01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A plume of smoke rising from charcoal grills and the lively, unpretentious hum of Tokyo's downtown shitamachi greet diners at Tonmaru in Ueno. Drawn in by the aroma of skewers searing over open flames, guests settling into their seats naturally start with a spread of affordable grilled bites and one of the kitchen's slow-simmered stews.
Fragrant Grilled Skewers and Diverse Izakaya Fare
The centerpiece of the grill is yakiton, featuring assorted cuts of pork and offal such as pork belly with green onion (bara negima), neck meat (tontoro), cheek (kashira), and heart (hatsu). Skewers wrapped in thinly sliced pork belly are equally well-received. Combinations like cheese-stuffed green peppers wrapped in pork, cherry tomatoes wrapped in pork, and pork-wrapped asparagus let juicy rendered fat meld into fresh fillings. For simmering pots, a comforting white miso pork offal stew sits alongside the house specialty: beef tendon stewed in tomato until rich, tender, and deeply savory, adding a Western-style touch to the izakaya table. The menu also branches out into cold small plates, such as a three-cut sashimi-style platter of low-temperature-cooked pork tongue, liver, and heart, as well as limited-quantity grilled tuna collar.
From Japanese Whiskies to Downtown Classics
The drinks list is broad enough to match every turn of the meal. Shitamachi favorites like Hoppy and Baisu Sour share space with draft beer and chilled bottles of Sapporo Akaboshi. Whisky enthusiasts will find plenty of choices, spanning standard Kakubin highballs to highballs mixed with celebrated Japanese bottles including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita, and Ichiro's Malt. Guests can also order craft beers or single-pour (one go) carafes of regional sake such as Nabeshima and Ichinokura, suiting whatever mood the evening brings.
Casual Evenings and Late Drinks in Ueno
With an easygoing atmosphere, the dining room accommodates everything from a quick solo drink at the counter to lively group dinners. Tonmaru opens in the late afternoon on weekdays and starts from 12:00 midday through late night on weekends, offering outdoor seating for those who prefer enjoying a glass in the open air.
