Saken Shokubo

Rating: Very good
Meal: Lunch for 2
Price: 2570 yen
Dishes:  Not sure exactly
Payment: Cash only
English Menu: No
Smoking: No

Another Sunday in Ueno and we found a very interesting spot for lunch.  It appears to be some variety of Chinese food that I've never encountered before.  Their primary dish consists of smallish hot soups with various ingredients.  These are priced fairly low, so I'm guessing the idea is to order a couple of them along with other items.

We got a variety of dishes and I must say I was pleasantly surprised.  Even the plate of cold meats (including chicken feet) was tasty.  There were also some noodle dishes I wish we could have tried.  We'll have to come back with my wife and try more things for sure.

Outback Steakhouse

Rating: Not great
Meal: Dinner for 2
Price: 9800 yen
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Dishes: Drinks, two prime rib meals (250g)
English Menu: Yes
Smoking:  Yes

I met a friend in Shinagawa and decided to take him to the Outback Steakhouse as I had never been to one here in Japan.  It was happy hour, so drinks were half off, thank goodness!

We both had the prime rib and while it was ok, it was certainly nothing special.  Definitely not worth the price.  I probably won't be back to one of these places again.  Also, smoking.

Maruha

Rating: OK
Meal:  Lunch for 2
Price: ~2000 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Buta-don, two meat plates, two soft boiled eggs
English Menu: No
Smoking: Not sure, but probably not

My son and I ate at this random place near the Okachimachi station (one stop south of Ueno station).  It was late and we just needed food, so we didn't look long.  I saw meat dishes and figured it would do.  It's got a ticket vending machine, no english, touch interface.  Took a bit to figure out, but we eventually got some things that looked edible.  This place says they specialize in Hokkaido cuisine, which might mean something to anyone who has been there, but for the purposes of this blog, it's just Japanese food.

Buta-don

My son said he quite liked his buta-don (pork rice bowl, a classic dish from the area we visited in the mid-west), and I made do with two platters of what I think was beef, and a couple of soft boiled eggs.  It was filling enough, but nothing special really.

Meat plates with eggs (and butter)