Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited a standing-only izakaya specializing in seafood called "Ryusei" in Taito-ku, Tokyo, around 1:00 PM on a weekday. I was guided to the standing counter and ordered the following: ★ Ryusei (sake) - ¥600 ★ Sashimi platter - ¥1,000 ~~ My immediate impressions of the place ~~ ○ Delicious fish and sake at reasonable prices This is a brief summary of my visit and the food I had, hopefully it will be helpful. The place is a small standing-only counter, with only enough space for about 10 people. It was my first visit in about four years, and I was prepared to skip it if it was crowded. Luckily, there were only about four other customers, so I decided to grab a drink. I asked for a dry sake recommendation, and they brought me "Ryusei" from Fujii Shuzo in Hiroshima. Of course, I had to order sashimi to go with it. As recommended, the platter included five types of fish: Indian tuna, bonito,クエ (kue),鰆 (sawara), and ホウボウ (houbou). While the origin of the fish wasn't mentioned, the ホウボウ (houbou), which I often see in Nagoya, had a chewy white flesh. Theクエ (kue) was fatty and the炙り (aburi)鰆 (sawara) had a perfect saltiness, while the bonito was refreshing with ponzu sauce. This time, I was dining alone, unlike my previous visit, so I couldn't order much, but it was a satisfying quick meal for a standing-only place. The cute female staff was very kind, not just to me but also to the foreign customers, which I appreciated. Thank you for the meal.

Every dish was incredibly delicious and affordable, making it hard to resist ordering a variety of items. It's a standing-only bar, and since the wait wasn't too long, I stayed for over 30 minutes. However, depending on the crowd, you might need to leave sooner. It's an excellent choice for your first stop. The tuna throat, salt-seared tuna, tuna top, mackerel salt-grilled, and raw ankimo (monkfish liver) were all delicious. I definitely want to go back soon.

Ueno Exploration Part 1: A Nordic-style hotel (around ¥4,000 per night) was booked for the stay. After checking in and dropping off my luggage, I hit the sauna. First stop, Uo-kusa in Ameya-Yokocho! It's usually packed, but I got lucky and walked right in. By the time I started drinking, there was a line of about 10 people, so I guess I was lucky. ▼Sashimi Platter: Grilled alfonsino, sawaara, halibut, and tuna. A generous serving for ¥1000. ▼Liver Nanoro: Nanoro made with (I think) horse mackerel, combined with the liver of a filefish. Definitely a match for sake, but since it was my first stop, I had beer. To be continued... #UenoFood #StandingBar #UoKusa #SashimiPlatter #Beer

It was hot during the summer afternoon, but the second branch we were guided to had a bit of cool air, making it comfortable. The food wasn't as impressive in terms of quality and quantity as I had hoped, but it was still delicious and satisfying. There were foreign tourists and solo female diners, creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. It's a great place for a casual drink.

This is a seafood standing bar located in Ameya-Yokocho, Ueno. You can order sake and dishes starting from 500 yen, and the service is fast! I always order the daily sashimi platter! Depending on the timing, you might find rare fish, and it's fresh and affordable, so it's a must-order! If you go when they have limited ingredients, you might even get the sashimi platter at an even lower price.