Buta Yarou — Restaurant in Tokyo

Located up a narrow staircase (no lift), Buta Yaro is a small, counter-style spot with 8 seats. While the building shows its age and is a bit of a "grease pit," the restaurant surprisingly uses reusable lacquered chopsticks and spoons, alongside a good selection of condiments (toothpicks, shichimi, black pepper, white pepper, Japanese karashi mustard, sweet tare, and pickled takuwan).

You order via a vending machine outside, and the menu is essentially one item: buta-don (pork rice bowl). Be prepared for the delicious, smoky aroma of the barbecued pork to linger on your clothes. The pork itself is perfectly cooked and beautifully arranged over the rice, generously coated in the shop's likely secret sweet tare sauce. I ordered the large for JPY 1090 and found the portion satisfying. The rice can be a bit dry, but the accompanying sweet tare allows you to easily customize it to your preference. I highly recommend adding an egg for the full experience.

It's a unique spot and could easily become a regular go-to. I visited around 2 PM and...

This no-frills eatery serves only roast pork rice —and they do it perfectly. The place is small, often packed (mostly with male regulars), but the turnover is quick, so you'll rarely wait long. And trust me, it's worth it.

The owner grills the pork right in front of you, filling the air with smoky aromas (yes, it's a bit oily, but that just adds to the authenticity!). The result? Tender, flavorful pork over steaming rice-simple yet unforgettable.

I first tried it in 2018, and years later, the taste remained exactly as incredible. A rare example of consistency and dedication to one dish. If you love hearty, no-nonsense comfort food, don't...

It was absolutely delicious (and well-priced), but the sight of a baby cockroach scurrying along the edge of the counter next to me made me increasingly suspicious of the grains of rice in my bowl and I had to leave before finishing it, although I did eat the remaining pork.

It is super easy to order, simply select whichever size you would like (small/med/large corresponding to 590/790/990 yen) on the vending machine and hand your ticket to the staff. Despite the roach problem, it truly was a great bowl...