Ueno Wagyu Lunch Review: Yukhoe Rice Bowl and Hamburg Steak at USHIHACHI KIWAMI

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While wandering around Ueno in search of a good yukhoe rice bowl, I discovered Ueno Wagyu Yakiniku USHIHACHI KIWAMI, also known as Gyu8.

Originally, I had another restaurant in mind, but it had already closed. Since USHIHACHI also has locations in Shibuya and other parts of Tokyo, it felt like a reliable backup option.

One of the biggest surprises was the location. The restaurant sits on the top floor of a building near JR Ueno Station, and window seats offer a beautiful view toward Ueno Park.

The interior doesn’t feel like a typical yakiniku restaurant. Instead, it has a stylish, modern atmosphere with hints of an American dining concept. If nobody told me it was a yakiniku restaurant, I might have guessed it was a trendy burger restaurant.

I arrived just before the last order and was lucky enough to get a window seat.

The lunch started with salad, kimchi, and soup. Many restaurants include soup simply because it’s expected, but this one stood out. It had a flavor reminiscent of Korean gomtang soup, and I found myself enjoying it more than expected.

Then came the main attraction.

I ordered a lunch set featuring both a yukhoe rice bowl and a hamburg steak.

The yukhoe is served separately, allowing guests to assemble the rice bowl themselves. Some people may prefer everything pre-arranged, but I actually liked being able to control the presentation.

The hamburg steak arrives on a hot iron plate and continues cooking at the table. Staff explain that it needs about six minutes before eating.

Those six minutes feel surprisingly long when you’re hungry.

When the cover is opened, the bubbling sauce looks almost like lava. Perhaps younger diners react with excitement, while I simply sat there thinking, “Wow, that’s really bubbling.”

Meanwhile, there is another mission: carefully placing the egg yolk and yukhoe over the rice without breaking anything. It felt strangely similar to a delicate space mission.

Eventually, the yukhoe rice bowl was complete.

Looking out over Ueno while trains moved back and forth below made for a uniquely Tokyo dining experience.

The hamburg steak was smaller than expected, but the rich sauce paired perfectly with rice. Although the inside was not raw, the steaming process left the center tender and juicy.

The real star, however, was the yukhoe.

One side featured thinly sliced beef, while the other used finely cut beef prepared in a more traditional yukhoe style. Combined with wasabi and soy sauce, the flavors worked surprisingly well together.

Interestingly, this was one of those rare dishes that looked better in person than in photographs.

If you’re looking for a wagyu lunch in Ueno with great views, a stylish atmosphere, and an Instagram-worthy yukhoe rice bowl, USHIHACHI KIWAMI is worth considering.

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