Hyperlocal Tokyo

I finally stopped by the "Hake-jyouyu Nori-ben Yama-nobori" bento shop located inside Ueno Station. I had been curious about it every time I passed by. I ordered the "Umi to Hatake", which is apparently their signature nori-ben. I reheated it in the microwave when I got home and it was a refined and delicious nori-ben. It was very tasty, but for me, a nori-ben from "Hotto Motto" is sufficient with its affordable price and flavor. I guess I'm still a child when it comes to taste, even though I'm getting older. lol

The prices are a bit on the higher side, but I think it's a good option for an occasional splurge. Each dish has a distinct flavor and feels carefully prepared.

The seaweed flavor was excellent, and the first bite was incredibly delicious. The base of the nori bento remains the same, but the side dishes change to represent "sea," "mountain," and "field." When I visited, they were also selling a special "Abundant Catch" option. The seaweed and rice were very tasty, but the chicken side dish was a bit tough and the flavor wasn't that impressive. Given the location in Ueno, there are nearby delicatessen counters and ekiben (train station bento) shops, so comparing prices, you can get a bento with more items for a few hundred yen. Some people might be happier getting one of those instead of spending 1000 yen on a nori bento.

I actually think it's not good. I think the nori bento boxes from convenience stores that cost less than 500 yen are the best. I can't help but think, "Is this all you get for this price?" It's not even good when you heat it up in the microwave.

It's quite pricey. I bought the "Sea" set. When I finally ate it, the rice was hard, the seaweed tempura was dry, and there were a lot of salmon bones. I shouldn't complain, but... the car ride was a bit bumpy, and I didn't want to be bothered by the rice sticking to the container or the salmon bones. On the plus side, the seaweed had a rich flavor, the salmon itself was delicious, and the white noodles and cod roe salad were tasty. It's a small portion, so it might not be enough for younger people.