where jess ate

Located near the high-end shopping district of Roppongi, the rustic-looking Uoshin feels a little out of place. We dropped by this izakaya chain after window-shopping at Roppongi Hills. While there is certainly no shortage of izakayas in Tokyo, this chain is a little different – Uoshin is owned by a seafood wholesaler which gives them access to some great seafood and the dishes are very reasonably priced.

With other locations in Shibuya, Shimokitazawa and Ebisu, the Uoshin restaurants are very popular and reservations are definitely recommended (unless you’re planning on visiting during off-peak hours). The Nogizaka location we visited was definitely unique. It has a rustic, shack-like feel to it. It doesn’t have any real walls as there are clear vinyl panels that close in the space – the vinyl sheets essentially are in place of real windows. Tables are a little tight and you sit on crates – but that just all adds to the fun, casual atmosphere.

Uoshin is very English-friendly. Our server was completely fluent in English and their menu includes English translations. With their extensive menu and enormous list of daily specials, it can be a little overwhelming. We had a tough time narrowing it down to a few dishes. It’s definitely a place where you should come with more people!

To start, we ordered the Bean Sprouts Salad. It was light and refreshing with a bit of a kick. It was a welcome change after indulging ourselves in so much heavy food throughout the trip.

Up next was their iconic dish, the Nokkezushi – cucumber roll topped with salmon roe, chopped tuna, crab meat and sea urchin. Where do I even begin? It was a mountain of delicious ingredients layered upon each other. They didn’t skimp on anything either – just look at all that uni!

It’s no surprise this is one of their most popular dishes. It’s incredibly delicious and is reasonably priced at only ¥1500 (around $15CAD).

We also ordered some Chicken Karaage (aka deep fried chicken). The chicken bites were fried to a nice golden brown and taste-wise, they did the trick. Not bad but not particularly memorable either.

Since Uoshin is owned by a seafood wholesaler, we wanted to order another seafood dish. From the daily specials, we ordered the Fried Rock Fish. It wasn’t a huge fish, so it worked well for the two of us. The fish was fried to perfection with a crispy skin and incredibly moist meat. Delish!

Overall, we had a fun experience at Uoshin. Loved the lively atmosphere and the food was very reasonably priced.

At a glance:

• Izakaya chain in Tokyo owned by a major seafood wholesaler
• Visited the Nogizaka location (near Roppongi); other branches can be found in Shibuya, Shimokitazawa and Ebisu
• Reservations are recommended
• English-speaking staff; an English menu is available
• Very low-key, fun atmosphere
• Highlights: Nokkezushi and fried rock fish

Ratings (out of 5):

• Food: 3.5 stars
• Service: 3 stars
• Atmosphere: 4 stars