On Sunday afternoon, I went to Ueno for some day drinking. The place opened at 12, so I arrived 10 minutes late and found that the counter seats were already full with solo customers. However, the staff kindly asked the customers to move closer together and saved me a seat at the corner. Cheers to them! I enjoyed a draft beer "Malt's" which I prefer over Premium Malts. The "Red Apple Cabbage Vinegar" dish was a tasty appetizer with red pickled ginger, fried tempura bits, cabbage, and vinegar. I ordered one skewer each of beef skirt steak, beef tendon, and beef tripe, but they accidentally cooked an extra beef tendon skewer and gave it to me for free. Each skewer had a delicious sauce similar to yakitori. The Hoppy set (white) had a good amount of shochu. The combination of beef skewers and Hoppy was surprisingly good. The menu seemed to focus on beef skewers rather than grilled pork, and both options were popular. So, I decided to go for the beef skewers this time. Overall, it was a nice experience munching on beef skewers. That's all for now, sorry and thank you!

This time, I tried something a little different from usual: - Edamame - Kobukuro-chanja - Chilean-style tartare yukhoe - Liver feast - Assorted skewers (5 pieces) - Backstory - Pork chin - Sagari - Rib kobukuro-chanja Kobukuro-chanja was spicier than I expected, but the crunchy texture was delicious. Chilean-style tartare yukhoe was the best! Also, the extra spicy sauce was too intense in quantity, it was exceptional! I ate a little too much this time, haha. But there are still menu items I haven't tried even though I've been here multiple times, so I must come back again!

Today's casual drinking spot✌ Second stop was "Otonba" Had delicious recommended beef maruchou skewers. Then had beef tendon simmered tofu, and fried skewers. Everything was delicious. Thank you for the meal. #Otonba #OtonbaOkachimachi #Highball #BeefMaruchouSkewer #FriedSkewers #BeefTendonSimmeredTofu #CasualDrinking

Skewered meat assortment menu was listed as 3 kinds, but we got a service of 5 kinds! The sake goes down so smoothly~♪ Today, we had a lot of grilled dishes! They were all cooked to perfection and so delicious♪ I already want to go back again! #Otonba #Okachimachi #Yakiton #Skewered meat

Before I knew it, Otonba had opened near Ueno Station. Otonba's motsuyaki is cheap and delicious, so I usually go to the Kitasenju branch, but this time I visited the Ueno branch for the first time. The main seating area is tables, with a few counter seats. It was a bit hot near the grilling area, probably due to ventilation and seating issues. I ordered a glass of Hoppy and simmered dish. The famous motsu-nikomi was delicious, but the meat was so tender that it felt more like a stew. I wished there was more meat to savor. The grilled items were busy, and I was told it would take a long time, but since I didn't plan to stay long, I ordered about three skewers and quickly served bean sprouts. I usually order pork, but this time I tried mainly beef. The beef maruchou skewer was sold out, so I ordered beef kalbi skewer, beef harami steak skewer, and beef mino sandwich skewer. However, the beef mino sandwich skewer was later said to be sold out, so I only got two. I also tried the beef rare cutlet skewer, and it was delicious, with high-quality ingredients making it tastier than a typical cutlet shop. The beef skewers were cooked just right, offering a different deliciousness from pork at a good price. Although each skewer was in the 200 yen range, it was more than satisfying and cheaper than high-end motsuyaki. Since adding more skewers seemed to involve a long wait, I decided to leave this time. I look forward to trying various grilled and fried beef dishes next time at this place where I enjoyed the beef skewers.

Located under the elevated tracks of Ueno Station, Otonba Ueno is a popular izakaya that caught my attention. The atmosphere was lively and the young male staff members were friendly and energetic. The pricing was reasonable, with juicy and tender motsu-yaki (offal skewers) priced at only 90 yen each (excluding tax). I ordered the three kinds of motsu platter, which came with smoked pork and chicken gatsu, and they were delicious. The grilled dishes were not too heavy and allowed the natural texture of the ingredients to shine. The sashimi was fresh and lacked any unpleasant odor, making it a perfect match with soy sauce. The overall quality and value for money were excellent, and the bill was even 30% cheaper than expected. This is definitely a place worth visiting again and again, as it attracts a wide range of customers, from young to old, dining alone or in groups. Highly recommended.

I visited for the first time at Kitasenju, 5 times at Ueno, 1 time at Takadanobaba, and for the first time at Okachimachi at night. It was late, so many items were already sold out which was disappointing. No harami, no liver, no fat... But the other motsuyaki dishes were delicious, so I am satisfied. Isn't the cost performance the best? The seasoning is up to the restaurant's decision. I will muster up the courage to ask for it grilled next time I visit. Thank you for the meal.

I finally realized that the menu varies slightly depending on the restaurant at the "Antei no Otonba-san" chain! This time, I was looking for the "Deep-fried Pork Shirako with Ponzu" dish. It seems that the blend butter is the same at all locations! So, is it the brain or the shirako that's the same? Well, either way, it's rich and delicious, so it's all good! LOL.

I usually go to the Kitasenju store. The sashimi platter with three types includes ham and yukhoe, making it six types! And all of this for only 580 yen, which is cheap! However, the taste is a bit monotonous, so it's tough to eat for two people. Because I forced myself to eat this, I couldn't enjoy the other dishes much. Also, the skewer platter with three types was delicious! The liver was so tender that you couldn't believe it was pork, it was truly impressive!

Today is my 60th birthday, and I went on a long-awaited izakaya exploration in Ueno and Okachimachi with my usual colleague. We visited this place that opened in May. It is a restaurant specializing in pork motsu-yaki operated by Shoku Co., Ltd., with other branches in Kitasenju and Takadanobaba. I have visited the nearby Ueno branch a few times before. We arrived after 6:00 PM, and my colleague was already inside enjoying a drink alone. We were seated on the second floor and made a toast. My colleague and I always drink together, and he will also be turning 60 the next day on his birthday. Maybe that's why we get along so well. Our order included: - Juicy minced meat stick cutlet skewer for 220 yen - Beef marbled tongue skewer for 220 yen - Assorted beef skewers with 5 pieces for 1,100 yen, including harami, chuck flap, tripe sandwich, tendon. Each one was delicious with a great taste, sweetness, and satisfying texture. - "Sanmai" platter (liver sashimi, pate, mousse assortment) for 680 yen. The mousse was especially delicious, and the pate tasted like a French pate, very authentic. The liver sashimi was also good. Highly recommended dish. There are still many tempting menu items, and this is a must-visit restaurant in Ueno. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Otonba is a place I often go to in Ueno, but I wanted to visit the new big store in Okachimachi, so I brought a friend for a night out. We had delicious and spicy food like green onion menma for 198 yen, fried pork white liver with ponzu sauce for 418 yen, two servings of skewers for 90 yen each, two servings of tongue for 90 yen each, a draft beer for 550 yen, and a Jim Beam highball for 473 yen. Oh, and don't forget the Jim Beam shot for 440 yen. The total bill came to 3,938 yen before tax. The skewers were 90 yen each. The food was reasonably priced, and we were able to enjoy a meal for two for less than 4,000 yen. We left the restaurant satisfied and will definitely be coming back. Thank you for the meal. See you again soon! 🎵

On a regular weekday at 11 o'clock, I visited a second restaurant even though it was still before noon. Yes... I'm still a bad adult. Otonba is a popular motsunabe (offal hot pot) restaurant, and recently, the Ueno branch is often full even during weekdays, making it hard to get a seat. The Okachimachi branch opened in May 23 years ago, with a second floor and terrace seating, making it relatively easier to find a seat. Even when it's not busy, they tend to seat you towards the back. During hot weather, the terrace is often open, and you can usually find a seat there. However, the staff seem a bit annoyed when you sit on the terrace (laughs). I was told that the grilled dishes take a bit of time, but I had already eaten grilled food at the first restaurant. So, let's try something other than grilled dishes here. I ordered a "bottled beer (Akahoshi)" for 638 yen, "spicy and savory negi menma" for 198 yen, "hachinosu sashimi" for 418 yen, and "liver assortment" for 748 yen. The menu inside the restaurant prominently displays prices excluding tax, with the tax-inclusive prices written in small font next to them. Hmm... I find this kind of thing a bit stingy... I wish the restaurants in Ueno would show prices including tax for the daytime drinkers... Oh, this is not Ueno but Okachimachi (laughs). The menma and hachinosu sashimi came out quickly. The spicy and sweet menma goes well with beer! It's a great appetizer to order first. However, personally, the beer is not as cold as I would like... Well, it's not warm by any means, but I wish it were colder! I feel it's not as cold as the beer I had at the first restaurant, which makes it feel even less cold to me. The hachinosu sashimi has a satisfying chewy texture, and the sweet and savory vinegar miso is delicious as well. With these two dishes, I can easily drink my beer. If only the beer were colder... (I'm persistent). After a while, the liver assortment arrived. It comes with mousse, pate, liver sashimi, and baguette. It's delicious without any unpleasant smell! Their expertise in serving offal dishes through low-temperature cooking really shows. The pate, in particular, is amazing! I felt like having seconds. As it passed 12 o'clock, more customers started to arrive. I was the first to enter and was seated at the very back... I started to feel a bit suffocated, so I decided to leave. It was delicious! The Ueno branch also tends to pack in customers. While the Ueno branch feels a bit cramped, the Okachimachi branch, with a more open layout, still made me feel a bit suffocated. There are other packed restaurants in the Ameyoko area, but the feeling of suffocation is different. That's something I don't like, which is why I've been avoiding the Ueno branch, and the Okachimachi branch also made me feel a bit suffocated. Also, the cost performance of the drinks is not very good here. Customers who couldn't get a seat at the full Ueno branch might come here, so this place will probably get crowded too. However, the atmosphere here doesn't really suit me personally. It's okay to come for a quick snack when it's not busy, or right after opening, but I don't think I'll be a regular. I'll come back when it's less crowded. If it's empty, I'll try the grilled dishes next time.

There are counter seats, so it's perfect for drinking alone during lunch! Not only is the yakitori cooked to perfection, but they also have a variety of unique menu items like liver sampler and assorted raw meat platter that would appeal to those who enjoy drinking. I want to try the blended butter next time. Motsuyaki Otomba in Okachimachi is a must-try! #Okachimachi #Motsuyaki #RawMeatPlatter #DrinkingAlone

I couldn't get a seat at the Ueno branch, so I went to the Okachimachi branch and ordered a Red Star beer for 580 yen. I started with a Liver Yukke for 480 yen and skewers of liver, tongue, and heart for 90 yen each. The skewers arrived before the Liver Yukke, with a shiny sauce and nice color, but the meat was a bit tough. The tongue had a good texture, but maybe the price reflected the quality. The Liver Yukke came out later and was delicious when mixed well with the egg yolk. I also ordered a Hoppy set for 450 yen and 3 assorted beef skewers for 660 yen. The skewers took some time to prepare, but were worth the wait with different cuts and tender meat. Although I still wanted to try other dishes like meat sashimi and teppanyaki, I had to stop due to fullness. The counter seats were a bit cramped.

JR Okachimachi Station North Exit, cross Kasuga Street, and you'll find the restaurant just a 1-minute walk from the Okachimachi Ekimae Street Shopping District. It opened on May 21, 2023, making it the second store in the Ueno/Okachimachi area. The first floor has table and counter seats, while the second floor has table seats. The menu includes motsu-yaki, beef hormone skewers, simmered dishes, and raw meat using pork directly from the Shibaura Market. The "Famous Motsu Stew" (as of May 31, 2023) contains various parts of the meat, cooked tenderly to melt in your mouth. The red miso-based broth is rich and flavorful, infused with the essence of the meat. The motsu-yaki (as of May 31, 2023) is cooked to perfection to bring out the deliciousness of the meat. Rare cuts sell out quickly. The "Hormone White Hoppy Set" (as of May 31, 2023) allows you to choose from normal, strong, or shari-kin flavors. It pairs well with the rich hormone and has a light drinking taste. Affordable, delicious snacks and cheap alcohol make for a delightful experience, perfect for enjoying a drink. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Otonba Motsuyaki in Okachimachi on this day. It was almost full, so I managed to get a seat at the counter on the second floor. I started with a cold bottle of Akahoshi beer, which was delicious. I made a last-minute order before the last call. Just having it made me happy. The dishes I ordered included grilled beef tongue, cobukuro chanja, and garlic chives tofu. I often visit the Ueno branch, but the food here was very delicious. I will visit again next time. Thank you for the meal!

I visited a restaurant that opened on 5/21. I arrived right at 12 o'clock when it opened, and there were about 3 groups entering at the same time. The skewers were delicious, and the low-temperature meat sashimi was also tasty. It's really nice to drink during the day. Thank you for the meal.

I dropped by and felt like having a drink, so I entered this place! When I tried to order the beef tongue sashimi, the staff recommended something else. I decided to give it a try and ordered the three kinds of sashimi shown in the first picture. The sashimi was so tender and delicious, and the ham they served as a complimentary side dish had a great texture and flavor. I also tried the brain butter (part of the brain), which paired well with the bread and had a deep flavor. The shirako (milt) was also fantastic as expected. Although I am familiar with the Ueno branch, I will definitely continue to visit the Okachimachi branch as well!✨

I visited on the opening day. The location is easy to find right across the road from Ueno Station. The food is cheap, delicious, and the service is great. They also have terrace seating, so I want to drink there next time. The only downside is that it might get too crowded due to its popularity!笑

On the weekend, I was day drinking in Okachimachi and tried to go to another store, but it was still closed. I was at a loss until I found Otonba, which had just opened that day. The recommended specialty dish was Hachinosu sashimi from the motsu (offal) restaurant, and it was fantastic. The beef hormone skewers included rare cuts like cheek muscle, aorta, and cheek meat, and they were all delicious. The signature dish, "Burenzu Butter," made with brain, was surprisingly good with a creamy texture. The low-temperature meat sashimi and creamy Yukhoe were not as impressive as expected, but it was still decent. Overall, it was a great dining experience.