Ameyoko is really crowded with people! It's overwhelming to walk around and see the hustle and bustle after the calming down of the coronavirus situation and the return of tourists. My destination was "Kushikatsu Sakaba Hirokatsu." They open from noon on weekends and holidays, and when I visited on a Saturday evening, the place was already packed! The atmosphere was lively with many young customers, and even some foreign tourists. I was even asked by a group of tourists to take their picture! The walls were decorated with wooden signs listing the menu items and lanterns, creating a fun atmosphere. The plate with 6 dipping sauces - basil, tomato, curry, mango chili, tartar, garlic miso - was brought to us first. Then, the kushikatsu arrived! The popular "Kushikatsu Bucket" with 15 assorted kushikatsu sticks was a great deal at around 100 yen each. It was fun to guess which kushikatsu we were eating! My personal favorites were the ham katsu, demi-glace kushikatsu, eggplant, and asparagus. They also had a variety of side dishes like Akashiyaki and simmered eggs, making it hard to choose! Having lemon sour on the table was a nice touch. Overall, it was a great experience and I definitely want to go back! Thank you for the meal!

Located in Ueno, "Kushikatsu Sakaba Hirokatsu Ueno Ameyoko Store" is just a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station! The restaurant has 65 seats. Here's what we ordered: ✔︎︎︎︎Otoshi (appetizer) discounted to 439 yen x2✔︎︎︎︎Oronamin C Shochu Highball 549 yen✔︎︎︎︎Pulp Kiwi Shochu Highball 549 yen✔︎︎︎︎Pickled Ginger Highball 439 yen✔︎︎︎︎Cola 329 yen✔︎︎︎︎Assorted Pickles 549 yen✔︎︎︎︎Salmon Sashimi 658 yen✔︎︎︎︎Potato Salad 439 yen✔︎︎︎︎Kushikatsu Bucket Assortment (15 types) 1759 yen✔︎︎︎︎Kushikatsu Shop's Motsuni (offal stew) 549 yen✔︎︎︎︎Niku-sui (meat dip) 549 yen✔︎︎︎︎Unzen Ham Katsu 659 yen✔︎︎︎︎Fluffy Potato Fries 439 yen✔︎︎︎︎Demi Glazed Kushikatsu (2 pieces) 659 yen✔︎︎︎︎Garlic 219 yen✔︎︎︎︎Onigiri (rice ball) Ume (plum) 329 yen✔︎︎︎︎Strawberry Shoe Ice 438 yen✔︎︎︎︎Yuzu Sherbet 549 yen. This restaurant offers a variety of kushikatsu including meat, vegetables, and seafood. The appetizer comes with cabbage and 6 types of dipping sauces. You can enjoy unlimited refills of cabbage and dipping sauces. There are 6 different dipping sauces ranging from Japanese to Western flavors, providing a variety of tastes to enjoy. The mango chili had a salty sauce on it that day. All the sauces go well with kushikatsu. They also have their own sauce on the table that should not be double-dipped. The Kushikatsu Bucket Assortment includes 15 types, which is more cost-effective than ordering individually. It's exciting not knowing what's in each piece. They are particular about the breadcrumbs and oil, making them easy to eat. The beef hormone is tender and full of flavor as you chew, and the ham katsu is thick and satisfying. They also offer game meat kushikatsu like deer and kangaroo for a unique experience. In addition to kushikatsu, they have a wide variety of appetizers and side dishes that are all delicious, making it easy to over-order. Highly recommended for when you want to enjoy delicious kushikatsu in Ueno! Address: 2F Shirakawa Building, 6-13-3 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo ⏱Opening hours: Mon-Fri, eve of public holidays 14:00-23:00 (last order for food and drinks 22:30) Sat, Sun, public holidays 12:00-23:15 (last order for food and drinks 22:45) Closed on: None @hirokatsu_ueno Instagram @foodyukichan

First of all, the appetizer is cute! With the cabbage & sauce set, the sauces are stylish♡ You can enjoy 7 flavors: standard, curry, tomato, tartar, garlic miso, mango chili, and basil. The sauces are elegantly presented on a cute plate♡ Also, the drink selection is abundant! I chose a non-alcoholic drink, which was fruity like a cocktail and stylishly cute. If you're not sure which skewers to choose, I recommend the "Kushikatsu Bucket Mix"! It comes with a whopping 15 varieties of skewers in a cute bucket♡ I also tried some individual items! - Pickled ginger - Oyster - Mochi cheese - Camembert cheese - Simmered egg - Miso kushikatsu Ordering is convenient through a QR code, and the simmered egg and pickled ginger were especially delicious! If you love eggs, you'll definitely enjoy the egg skewer! And you can't miss the pickled ginger! It's satisfyingly large and super delicious♡ The quick-to-serve menu is also recommended! - Octopus with wasabi - Chilled tomato - Cold tofu - Seasoned simmered egg - Grated yam - Fluffy cucumber roll! The Akashiyaki (octopus balls) are served with a gentle broth, making them refreshing and recommended♡ The fish cake with cheese and seaweed tempura has a delightful harmony of chewy fish cake and cheese♡ For dessert, I had yuzu sherbet, which was refreshing with a strong yuzu peel flavor and incredibly delicious! It was also very generous in portion♡ Highly recommended♡

I went to cool off from the summer heat! They open from 12:00, which is great because you can drink in the daylight. And it's cheap! I was surprised by how reasonable the prices were. There were a lot of young customers, which makes sense! Also, it's smoking allowed. Smokers will be happy about that! Most of the shops in Ameyoko allow smoking! That caught my attention, haha. They have a variety of food and drink menus. You order with a QR code (making it easy to pay!) As a woman in her 50s who tends to get indigestion easily, I went for refreshing dishes like cold tofu, cucumber, chilled tomato, octopus with wasabi, boiled egg, and yam sticks. I also ordered the recommended bucket platter (15 items). The ingredients were delicious and crispy! The light sauce was sweet and tasty! They offer 6 types of sauces, and cabbage is complimentary (you can ask for more). I enjoyed alternating between the skewers and cabbage, and ended up ordering more skewers. I also ordered additional dishes like Akashiyaki, grilled chikuwa, and fried food. It's so good that you can keep eating more and more!

Ueno Station is a 5-minute walk away, making it convenient for daytime business. In addition to the classic skewers, they also offer "Game Skewers" such as crocodile, deer, and kangaroo. They pay attention to the breadcrumbs and oil, so you can enjoy the authentic taste of skewers. Located on the 2nd floor of a building, I thought the inside of the restaurant might be noisy and difficult to have a conversation, but the tables are separated from each other, making it easy to chat with friends. When you come here, I recommend starting with the "Skewer Bucket Assortment" with 15 types of skewers coming out in a bucket for 1,759 yen. It's a great deal with 15 skewers that are crispy and delicious. You can enjoy various flavors with 6 types of sauces. The "Unzen Ham Cutlet," with its thick ham cutlet, is highly recommended for its juicy and glossy appearance. The "Demi-Glace Stewed Skewers" (2 skewers) have hot fried skewers with demiglace sauce, which goes well together. I also ordered the rare "Game Skewers" with deer, boar, ostrich, crocodile, and kangaroo options. According to my friend who accompanied me, crocodile tastes like white fish. The crocodile, ostrich, and kangaroo had no unpleasant smell and were delicious. The deer and boar that I tried were relatively common in the game meat category and easy to eat. The "Fluffy and Melty! Akashiyaki" was really fluffy, and the "Octopus Wiener" got me excited after a long time. Everything was delicious. It's not the type of restaurant I usually go to, but I had a lot of fun. Despite eating a lot, I didn't feel bloated at all, probably because the fat content was good. There were still many skewers and side menu items I wanted to try, but my stomach was full, so I'll save them for next time. ☺️

It seems that there are not many people who drink indoors during the day, so we were the first ones there. The sauces were interestingly presented and all the flavors were delicious. It was fun trying to decide which sauce to eat with each dish. The buckets are really good value and have a great lineup, so I recommend starting with an order. Thank you for the meal.

[Tokyo Ueno] Recommended izakaya where you can enjoy amazing and cheap kushikatsu! A popular menu item is the Kushikatsu Baketsu Mori (15 types) for ¥1,759. Isn't it amazing to get 15 pieces for that price? Plus, you don't know what ingredients are in each kushikatsu until you eat it, making it a fun guessing game! Other recommended items include: - Demi-Ni Kushikatsu (2 pieces) for ¥659: Goes great with the rich demi-glace sauce! - Unzen Ham Katsu for ¥659: Juicy and full of meat juice, similar to a juicy menchi katsu. - Pork Belly Cheese for ¥274 - Salmon Cheese for ¥274 - Pickled Ginger for ¥219 - Seasoned Egg for ¥274 - Camembert Cheese for ¥219 - Mochi for ¥219 - Mochi Cheese for ¥274 - Octopus Vienna Sausage for ¥549 Everything was delicious and satisfying, so I highly recommend this place! For more great food and travel tips, follow me on Instagram @takeru19950801!

▶︎ Located a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station, this restaurant also has a branch in Shibuya! ▶︎ Menu highlights include pickled cucumbers, Sichuan-style saliva chicken, ham cutlet, Chikura cheese tempura, and a bucket of 15 skewers. ▶︎ Prices range from 2000 yen. ▶︎ Both food and drinks are delicious and reasonably priced, making it a great value for money! From 6 pm to 7 pm, you can usually get in without a reservation, so if you're in a pinch, this place is a good choice! ▶︎ I also posted about it on Instagram! (@toragourmet)

Between Ueno and Okachimachi, there is a lively street known for daytime drinking. I decided to go to Ueno with my friends to have a fun time in an area that we don't usually visit. We chose to visit this restaurant on the second floor because the street-level shops seemed too crowded for a relaxing conversation. The atmosphere was lively but still cozy, suitable for couples, families (with children present), large groups, and even solo diners. The ordering process was convenient with a QR code menu, and we ordered the recommended bucket of assorted kushikatsu for 1759 yen. The kushikatsu was freshly fried, with a variety of options including delicious oysters. There were also unique options like game meat kushikatsu, but we stuck to the more familiar choices. The kushikatsu sauces were diverse and stylish, with options like mango chili, tomato basil, tartar, curry, garlic miso, and more. We enjoyed the food and drinks, including the all-you-can-eat cabbage appetizer, affordable beer, and a lemon sour drink special. Overall, we had a great time chatting, eating, and drinking at this restaurant. Highly recommended for a fun and enjoyable dining experience.

The assorted dishes were served in a bucket and it was fun. If you're not sure what to order, definitely go for this. The service was quick and we were able to eat quickly. The sauce was poured on the food rather than being served on the side. I think they have a two-hour time limit. There were a few TVs inside the restaurant.

Hirokatsu Ueno Ameyoko store✨ A skewered cutlet specialty store in Ueno Ameyoko✨ We had a lively girls' night out here‍❤️‍‡ Cabbage & sauce set‡ Game skewers‡ Wild boar, kangaroo, crocodile, ostrich, deer‡ Spice curry series‡ Omelette, potato cheese curry‡ Skewer bucket assortment, shishamo, shrimp, eringi, onion, beef, pickled ginger, potato, eggplant, quail, asparagus, camembert cheese‡ Colorful sauces❤️‡ Makes you smile when you eat☺‡ Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside‒skewered beef, vegetables, game, seafood‡ Game skewers are healthy and delicious without any gamey taste❣️‡ They have a wide variety of other menu items and plenty of drinks to pair with your meal‡ A menu that both kids and adults can enjoy‍❤️‍‡‡ Thank you for the meal.

"Kushikatsu Sakaba Hirokatsu Ueno Ameyoko Store" ☎️ 050-5457-6518 Reservation → Available → 2F, Shirakawa Building, 6-13-3 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo ⏰ Business Hours → [Mon-Fri, eve of public holiday] 14:00-23:00 [Sat, Sun, public holiday] 12:00-23:15 Regular Holiday → None → Cards/Cash Accepted This time it's the Ueno day drinking edition ✨ A bar located in a corner of Ameyoko where there are sure to be a lot of people. @hirokatsu_ueno It's not a street-level store, but a type where you go up to the 2nd floor, so you can enjoy a leisurely drink during the day ✨ It's great that Ueno has regained its vitality after the corona, but it has become difficult to enter many shops. This shop is located in a place known only to a few, so it's great that even a large group can easily get in ✨ I visited around 3 pm on Wednesday this time! What I ordered this time was: - Appetizer - Cabbage & Sauce - Side dish - Meat-sucking cucumber Anago tempura - Skewers - Kushikatsu Bucket Assortment Pickled ginger Demi-glace Game kushikatsu series: deer, wild boar, ostrich, crocodile, kangaroo Camembert cheese Seasoned boiled egg It was all skewers, but it was great ☺️ The bucket assortment is impressive, so it's best to order it The anago tempura goes without saying (lol) If my stomach allowed, I would have ordered 5 more. The game series allows you to try various things, which is great! By the way, the draft beer "Nama Baka Dai" is too big!! With 1 liter, it's like, if you don't order it, as a drinking nurse, you feel a sense of duty (lol) As a result of ordering, it's too good. They even chill the glass to the max, which is great ❤️ Not suitable for a date, but you can go to 0.1.2 and it's perfect for welcome parties or company drinks! Thank you for reading the post I'm a nurse who loves drinking and eating I post recommended restaurants as a memo Please like, save, and follow me #DrinkingNurse #WantToConnectWithPeopleWhoLoveDrinking #SakeLovers #DrinkingTagram #Highball #Whiskey #SakeLover #DrinkingSlightly #TokyoGourmet #TokyoDate #Ueno #UenoIzakaya #UenoGourmet #UenoDrinking #UenoDate

It was a hot day... I felt like I couldn't walk anymore because of the heat, but then I saw a Happy Hour sign and thought, why not have a drink! I went in and found out they had a 60-minute all-you-can-drink lemon sour for 500 yen! So cheap!! They mentioned that you need to order at least 1100 yen per person excluding the all-you-can-drink offer. I didn't have time to leisurely choose from the menu, so I just ordered a bucket of assorted fried skewers. They were crispy and delicious! They served various types of sauces with the appetizer, but in the end, I mostly used the regular sauce and salt haha. The cabbage came with garlic miso sauce!

Discovered on Instagram, I wanted to try the "bucket of kushikatsu" and headed to Kushikatsu Sakaba Hirokatsu in Ameyoko @hirokatsu_ueno. Even though it's a Wednesday night, the place is bustling. The bucket of kushikatsu I've been craving for had a thin, crispy and fluffy coating, just like a strong yet gentle actress - maybe like Yoshino Kimura or Machiko Ono. It was a mesmerizing set of 15 skewers. The side dishes were also delicious, especially the Unzen Ham Katsu and Akashi-yaki. I will definitely come back. Thank you for the meal! #KushikatsuSakabaHirokatsu #Hirokatsu #KushikatsuSakaba #KushikatsuSakabaHirokatsuUenoAmeyoko #UenoGourmet #AmeyokoGourmet #Ueno #Ameyoko #UenoIzakaya #AmeyokoIzakaya #UenoKushikatsu #AmeyokoKushikatsu #BucketOfKushikatsu #ChikuwaCheeseIsobeAge #UnzenHamKatsu #OctopusSausage #SichuanStyleDroolingChicken #Akashiyaki #Shimesaba #Salmon #AvocadoSashimi #Sobameshi

It was really hot over the weekend, so I went to a kushikatsu sake bar in Ueno. When you think of Ueno, it's full of people drinking outside, but I prefer cooler places, so I went to a second-floor shop with air conditioning. I aimed for around 2 pm, so surprisingly I was able to get a seat. I ordered the value-packed kushikatsu bucket set of 15 skewers for 1599 yen. It was an assorted lineup of delicious skewers including juicy eggplant, shrimp, eringi mushroom, white fish, chicken tenderloin, pork belly, potato, quail egg, beef heart, scallop, onion, shishamo, chicken thigh, avocado, and salmon. The set also came with cabbage and 6 colorful sauces, which were a highlight. The sauces were not only great for dipping cabbage but also added flavor to the skewers. I also tried the avocado and salmon with wasabi soy sauce, which was refreshing and delicious. The Ma-La style spicy fried chicken and Sichuan-style drooling chicken were both flavorful and spicy. The salmon sashimi was thick and satisfying, so I couldn't resist ordering more. The kushikatsu had a light coating, making it easy to eat a lot without feeling greasy. I also tried the frozen lemon sour, which had lots of frozen lemon pieces and was a great deal. For dessert, I had the frozen mango sour, which had frozen mango pieces that melted and mixed with the drink, creating a delicious flavor. I also tried the strawberry choux ice cream and unexpectedly ordered the fried eggplant as a finishing touch. The ordering process from the smartphone was convenient, and the free ice water was a nice touch. It's crowded on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but weekdays or from 12 pm to 5 pm on weekends are good times to visit. Right now, you can enjoy a special offer on extra-large eel tempura for 599 yen instead of 799 yen, so be sure to check it out!

Visit on Sunday at 8:00 PM! The assorted kushikatsu bucket mix includes meat, fish, vegetables, and various ingredients, making it a great deal! Since it's kushikatsu, it's fun not knowing what you're eating until you try it. The Unzen ham katsu is juicy and delicious! Definitely a must-order dish! They also have game meat skewers, including rare options like ostrich, crocodile, and kangaroo! All the dishes are tasty, and they offer all-you-can-drink sour cocktails on the table, making it a great place to enjoy drinking in Ueno. ▼Order----------- - - food- - - -▪️Assorted Kushikatsu Bucket 1759 yen▪️Unzen Ham Katsu 659 yen▪️Akashiyaki 659 yen▪️Umeshu 439 yen▪️Seasoned boiled egg 549 yen▪️Octopus wiener 549 yen▪️Deer skewer 439 yen▪️Wild boar skewer 439 yen▪️Ostrich skewer 439 yen▪️Crocodile skewer 439 yen▪️Kangaroo skewer 439 yen▪️Red ginger omelette 549 yen▪️Clam soup 439 yen▼Visit date and time------June 2023 (Sunday) 8:00 PM▼Reservation and waiting time—available/not available▼Location----------Right near Ueno Station▼Number of people----------2 people▼Budget----------Dinner 2000 yen per person or more

- Kushi katsu bucket platter: A bucket filled with 15 different types of kushi katsu skewers, which is a great deal at around 100 yen per skewer. The size of the bucket is cute and surprisingly easy to finish. The skewers include a variety of vegetables and meats, making it a fun experience to guess and share with friends. I tried squid, beef, purple sweet potato, eringi mushroom, onion, and eggplant. The batter is light and crispy, with a great texture that complements the filling. It's hot and delicious, perfect for a casual meal. - Unzen ham katsu: The crispy texture of the batter contrasts with the juicy thick-cut ham inside, creating a flavorful experience. This dish stands out among other kushi katsu options with its unique texture. - Ume suisho (pickled plum): A refreshing palate cleanser, perfect for a break between skewers. The tangy flavor of the pickled plum adds a nice touch to the meal. - Seasoned boiled egg: I love eggs, and this seasoned boiled egg is a must-order for me. The rich flavor of the egg enhances any dish it accompanies, making it a favorite choice for me. - Octopus wiener: A cute octopus-shaped wiener that is too adorable to resist. I couldn't help but devour it quickly. - Fluffy and creamy Akashiyaki: A soft and creamy version of takoyaki, with a gooey texture that pairs well with the dipping sauce. The chunks of octopus inside are a delightful surprise. - Game meat skewers: I tried a variety of game meats, including frog, ostrich, wild boar, deer, crocodile, and kangaroo. Each meat had its own unique flavor and texture, with some surprising me with how delicious and easy to eat they were. My favorite was the deer skewer, which was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. - Ostrich: Surprisingly tender and similar to beef in texture, with a light and mild flavor. - Kangaroo: Chewy but bursting with flavor, this meat is more enjoyable than expected and easy to eat. - Wild boar: Light and slightly fatty, with a rich flavor that is not overpowering. - Deer: Possibly my favorite of the bunch, with a familiar taste and a tender, juicy texture that makes it easy to enjoy. - Crocodile: Slightly chewy but reminiscent of juicy chicken, this meat is surprisingly delicious and easy to eat. - Alligator: Firm and juicy, with a texture similar to chicken. This meat is easy to eat and has a mild flavor that makes it a pleasant surprise.

It was very crowded on weekends around 8:30 pm without a reservation, but we were able to get a seat. Sitting at the end of the counter near the restroom is good as you won't be bothered by the surrounding voices too much. It can be a bit distracting when people pass by to use the restroom, but it's not a big issue. The katsu dishes were all delicious. My favorite was the lotus root with basil sauce. However, the portion size of items other than katsu is a bit small, especially the umeshiso and nikusui. It was disappointing that there was not enough filling in the nikusui. Katsu sauce and salt are provided on the table, but colorful dipping sauces keep coming out. Additional sauce is free. It was a bit of a hassle to have to add the restaurant on LINE as a friend through a QR code when ordering.

After eating "Nama Gaki," I visited Hirokatsu for some kushikatsu. I tried several skewers, including red pickled ginger and shishito peppers. The dipping sauce came in a tray with six different kinds, which was quite interesting. The lemon sour was served for you to pour yourself from a server, which was also a fun touch. You can order using your smartphone, so you don't have to call for service, and the bill is clear, which is nice. I will definitely be coming back here again. Thank you for the meal.

The spacious shop in Ameyoko, Ueno is in a great location, perfect for hopping from one place to another. The cabbage appetizer comes with 6 different sauces! It's so easy to keep drinking with this. Day drinking with friends is the best! The bucket of assorted skewers is visually appealing and a great deal! It's satisfying with not just meat and shrimp, but also vegetables and cheese are delicious. The bucket of fried chicken is also impressive in volume and looks amazing! The pickled ginger is delicious too! In addition, they have mentaiko, drooling chicken, cheese and fish cake, seasoned egg, miso cutlet, no matter what you order, you can't go wrong. They have mega jugs of beer and table lemon sours, which is great for drinkers.

This restaurant is located on the second floor of the area where people are punk at Ameyoko's drinking spot. A restaurant specializing in kushikatsu from Kansai. The portions are generous and being on the second floor actually makes it a hidden gem! Plus, they have a happy hour with Super Dry beer for 199 yen!! Knowing this place comes in handy when you can't get into street-level restaurants. On this day, we had a drinking party with friends! Thanks to everyone who gathered! I love the casual and fun atmosphere where you can enjoy yourself. While there are foodies and photographers around, it doesn't matter, we just drink and eat together! Bring a bucket for now! The kushikatsu was delicious. And not just with sauce! They also have demi kushikatsu! Personally, I think this is the best way to eat katsu. They have the usual kushikatsu, as well as some rare game meat kushikatsu. It's like a kushikatsu zoo at Ueno. There's a wide variety to enjoy just with kushikatsu! As for the octopus wiener, it's no longer an animal, it's an alien. Haha. Lastly, they have a limited edition burnt soy sauce horumon udon! It's a collaboration with Kikkoman, and it's definitely delicious, but since they're rival companies, let's just say it's a really good one. We ordered one plate but ended up fighting over it and getting more! Despite drinking a lot, the kindness of the frugal Kansai people really hit home during this fun afternoon.