14 Places to Eat Lunch in Ueno, Tokyo's Cultural Haven

1. Yoshokuya Sandaime Taimeiken

An established restaurant with a long history of media coverage, Yoshokuya Sandaime Taimeiken is located inside Ueno Station, making it easy to access and stop by while you're on the go. It is best known for its omurice (omelet with rice), a dish whose plump egg exterior has a soft texture that you will want to try again and again. Many residents in Tokyo consider it to be THE place to have a western-style lunch in Tokyo. 

Hours：7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Holidays：None

HP: www.taimeiken.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 7-1-1 Ekyuto Ueno 3F, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

2. Brasserie Lecrin 

Brasserie Lecrin is a high class restaurant where you can enjoy elegant french food. Its lunches are reasonably priced without sacrificing quality, making them very popular. The lunch menu offers three choices, each priced at 1,700 yen. For an additional 500 yen, you can also add desert, making it the perfect spot for special events like anniversaries or days when you need a little luxury. 

Hours：11:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Regular holidays：None

HP: www.lecringinza.co.jp/brasserie/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Retro-kan, 7-1-1 Atelier Ueno  1F, Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo  (Google Map)

3. Kamonka

Kamonka is a popular restaurant inside Ueno's bamboo garden where you can enjoy authentic Chinese food. Its lunches offer gourmet Chinese dishes for the reasonable price of only 1000 yen. You'll be satisfied with the portions as well, making it the place to go when you want to have a big Chinese meal. All this has made the restaurant famous for its high cost performance. 

Hours：11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Holidays：None

HP: kamonka-tokyo.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Ueno Bamboo Garden 1F, 1-52 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

4. La Cocorico 

La Cocorico is famous for its rotisserie chicken. The restaurant uses Daisen chickens and its rotisserie dishes have a crunchy crust matched with soft, juicy meat within. Customers can even choose between half and full sized chickens. We recommend it for those who want to make their lunch a little different.

Hours：7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Holidays：None

HP: www.la-cocorico.jp/ueno (Japanese Only)

Address: Hotel Sun Route Stella Ueno,  7-7-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

5. Pontahonke 

Said to be one of the best three tonkatsu restaurants in Ueno, Pontahonke makes it cutlets from specially selected pork fried at low temperatures. The results are a soft and juicy delight. Besides cutlets, they also offer kaki fry (deep fried oysters), beef tongue stew and other popular items. If you want to treat yourself to a luxurious tonkatsu lunch, this is the spot. 

Hours：11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Holidays：Monday

Address: 3-23-3 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

6. Midori no Kitchen 

Located inside Ueno station's ecute shopping mall, this restaurant offers meals with a heavy focus on vegetables. Every item on the menu contains generous portions of vegetables and each selection is healthy and low calorie. You can also choose from many different varieties of rice and each order comes with tsukemono (pickled vegetables) and miso soup. It is especially popular with female clientele.

Hours：7:00 - 11 p.m.

Holiays: None

Address: Ecute Ueno 3f, Ueno 7-1-1, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

7. Kurofuneitei

Kurofunetei is an established restaurant known for its thick demi-glace sauce, a specialty that is marinated for a week's time. The menu offers hamburgers, Napolitan spaghetti, and all your other favorite dishes. The most well known of these is the restaurant's hayashi rice, matched to perfection with the demi-glace, and there are many regular customers who return to try it again and again. Half-sized portions are also available, making it a safe choice for women as well.

Hours：11:30 a.m. - 10:45 p.m.

Holidays：None

HP: www.kurofunetei.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Kikuya Building 4F, Ueno 2-13-13, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

 8. Shoryu 

Shoryu is known for its particularly large, tasty gyoza dumplings. They are two to three times larger than your average gyoza and match the size with a juicy, well balanced taste. You can also order chahan or yakisoba and overall, it's a great spot for a big meal. You'll be astonished at first by the size of the dumplings, but soon find yourself addicted.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Holidays: Wednesdays, The 2nd Tuesday of every month

Address: Ueno 6-10-14, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

9. Kadokura 

Kadokura is a standing-counter restaurant and bar that serves lunch until 3 PM. It offers incredible portions for generous prices. There's rice dishes covered with Gyusuji nikomi beef stew,  chashu boneless pork, or barayaki grilled beef, as well as ham cutlet and kara-age teishoku (lunch set), all for around 500 yen. All in all, it's a restaurant that has the rustic charm, taste and affordability that only come from a standing counter space.

Hours：10:00 a.m. -2 11:30 p.m.

Holidays：None

Address: Forum Mi Building 1F, Ueno 6-13-1, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

10. Ueno Yabusoba 

Founded in 1892, Ueno Yabusoba's kitchen is fit with a glass window where you can see the noodles being made up-close. They use real Yabusoba grain, famous for its rich taste and nutritional value. The elegance of the meal is matched by the restaurant's relaxed atmosphere. We recommend it for those who want to try a true Japanese lunch.

Hours：11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Holidays： Wednesday

Address: Ueno 6-9-16m Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

11. Harima Kebab Biryani 

Harima Kebab Biryani is an authentic Indian Restaurant with a richly varied menu. For lunch, it offers salads and rasam, along with spicy tandoori chicken, yogurt, and other delights. Since there are so many choices, you'll find a new taste waiting for you each time you go. You can also try authentic curries like the Southern Indian Chettinad Chicken Curry. 

Hours: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. , 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Holidays: Irregular

Address: Higashi-Ueno 3-36-7 1F, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

12. Motsuyaki Daitoryo

Afternoons at Motsuyaki Daitoryo offer delicious plates of motsuyaki at reasonable prices. The well-established restaurant has been open since 1950 and at night, it transforms into a popular izakaya. It's the place to be when you want an affordable home-style Japanese meal and the thick motsu yaki, motsu nikomi stews, and many other dishes all go well with alcohol.  

Hours：10 a.m.- 12 a.m.

Holidays：None

Address: Ueno 6-13-2, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

13. Yamabe Okachimachi  

At Yamabe Okachimachi, the portions are generous and the prices are just right. The rosukatsu teishoku comes with a large bowl of rice, miso soup, and oshinko (pickled radish) for 700 yen, while the hirekatsu teishoku can be had for 900 yen, and the elegant tonkatsu teishoku clocks in at 1000 yen. It's the perfect place to eat carefully prepared pork with carefully prepared sauce, all at an affordable price.    

Hours：11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Holidays：None

Address: 6-2-6 Ueno, Kodo Building Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

14. Magurobito Okachimachi Shuchojo 

Magurobito Okachimachi Shuchojo is a standing-counter restaurant serving excellent fresh tuna at reasonable prices. The fish are so refined, and priced so affordably, that you'll have trouble believing it's really standing-only. For lunch, they offer a set menu for 1000 yen and there's nearly always a line. Come here to taste the pinnacle of maguro (tuna) sushi.

Hours：11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Holidays：None

Address: Ueno 6-3-7, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)