Just near Ueno station, there is "Yoshiike Sengyoten", a seafood shop with a wide variety of seafood products, including some rare items. I often visit when I'm in the area. One of the highlights here is the wide variety of live oysters available. I heard good things about their original "raw oyster pack", which contains fresh oysters from Miyagi prefecture without added water. The pack I bought was 160g for 789 yen and contained 9 plump oysters. The oysters looked fresh and had a nice texture. When I tried them with ponzu sauce, they were rich and delicious without any fishy taste. They were a step above other raw oysters I've had before. Drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with rock salt, they would make a great tapas dish at a fancy bar. The price is reasonable, you don't have to shuck them yourself, and overall, I feel like I found something really special.

Early shift day. It's the day before a day off, so there's a sense of freedom♪ I told my girlfriend that I'll make some chilled shabu-shabu for her, as she'll be back home 2 hours after me, and it's scorching hot. But we ended up bringing lunch boxes with dishes like hayashi rice and pork bowl, so we might end up having too much pork... I love pork, so it's fine though. Then, I had an idea! A few days ago, she mentioned wanting to eat sashimi. So, on the way back, we made a stop at Ueno. In the store at 6:30, they were discounting seafood just like a supermarket. Surprisingly! I thought they would stick to the regular price. It's nice to be able to make a good deal, but the good items are selling out quickly, so I have to make a decision quickly. There it is! Yellowtail! It's in season. But bluefin tuna is scarce due to concerns about resource depletion and Anisakis, so it's not as readily available as before. When I find it, I make sure to buy it right away. Unfortunately, there's no live bluefin tuna, but oh, there's amberjack! Alright!! What about shellfish? Any clams? Like shijimi clams. If they have it, I'll buy it as she likes it. There it is! They have it!! As expected of Yoshike. I completed a ridiculously luxurious shopping, swiftly returned home, sliced the amberjack, plated it for each of us, and... I kind of messed up, or rather, the plating didn't turn out as expected, but oh well. I forgive myself! Who am I (ФωФ)(ФωФ) What's going on (ФωФ)(ФωФ)(ФωФ) I'm imitating my girlfriend's log (ФωФ)(ФωФ) It doesn't matter. Back to the main topic. And then, I took a photo, sent it via LINE, and she returned home ecstatically. Yes. A slightly late night drink together♪ A happy moment! Everything was delicious! I'm satisfied because I met yellowtail again! It had a lot of sinewy parts, though. I actually wanted a cut between lean and fatty, but they didn't have it. Sashimi. Chilled tofu. Boiled vegetables. And various other dishes. A feast for a summer night( ⑉¯ ꇴ ¯⑉ )Thank you for the meal~♪~Data~【3rd post/Log No.987】【Date: 7/18/2023 Foodlog rating: 3.20】

If you are going bar-hopping from Ueno to Okachimachi, you should check out this shop called Yataikaze. They serve light drinks in a casual atmosphere, and they even have a unique half-and-half beer. The snack menu has a street food vibe with items like minced cutlets and octopus skewers, and you can also taste seasonal ingredients. You pay immediately at the counter after ordering. The standing style terrace drinking area is perfect for a quick drink. This area has many standing style bars, so bar-hopping is fun. It's an outdoor area, but smoking is not allowed. After eating, throw your trash in the bin under the table.

In the scorching heat of the day, while walking from Akihabara to Okachimachi, I came across a large sign. It advertised draft beer and Japanese sake for 380 yen and... wait, wasn't there a dedicated website for this standing bar on Tabelog before? If not, I'll post my review here. It's daytime, so just one drink should be fine. I ordered a draft beer at the counter. You pay at the self-checkout next to it. There were about 15 types of snacks available, with the cheapest being a Frank Wiener for 150 yen. What's a Frank Wiener? Is it a Frankfurter or a Wiener sausage... The most expensive item is the seafood skewers, 700 yen for 2 skewers. It seems like all the items are pre-made. They just hand them to the customers when ordered. As for the draft beer, it was quite small. A plastic glass. A 250ml glass?? Considering the foam, maybe it's actually 200ml. For 380 yen in a standing bar, that's expensive... The seating is outside. It's hot. There are tents providing shade.

This is the standing bar space "Yoshiike Takeout Corner" that opened last summer. I ordered a half glass for 380 yen and some grilled squid as a side dish. It's great to be able to relax while enjoying the view of Panda Square. It feels like an outdoor version of "Aji no Fue." It's perfect for stopping by casually.

Every year during Golden Week, it was a tradition to attend the Horse Show at the Baji Koen and buy wild vegetable shoots at the Yoshiike Honpo in Okachimachi. However, due to the Tokyo Olympics, the Horse Show has been on hiatus for the past few years. This year, the cherry blossoms, azaleas, and wisteria are blooming earlier than usual, so I was worried that the wild vegetable shoots might be sold out by Golden Week. On the morning of May 2nd, I called the store and finally they had arrived, so I went to buy them right away. I purchased three packs of the product from Uonuma Ryojin Farm Fujimiya in Tsunan Town, Uonuma District, which cost around 400 yen per pack. I also stopped by the separate fish market for the first time in a while, and found high-quality fish such as Queenfish and Nodoguro at reasonable prices. I couldn't resist buying the Nagasaki natural Queenfish sashimi for around 1200 yen per 100g and the 3 Nodoguro fish from Shimane for just over 1000 yen. I made the wild vegetable shoots into a side dish, and their unique bitterness was delicious. It's hard to believe that such a tasty ingredient is only available in certain parts of the Chubu region. I enjoyed the Queenfish as sashimi, with its refined and delicate flavor. While sea bream and flounder are delicious, Queenfish might be the best white fish. The Nodoguro was a bit small, so the fat content wasn't as high as I would have liked, but for the price, it was a satisfying taste. I plan to visit the fish market more often from now on.

Took shelter from the rain at a standing bar near Yoshike exit. Despite being full, decided to skip the delicious Yoshike seafood snacks and opted for a 350 yen highball instead. It was a strong highball, making it a cost-effective choice. I felt like it was a better use of money than buying a disposable umbrella at the convenience store.

Visited in April 2022. Born on March 21st. Had a Super Dry for 380 yen and an Iidako skewer for 400 yen. Total was 780 yen with salt. Paid with Suica. Finished early so decided to wander around Ueno. Discovered a standing bar next to a shop where I occasionally buy fish a few days ago. Found it today and had a drink here. Ordered the unusual Iidako skewer and Super Dry. Chose salt for the Iidako. Paid at the register next to the showcase. Got a plastic cup of beer and a skewer with three small Iidako. The plastic cup beer is not bad for outdoors. The Iidako with salt had a nice texture. The price of 400 yen felt a bit high. Didn't feel like ordering another item, so decided to leave. It's a simple shop, but it's nice to be able to have a drink outside.

The day after finishing work in Yokohama, I had to work on some remaining tasks so I went to the office on a holiday. I finished work early and decided to take a short walk from Kayabacho to Ueno. The weather was nice and I worked up a sweat, so I stopped at a standing bar and had a cold beer for 380 yen. The cold beer felt refreshing on my slightly sweaty body. I didn't order any snacks because I knew I would have to keep ordering more beer. After that, I went to a restaurant on the 9th floor of a building called Yoshike Shokudo. I was looking forward to having a drink there, so I didn't have any issues. On my way back, I went underground to buy some wasabi for my evening drink. This place is convenient for grabbing a quick beer when you just want one.

During a walk, I stopped by the takeout corner at Okachimachi Yoshiike for a quick bite. Today, I tried the black beer and the fried smelt for the first time. It was quite a generous portion. It was more than enough for a short break. I am very satisfied with a slight buzz today. #Yoshiike #QuickBite #SatisfiedWithASlightBuzz

The first-floor fish store located in front of Okachimachi Station, Yoshiike, is a wonderful fish retail store. As someone with experience in the seafood industry, I can say that the fish and seafood just arrived from Toyosu are very fresh and firm, unlike frozen ones. This shop also offers set meals, so even though I don't drink alcohol, I can enjoy a great meal here for just 1000 yen. The tables are spaced out nicely, making it a great place to dine.

On this day, I had some errands in the Ueno area. I also stopped by a supermarket in front of Okachimachi Station. The founder of this supermarket is from the Matsunoyama area in the Nagaoka region of Niigata Prefecture, so they have a variety of local ingredients from that region. My goal for the day was to buy round Juzen eggplants to pickle with the 358 pickling base ordered from Hoshikuro Miso. However, it seems like the season has passed, as I couldn't find the Juzen eggplants in the store. Instead, I came across a variety of arare (rice crackers) from Arare Yamabun in Uonuma City. There were about twenty different types displayed on a dedicated shelf. Arare Yamabun has been using the counter sales area at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store for a long time, but surprisingly they withdrew in February this year. Since then, they have been using the sales area at Keio Department Store, so it's great to be able to buy them here. Moreover, the prices seem much cheaper compared to department stores. However, I am curious if the contents are the same even if the product name is the same. I purchased a bag of "Kinran Maki" with seaweed for 398 yen (tax included) to give it a try. I remember it was over 500 yen at the department store. When I tried it at home, the taste was also good. It has a simple and traditional flavor of rice crackers with just the taste of rice, soy sauce, and a hint of sugar. The seaweed wrapped around it is also delicious. I will come here to buy Arare Yamabun's rice crackers from now on. I bought the mochi for New Year's at Mitsukoshi, but I am curious if they will also sell mochi for the year-end season at this supermarket.

JR Okachimachi Station North Exit, about a 1-minute walk from there, is Yoshiike, a specialty store that offers fresh seafood at market prices, frequented by professionals. While most general fish stores mainly sell filleted fish, Yoshiike focuses on whole fish, known as "marumono." The sight of a variety of seasonal fish lined up is spectacular, with rare fish, crabs, and shellfish also available. They have a wide selection of fish in tanks, changing depending on the season and day. If you visit around 3 pm on weekdays, you'll find a standing bar area on the 1st floor of the Yoshiike Building, facing the Okachimachi South Exit Station Square (Okachimachi Panda Square). With red and white tents and a flashy sign that reads "Asahi Brewery Direct Delivery Various Types 380 yen Asahi Beer, Black Draft, Half & Half," the atmosphere is great. "Yoshiike is the best for fish." Orders are placed at the counter, and once you pay, they hand over the items, although some items may take a while. *Draft Beer 380 yen *Fluffy Herring Balls from Hokkaido 300 yen *Domestic Tsukune Skewers 200 yen The fluffy herring balls, a popular dish at one of Otaru's three major festivals, are a hit. It's currently cold in winter, so the beer is delicious but it's still chilly. If possible, it's best to visit in warm clothing. During this season, warm sake and seafood grilled dishes are safe choices. *Homemade Tam Sandwich 250 yen This took about 5 minutes to make as it's made to order. It's a baguette filled with homemade egg filling, but the bread is hard, so when you eat it, the filling oozes out. When eaten alone, it's delicious, with the egg filling lightly seasoned with mayonnaise, but it doesn't go well with the bread. I think a white bread would suit an egg sandwich better, and this baguette would be great as a side if toasted with garlic butter... Since it's cheap, it might be worth taking home and making some modifications.

Today, I arrived early for a drinking party in Okachimachi, so I decided to have a pre-party at Yoshiike Honten, a standing bar. Unlike Aji no Fue, they also sell soft serve ice cream, shaved ice, and freshly grilled sazae (turban shell) on the spot. While waiting for the previous customer's order, a friend who I was going to drink with passed by. We decided to have a drink together and ordered a strong oolong highball (350 yen) and a friend ordered a draft beer (380 yen). The foam on the beer was creamy and delicious. Another customer who arrived later ordered sazae, which looked incredibly delicious. Now, it's time to move on.

Kichiike-san's new business style. They have set up a standing drinking space outside the shop, perfect for day drinking! ・Asahi Super Dry draft beer delivered directly from the factory for 380 yen each. Drink choice is straightforward with only beer available. ・Dried squid and squid legs for 250 yen. Ordered as a snack while waiting for the grilled dishes. Tastes great with a bit of mayo. Would have preferred to pair it with sake rather than beer, though. ・Grilled sazae (horned turban shell) for 600 yen. Ordered this first as it takes time to grill. It's a bit small but tastes good, so no problem there. However, while trying to extract the meat from the shell with a toothpick, the tip of the tail broke off! Oh no, now I can't get the rest out. Enjoyed a pleasant moment under the hot summer sun (this was in the middle of August) on a weekday, watching the salarymen who seemed to be on their lunch break. Well, that was a satisfying meal. While this place has its charm, in terms of convenience and value, the nearby standing bar "Aji no Fue" in the same chain seems to come out on top. After all, it's right there (laughs).

When you think of specialties in the Chuoetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, "hegisoba" immediately comes to mind, but there are also lesser-known specialties unique to this area such as "akebi sprouts," "soy sauce okowa," and "seasoned natto." This year, akebi sprouts are late in appearing and are not readily available. Even at a supermarket known for its wide selection of local products from the Chuoetsu region, the response was that they would be available after the consecutive holidays. Normally, they would be on display in the wild vegetable section by late April. Unable to wait, I ordered some from Nagano Prefecture through online shopping during the holidays, but I still wanted to taste the authentic local produce. After checking a few times, I was finally able to purchase three packs on May 21. It was a product from Uonuma District, Tsunan Town, from Fujimiya at Uonuma Ryojin Farm, which I had bought before. In the distant past, there were also products from a renowned wild vegetable picker in Matsunoyama, so I am grateful for the Uonuma produce. I made a quick dish of akebi sprouts in broth, and compared to the Nagano produce, they seemed thinner and more uniform in thickness. Perhaps the criteria for picking the sprouts differ depending on the local culinary culture. When boiled and soaked in water, then cut to an easy-to-eat length and seasoned with dashi soy sauce, the refreshing flavor and bitterness reminiscent of tea are truly delightful. Just as bitter ayu fish is said to pair well with beer, akebi sprouts also make for a great combination. I wonder if I will have the chance to eat them one more time this year. I hope to visit again before the end of May.

It's been a while since my last visit. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the atmosphere at Yoshike is calm. Today's purpose was to get a mini-sized "kanzuri"! It's not easy to find the 40g size, so I came here to look for it as the hot pot season is coming to an end. Luckily, there were only 2 mini-sized ones left at Yoshike, and I managed to get one just in time. The owner seems to be from Niigata prefecture, so there is a wide variety of kanzuri available, which is much appreciated. The vegetable section also has a lot of mountain vegetables that are hard to find in regular supermarkets. Today, I picked up my favorite "kogomi" (fiddlehead fern). The selection of fish is also impressive, reflecting the unique offerings at Yoshike. I will definitely visit again!

Returning from a Showa trip in Yurakucho. I decided to get off at Okachimachi and browse for ingredients for a night snack at "Yoshiike". For someone with experience in the fish market, walking through a fish specialty store is always exciting. Even though I handle fish a lot for work, seeing a variety of fish that you wouldn't normally see in a regular supermarket is a treat. I saw a whole mirugai for the first time in about 15 years! Priced at 1836 yen, it's rare so it's understandable. Abalone was also beautifully displayed, with one piece priced at over 2000 yen. There were also sea squirts, kinmedai, swordfish, hanasakigani, sagoshi (young sawara)... a feast for the eyes. The fresh isaki, in season, looked fantastic with its dark color and great freshness. I couldn't find isaki sashimi, but I did choose some delicious-looking katsuo sashimi, akagai, and lightly boiled hamo. It's been years since I had hamo... it's commonly sold in the west in regular chain supermarkets. While waiting for snack time, I started preparing eagerly. I had bought two types of simmered vegetables beforehand, so they would help with the lack of vegetables. I paired them with Kikumasamune sake. I like it because of its nice aroma. The biggest hit was the katsuo. It's the peak season for returning katsuo, and this is like the otoro of tuna. This year, unlike last year, katsuo is plentiful and relatively cheap. The fish are of good quality, making it easier to enjoy the exquisite taste at a reasonable price. As a big fan of katsuo, I'm thrilled. The returning katsuo, without the fatty feeling, shines blue and has a strong iron-like smell, almost bloody, but I love it. The akagai had a light slime and a unique seaweed aroma. The crunchy texture is exquisite. Shellfish are truly delicious! They pair very well with sake. The subtle barrel aroma of Kikumasamune enhances the flavor of akagai. I poured the umedare sauce over the lightly boiled hamo. A taste of summer. I missed out on it last year, so it's been two years. As expected of Yoshiike, the bones were perfectly removed. I enjoyed the refreshing and elegant taste. The simmered vegetables provided a comforting touch. As I leisurely enjoyed my drink, I saw large fireworks through the living room window! It must be from the fireworks at Owada Park. In this season, there is a fireworks festival at Owada Park, but as expected, it was canceled last year due to the pandemic. It's been two years since I watched fireworks from home. I was captivated by the unexpected summer night fireworks for a while. The drink tasted even better with the fireworks. It's a bit tough for someone on a 6-day shift work schedule, with work starting the next day. I filled up my gas tank in preparation for the next day. Alright, here we go! Thank you for the meal!

On a certain Saturday, I went to Yoshiike while taking a walk! There were crabs, bonitos, all looking delicious and tempting to buy. Just then, a huge tuna appeared! A dismantling show started right there, and everyone was captivated. It was said to be a 100-kilogram class bluefin tuna. It took some time to dismantle, so we had a quick lunch nearby and then got the tuna! - Medium Fatty Tuna (1080 yen): I'm not good at cutting it nicely, so it doesn't look as delicious, but it was totally amazing! It melts in your mouth! The fat was refreshing and the aftertaste was fleeting. I wasn't a big fan of tuna before, but I definitely want to buy this again. - Tuna Collar (400 yen): Digging out the collar meat from between the big bones, it was also chewy and deeply flavorful. Grilling the collar itself makes for a heavenly taste. - Tuna Scraps (200 yen): After removing the impurities, I made tuna flakes and simmered it, enjoying it in various ways. It was quite heavy to carry back home, but I'll definitely try buying various things again!

In the Ueno area, there is a famous bakery called Yoshiike. I bought a curry bread and a bread called Ondine. The curry bread is the traditional fried type, with curry that has a slightly sweet wheat flour taste, giving off a Showa era vibe. The Ondine bread was filled with plenty of spinach, bacon, and mayonnaise sauce. I'm not sure why it's called Ondine. Ondine is also known as Undine, the name of a water spirit. There is no watery element in this bread, and the origin of the name is unclear. However, it seems very Showa-like to give a name that is hard to understand in foreign letters. As a result, I felt a sense of Showa era in both breads, which made me think it was very characteristic of Yoshiike.

After the passing of Ken Shimura, another influential figure in Japanese society, actress Kumiko Okae, also succumbed to the new virus. Observing the coverage of these two individuals in the media, I feel compelled to speak up. While Kumiko Okae was praised for her intelligence, kindness, and overall character, her most prominent quality, without a doubt, was her exceptional beauty. Despite the accolades for her personality, her stunning looks should not be overlooked. Regarding my own experience, I found myself reluctantly relying on the convenience store worker, Yoshiike, for a meal due to limited options during the pandemic. While I initially hesitated about the food's expiration date, I ultimately made a purchase and practiced proper hygiene measures. Despite the store's limitations, I found some satisfaction in my meal, even though it may not have been the highest quality. In conclusion, I reflect on the passing of Ken Shimura and Kumiko Okae, both of whom were celebrated for their positive traits. Despite the challenges we face, it is important to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, such as enjoying a meal from a local store like Yoshiike's.