Motsuyaki Daitoryo: A Spectacular Izakaya in Ueno's Ameyoko Street
Ueno is one of Tokyo's most popular tourist destinations. The area features numerous attractions including a zoo, art museums, a nature-rich park, and drinking districts under the elevated railway. With its Shinkansen (bullet train) station, it serves as an excellent base for tourism, and many visitors often combine their trip with nearby Asakusa, famous for its historical streetscapes.
When visiting Ueno, make sure to check out the shopping district called Ameyoko. Beyond its specialty stores, Ameyoko is renowned as one of Tokyo's premier drinking districts. The street is lined with nationally famous establishments as well as hidden gems known only to locals.
Among these, "Daitoryo" stands out with overwhelming popularity and draws crowds daily. Let me share information about how to best enjoy "Daitoryo," one of Ueno's most renowned izakayas.
Motsuyaki Daitoryo: A Legendary Izakaya Representing Ameyoko in Ueno
Source: Tabelog
Motsuyaki Daitoryo is a legendary izakaya that represents Ameyoko, one of Ueno's most prominent areas. Established in 1950, this long-standing restaurant is famous for its signature dish - simmered horse offal, which has maintained its original taste since the founding.
In this Japanese izakaya's atmosphere rich with Showa-era charm, you can savor excellent grilled offal dishes. With its extensive menu and reasonable prices, the restaurant bustles with customers from early in the day. It's also popular for late-night bar hopping as it stays open until late.
Motsuyaki Daitoryo Has a Branch Location Just Seconds Away
Source: Tabelog
The branch location of Motsuyaki Daitoryo is just seconds away on foot from the main store. It's more spacious than the main store, featuring outdoor seating, counter seats, and table seating on the first floor, plus counter seats, table seating, and traditional tatami rooms on the second floor.
When the main store is crowded, you can usually get seated more quickly at the branch location, which has over 100 seats. The branch is also a better choice for large groups.
What is "Motsu"?
Source: Tabelog
Motsu refers to various animal organ meats from beef, pork, or chicken. Popular parts include himo (small intestine), daichou (large intestine), tan (tongue), and hatsu (heart).
In Japan, motsu is commonly sold in supermarkets and is a regular part of the diet. It's often used in yakiniku (grilled meat), hot pot, and simmered dishes. People love its chewy texture and how the umami flavors develop the more you chew.
Moreover, motsu is known as a healthy diet food due to its low carbohydrate and calorie content. It's also rich in collagen, minerals, and vitamins, making it beneficial for beauty maintenance.
5 Must-Try Menu Items at Daitoryo Recommended by Locals for Motsu-Yaki
Daitoryo Special Stew
Source: Tabelog
The Daitoryo special stew is a must-try when dining at Daitoryo. It's a traditional stew that has been passed down since the restaurant opened, featuring horse organ meat as the main ingredient, along with konjac, tofu, daikon radish, and green onions as garnish.
Horse organ meat has little odor and a light, pleasant texture that's easy to eat. The thoroughly stewed organs are tender, while the springy konjac and flavorful daikon are well-seasoned, making it perfect as an accompaniment to alcohol.
Few restaurants serve horse organ meat, making this a rare menu item. The price is also reasonable, so please give it a try.
Special "Charcoal-Grilled" Items Cooked with Binchotan
Charcoal-grilled items are popular at Daitoryo. Charcoal grilling refers to cooking ingredients over wood charcoal.
Daitoryo uses high-quality binchotan charcoal, which is famous among chefs for its ability to create a crispy exterior on ingredients due to its high heat.
Here are some must-try charcoal-grilled cuts:
Tongue
Source: Tabelog
Beef tongue is about 50 centimeters long, with texture and taste varying by location. It's divided into four parts: tip, middle, base, and bottom, with firmness increasing towards the tip.
The base of the tongue, ideal for charcoal grilling, is well-marbled, tender, and juicy. It's delicious with salt and lemon for a refreshing taste.
The tougher tip and bottom portions, which typically have more odor, are perfect for stewing. At Daitoryo, they're transformed into tender, odorless delicacies through stewing!
Heart
Source: Tabelog
Heart refers to beef, pork, or chicken heart. It has a pleasant bounce and crispy texture with good bite.
Low in fat and mild in flavor, it's delicious grilled with sauce. Daitoryo's quickly-grilled heart retains just the right amount of moisture for a nice texture.
It's one of the more approachable organ meats, making it a good choice for those new to organ meat dishes.
Cartilage
Source: Tabelog
Cartilage (nankotsu) refers to the tip of chicken breast bone. The yagen-nankotsu is particularly famous as a rare cut, with only one piece available per chicken.
It has a soft bounce and crunchy texture. Low in fat and light in taste, it pairs well with simple salt or spices like pepper and cumin when charcoal-grilled.
This cut concentrates the umami of both bone and meat, and works great as a snack with drinks when seasoned strongly.
Tsukune
Source: Tabelog
Tsukune is ground chicken or fish mixed with seasonings and shaped into meatballs.
Daitoryo's tsukune is characterized by its soft, fluffy texture and rich flavor, making it perfect as an accompaniment to drinks.
For skewered versions, the sweet and savory sauce is recommended. The sauce-coated tsukune is delicious and popular with all ages. Being mild and easy to eat, it's a favorite that both my friends and I always order when having skewered items.
Try Hoppy, a Popular Drink in Ueno!
Source: Tabelog
Hoppy is a unique Japanese drink - are you familiar with it? It's a beer-flavored soft drink made with malt and hops that began production in 1948. With an alcohol content of less than 1% (0.8%), it's legally classified as a soft drink under Japanese liquor tax law.
Hoppy is typically enjoyed by mixing it with spirits like shochu, vodka, or gin to create original Hoppy cocktails. It pairs especially well with shochu, with the golden ratio being 5 parts Hoppy to 1 part shochu.
When visiting Ueno's dining district, try ordering a Hoppy to experience this unique part of Japanese drinking culture.
Perfect for Day Drinking and Bar Hopping - Open from 10 AM
Daitoryo's long operating hours (10:00-23:30) make it ideal for day drinking and bar hopping. Many surrounding izakayas have similar hours, so you'll find plenty of others enjoying drinks during the day!
Why not enjoy drinks and uniquely Japanese dishes under the blue sky for some daytime drinking or bar hopping?
3 Must-Visit Izakayas in Ueno to Pair with Motsuyaki Daitoryo
Standing Bar Kadokura
Source: Official website
Located just a 1-minute walk from Ueno Station, Kadokura is primarily a standing bar but also offers table seating for those who want to relax. They source their meat from their affiliated yakiniku restaurant group, offering high-quality meat at reasonable prices.
Their 5 famous dishes are: stewed beef tendon, millefeuille katsu, chicken thigh stamina iron plate, pork hirayaki, and grilled skewers.
I ordered the stewed beef tendon. The slow-cooked tendon was melt-in-your-mouth tender with deeply absorbed flavors - perfect as a drinking snack. It's rich in collagen, leaving your skin plump the next morning.
Store Information:
- Address: 6-13-1 Ueno, Taito-ku
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Phone: 03-3832-5335
- Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri/Sat/Sun/Holidays 11:00-23:00
- Official website: https://taishoen.co.jp/kadokura/
Jisakana Yatai Hamachan Ueno Branch
Source: Tabelog
Located just inside Ameyoko, Hamachan is famous for its fresh seafood. It's always busy thanks to its market-fresh seafood at affordable prices.
Popular menu items include sashimi, sushi, and seafood tempura made with fresh ingredients. The tempura is crispy when served and delicious on its own, but try it with grated daikon radish too. The daikon helps cut through the oil, making you want to eat and drink more. You can get unlimited refills of the generous portion of grated daikon that comes with the tempura.
Tempura prices start from just 100 yen. I got hooked and kept ordering more!
Store Information:
- Address: 6-9-13 Ueno, Taito-ku
- Closed: New Year holidays
- Phone: 03-5807-8413
- Hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-23:30, Sat/Sun 10:00-23:30
TOWA Beer, Sake, and Soba
Source: Tabelog
TOWA Beer, Sake, and Soba is an izakaya that offers 15 carefully selected craft beers from across Japan at any given time. For alcoholic beverages, they primarily stock domestic products including sake, shochu, and Japanese whiskey.
Their popular menu item is their domestic nihachi soba (soba made with 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour), known for its smooth texture. It's recommended to pair this with tempura. Their shrimp tempura is particularly noteworthy as it's larger than usual, offering great value.
They offer happy hour (discounted drink prices) on weekdays from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Why not try their carefully selected craft beers at special prices along with your meal?
<Store Information>
- Address: 6-11-12 Ueno, Taito-ku
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Phone: 03-5816-3934
- Business Hours: Mon, Wed-Fri 11:30-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Sat, Sun & Holidays 11:30-23:00
- Official Website: https://towaueno.owst.jp/
Want to Enjoy Bar Hopping in Ueno? Try the "All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno"
If you're interested in bar hopping in Ueno, why not join the "All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno"? This tour takes you through Ueno's izakayas and food stalls, where you can enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine and drinks.
The tour starts in Ueno's lively food stall area. You'll visit local establishments in the backstreets where you can enjoy yakitori, oden, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu paired with local beer and sake. The first two stops include 45 minutes of all-you-can-drink options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
The tour ends at a popular Japanese ramen shop. Ramen after drinking is especially satisfying, guaranteeing satisfaction for both body and soul. Why not enjoy Tokyo's nightlife with a knowledgeable Ueno guide?
<Tour Information>
- Tour Area: Ueno
- Duration: 3.5 hours starting at either 17:00 or 18:00
Visit Motsuyaki Daitōryō Before it Gets Crowded, Then Join the Above Tour!
The popular established restaurant Motsuyaki Daitōryō is crowded both on weekdays and weekends. However, you can enter relatively smoothly during earlier hours on weekdays.
Since the "All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno" starts after 17:00, you can enjoy food and drinks without the crowds if you visit before joining the tour. It's recommended to visit during the less busy earlier hours.
