delicious with a nice texture from the seafood and vegetables. * Braised beef belly - not too fatty, with a strong savory flavor. Tastes great with Chinese broccoli. * Shark fin soup with crab meat - lacked flavor, only tasted like salt and pepper. * Plum orchid yakisoba - towards the end of the course, a bit greasy and heavy. The portion size was just right and easy to eat. * Almond jelly - felt like something was missing, only tasted the coldness and texture. Overall, the food was not bad, but there was some inconsistency in the dishes. Next time, I might just order the ones we liked and share them.

My wife loves this restaurant, so we visit regularly. I always order the fried noodles, which are delicious. I tried them too and they were of high quality and very satisfying. I plan to come back again. However, the prices are not that cheap, so I might choose a different place for casual dining. It's not too expensive though, so I would recommend it for a weekend visit.

On my way back from Botanen, I was curious about Katakayaki soba so I decided to visit. There were various set menus available, but I ordered a set that included Oolong tea, soup, salad, dim sum, almond jelly, and a half portion of Katakayaki soba. Of course, I also had some Shaoxing wine. The Katakayaki soba had a unique taste. It was cooked crispy on one side with beaten egg and the filling was enclosed inside. The half portion of Katakayaki soba was just right. However, the soup and salad were disappointing.

After visiting the Ueno Art Museum, we stopped for lunch on the way back. With the new normal of living with COVID-19, there was a decent crowd and everywhere was crowded. We were lucky to find a place to dine in. I ordered the Umeyaki soba, which was just average. I had been to the Roppongi branch before and found the food too oily, causing indigestion. However, today's experience was not as bad. I would like to revisit when I can have a beer.

After visiting the art museum in Ueno with my parents, we ended up going to Ume Ran at Sakura Terrace quite late in the afternoon, just before 2:00 PM. They kindly let us in and we ordered the classic Ankake Yakisoba and Hiyashi Chuka. The Ankake Yakisoba was a bit firm, so my mother, who has trouble with her teeth, struggled a bit, but she seemed to enjoy it. I'm glad we also ordered the regular Yakisoba.

I used it on my way back from flower viewing. - Ume-ran Yakisoba (Seafood) It tasted like nostalgic Chinese food and was very delicious. I will order it again next time. - Sanratan Men The sour taste was mild and easy to eat. - Kongxincai Stir-fry The garlic flavor was strong and delicious. - Peking Duck It tasted as expected and I am satisfied. Everything was delicious so I want to use it again.