Ningyocho Imahan Ueno Hirokoji — Restaurant in Tokyo

Please remember the name: Ningyocho Imahan—a sukiyaki brand you absolutely shouldn't miss when visiting Tokyo.

They have several outlets across the city, but it’s extremely popular, so advanced reservations are highly recommended.

My wife and I each ordered a set. They offer two types of beef—high quality and top quality—and honestly, both were fantastic.

Even before the sukiyaki arrived, the meal was already impressive. The stewed beef cubes were unforgettable, the fatty tuna was incredibly fresh and melted in the mouth, and I personally loved the preserved squid and the chicken soup. The grilled beef was a highlight too—so tender, with an incredibly dense and pure beef aroma that had me feeling like I was in heaven.

Then came the sukiyaki. The rich, fragrant aroma of the sauce hit me before the food even reached the table. The staff personally cooked the beef and vegetables for us with such care and attention. The beef, dipped in raw egg, was absolutely divine—tender, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. Even the vegetables, soaked in the sauce, were full of flavor.

What impressed me even more was the second round, when they added lemon juice to the broth—completely transforming the flavor into something bright and refreshing, which balanced out the richness beautifully.

This is definitely a high-end dining experience, but the quality of the food and the impeccable service make it well worth the price. I highly recommend Ningyocho Imahan to anyone visiting Tokyo—a true sukiyaki gem you...

We made a reservation for 8pm on a week day. At the time of the reservation we had already placed our order for their set menu. Arriving at the restuarant which is located upstairs in a commercial building, we were promptly shown to our table. We ordered drinks. At least 1 drink each is probably expected at this type of restuarant so we ordered 1 beer each. The waitress came over to start service cooking our beef. She was present throughout the meal doing all the cooking. The rice provided was not enough so I asked for more rice, but I was refused. Only 1 bowl of rice is provided. This is very different from other sukiyaki places we have visited where the rice was unlimited so I was a little surprised. Service was very attentive. Waitress cooked at our table throughout the meal, so this might be a little uncomfortable for those not accustomed to such attentive service. This is very different from other sukiyaki we have visited in Japan where the waitress only cooks the first piece of beef before handing over to us to do the rest of the cooking ourselves. Total bill for two was JPY22k which included 2 sets and 1 drink each. Staff are very professional. Toilet is very clean. OK to try for the sukiyaki...

Imahan is certainly one of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo for Sukiyaki, and while I often frequent the Yurakucho and Ginza branches, this was the first time I tried the Ueno branch. I really liked it! It's directly outside of the subway station at exit A4, so it's a very easy find. The restaurant was large and newish compared with the other branches and service was impeccable. I thought that this branch was extra generous with its eggs, and we had fresh eggs with almost all our sukiyaki beef slices. The food is certainly up to the excellent standards that we are used in the Imahan franchise. Beef was amazing. Finely marbled and thinly sliced, each slice was cooked to a wonderful medium rare level. The scrambled eggs with rice and sukiyaki sauce from 3 cookings at the end was certainly delicious. I visit Imahan every time I'm in Tokyo. And you wouldn't regret your visit. Best sukiyaki ever. P.s. remember to...