Ponta Honke

Ueno is home to a legendary tonkatsu specialty restaurant opened by a master chef who used to be the head of Western cuisine in the Imperial household at the start of the 20th century. Ponta Honke started out as an eatery with a custom menu of luxurious Western food for special occasions, but expanded to include an a la carte menu that's still available to this day. Established in 1905, it is now run by the founder's great-grandchildren who still uphold the same original concept of the restaurant. The special technique used at Ponta Honke is what brings their tonkatsu to whole new levels — cutting out the outer ribbon of fat using it to fry the meat cuts. While it's a difficult technique to master, success results in perfectly tender meat without losing its rich, savory flavors. While tonkatsu is their bestseller, Ponta Honke also has tongue stew, sauteed pork, seafood which is both deep-fried and sauteed with butter on the menu. Whatever your preference, the staff at Ponta Honke will make sure you have a royal good time.