01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set along the train tracks in Ueno, Mori no Chaya is an unpretentious neighborhood diner built for hearty appetites. Many who stop by come specifically for the generously piled chashu set meal. The thick-cut pork is simmered until tender and coated in a bold, sweet-savory tare sauce. The rich glaze soaks deep into the bed of shredded cabbage beneath, and breaking the runny yolk of the fried egg over the meat makes it easy to work through a generous bowl of rice.
The wide-ranging menu is equally appealing, presenting combinations that pair ginger pork, hamburger patties, or assorted fried cutlets 2 ways. Diners can enjoy two headline dishes on one tray, whether that means fragrant ginger-fried pork served alongside freshly fried horse mackerel or a tomato-and-cheese hamburg steak paired with a croquette. The katsu curry, pairing a thick, comforting curry sauce with a crisp, thin cutlet, has also remained a long-standing favorite.
Seating is split between the 1st and 2nd floors, creating a lively downtown atmosphere where table-sharing is common during busy spells. Guests can tailor their meal by ordering extras like fried chicken or a fried egg, or pairing lunch with a bottled Sapporo Lager Akaboshi. Payment is cash only, and photography inside the restaurant is prohibited.
