I have a full blog post on Ueno with Kids here (that includes lunch and breakfast spots, sightseeing, shopping, drugstores, places to buy baby food and nappies, supermarkets as well as playgrounds.)
But this is my list of just the restaurants. This is my list of the kid-friendly restaurants for families in the Ueno area.
In addition to this list below – remember that, when in Ueno, you are also not too far from Akihabara, Asakusa , Ginza, the Tokyo Station area and Kappabashi. So you could also look into dinner options in these areas after sightseeing too.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : A Japanese vibey higher end izakaya
This is a Japanese izakaya who welcomes children is Oto Oto Ueno Bamboo Garden.
This is, however, a popular choice, so I, personally, wouldn’t visit with my children without a reservation here.
The menu is lovely classic Japanese izakaya options. There is also a lovely children’s plate for 1000 yen (which includes a rice ball, fried chicken, fried shrimp, a meat ball, a small salad, udon and a little dessert.
For lunch here I would budget approximately 2500 yen per adult and more like 5000 yen at dinner time.
The restaurant is noisy and busy (like a noisy pub kind of vibe) but not in a bad way.
If you’re kids are feeling fussy – they also sell vanilla ice-cream – which may buy you some more grown up eating and drinking time.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and the whole restaurant is non-smoking.
To get there, take the Shinobazu Exit at Ueno Station and walk for 1 minute to the 2nd floor of the Bamboo Garden building.
See the Oto Oto Ueno Bamboo Garden menu here.
The sign outside the restaurant looks like this
OTO OTO UENO BAMBOO GARDEN
上野公園1-52 バンブーガーデン2F
2ND FLOOR, BAMBOO GARDEN BUILDING, 1-52 UENO KOEN
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-3PM & 4:30PM-10:30PM (UNTIL 11PM ON FRIDAYS)
OPEN WEEKENDS 11AM-10PM
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Tendon (Tempura served on top of a bowl of rice)
Tensuzu is in a back street just 5 mins walk from the Okachimachi Station or 7 mins walk from Ueno Station. They welcome children (the restaurant is small though so I’d really only go here with kids who are able to stay seated while they dine.) There is a service charge of 330 yen per person here (you will receive an otoshi as a thank you when you sit down. You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to but please just accept it and leave it on your table.) They accept most major credit cards. I recommend budgeting for 3000 yen per adult at lunch or more like 11,000 yen at dinner time. If you eat everything, I recommend getting the omakase* tempura course for a little under 9000 yen. Soooo good. I love how they open from 4:30 for dinner – makes it much easier to visit with kids. If everyone is tired, you can also get takeout from here and take it back to your hotel. Best to make a reservation here.
*If you like the idea of eating omakase with kids see my blog post here for even more options.
TENSUZU
台東区上野2-6-7
2-6-7 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM-2PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 4:30PM-9:30PM
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Yakitori
How about Yakitori for lunch or dinner? Yakitori (grilled and chargrilled chicken skewers) restaurant Torimitsukuni is just 1 min walk from Ueno Station. This restaurant welcomes young families. This restaurant is entirely non-smoking and they also accept most major credit cards. In terms of budget, I would set aside 1500 yen per adult at lunchtime and more like 4000 yen at dinner time. Unfortunately it is only in Japanese but you can see the menu online with pictures here – and you can put it through Google translate if you like.
If you are gluten free in Japan- Yakitori can be a good option. But be sure to ask for it to be prepared with salt, not tare (sauce/marinade as “tare” is made using soy sauce.)
TORIMITSUKUNI YAKITORI & SAKE RESTAURANT
台東区上野公園1-54 B1F
BASEMENT FLOOR, 1-54 UENO-KOEN, TAITO-KU
OPEN MON-THURS 11:30AM-2PM & 5PM-10:30PM
OPEN FRI 11:30AM-2PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN SAT 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4PM-11PM
OPEN SUN & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4PM-10:30PM
Gluten Free T’s Ueno-Hirokoji
If you are looking for a gluten free restaurant with vegetarian and vegan options, I recommend walking 12 mins from Ueno Station to Gluten Free T’s Ueno-Hirokoji. As you can guess from the name, this Tokyo restaurant is entirely gluten free. There are many vegan and vegetarian options here too. Menu options include orange chicken, ramen, fried chicken, mapo tofu, pizza, meat buns, vegan pancakes. There is a full English menu. For lunch or dinner I would budget around 2500 yen per adult. Gluten Free T’s accept most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking. This restaurant can also deliver a gluten free breakfast on Ubereats.
It is best to make a reservation for dining here as it can be really popular. There is another Gluten Free T’s in Roppongi – and it is less busy and easier for a “walk-in.”
GLUTEN FREE T’S UENO-HIROKOJI
アパホテル上野広小路5-3-3 SOTOKANDA, CHIYODA
INSIDE THE APA HOTEL UENO HIROKOJI, 5-3-3 SOTOKANDA, CHIYODA
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST 7AM-9:30AM
OPEN FOR LUNCH MIDDAY-3PM (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FOR LUNCH)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-10PM (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FOR DINNER)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : an Izakaya that specializes in delicious seafood
If you’d like to visit an Izakaya that specialises in seafood together then I recommend making a reservation at Sadogashima e Watare, Ueno. They are particularly well known for their oysters here. They are 3 mins walk from Ueno Station but are very popular so I wouldn’t try just walking in with our a reservation already locked in. Budget to dine here? Probably around 5000 yen per adult. They accept most major credit cards. To dine here children need to be at least 6 years old.
SADOGASHIMA E WATARE, UENO
上野2-12-1 セントラル21 7F
7TH FLOOR, CENTRAL BUILDING, 2-12-1 UENO
WEEKDAYS 5PM-MIDNIGHT (LAST ORDERS AT 10:30PM)
WEEKENDS MIDDAY-MIDNIGHT (LAST ORDERS AT 10:30PM)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : a beer and steak restaurant
Tokyo Butchers is a beer & steak restaurant that welcomes kids 6 years and older (if you have younger kids you can buy a steak bento from here for around 1000 yen to take back to your hotel.) It is a lovely vibey restaurant underneath the train tracks. They serve several different types of craft beer and Australian wine. They serve beef, pork, lamb, chicken and grilled veg here. They have three types of pasta here too and they have french fries and some salads. It is 10 mins walk from Ueno Station, 2 mins walk from Okachimachi Station (take the South Exit) and 11 mins walk from Akihabara Station. Tokyo Butchers accepts most major credit cards. There is a 440 yen per person service charge (as a thank you for that additional payment you will receive an appetizer when you sit down. This, in Japan, is called otoshi. You don’t have to eat it but just leave it on the table if you don’t want it.) At lunch, I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and more like 5000 yen per adult at dinner time. Best to ask the hotel to make a reservation for you.
TOKYO BUTCHERS
台東区上野5-10-9
5-10-9 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN MON -THURS 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN FRI 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11:30PM
OPEN SAT 2PM-11:30PM
OPEN SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11:30AM-11PM
*There is also “Egg Baby Cafe” next door (same owners) but I don’t really recommend going here with kids as the lines are just too long – takes the chill and the relaxation out of a meal with kids.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : street food in Ameyokocho
For street food and bustling restaurant options I recommend going straight to Ameyoko Market and Shopping District.
Ueno, itself, it quite gritty. Outside of the park, it’s not the most beautiful part of Tokyo but if you like to try street food and walk through market streets (Ameyokocho), I think you’ll still have a good time.
There are lots of food stalls and some second hand clothing stores too. Most stalls don’t open until 11am.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Pasta, Rice and Salads
And if you’re looking for a lovely but also kid-friendly cafe for lunch or dinner, I recommend dining at Wired Cafe Ueno. Lunch sets are 1300yen and include a pasta, rice or salad with a dessert and a small drink. For dinner I would budget 2000 yen for an adult. They can be found on the basement (B1) floor of the Atre Complex.
Wired Cafe accepts most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking. They don’t have high chairs but they offer sofa seating as well as stool / bar counter seating.
WIRED CAFE, UENO ATRE BRANCH
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野B1F
BASEMENT B1 FLOOR, ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11AM – 9PM
Another suggestion while in the Atre Ueno complex
On the B1 floor you will find international grocery store Kaldi.*Kaldi stores are fab for if your kids are craving more familiar food options. Here you can find international items such as Halal options, oat crackers, oatmeal, twinings earl grey, tomato juice, cous cous, maple syrup, skippy peanut butter, nutella, vegemite etc.
Which shopping malls are close to Ueno Station?
Marui (the logo looks like “OIOI”) is my favourite for shopping. 2 mins walk from Ueno Station. This shopping mall contains Loft (my fave for Japanese stationery), Nitori (cute homewares and kitchen gadgets), Gap, Plaza (souvenirs, make up, some toys, pop culture items), Seria (100 yen store), Muji and Franc Franc (homewares and furniture.) There is also a food court floor here.
There is also a Cinnabon on the ground floor that sell Panda Cinnabon.
There is also a food court floor here (top floor.) There are a few restaurants on this floor (all kid-friendly) and an open food court (which I love because it doesn’t mean that I have to eat the same food as my kids if I don’t want to.
The restaurant options include:
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Pasta
Pasta More
This is Japanese style Italian Pasta. They serve pizzas and desserts too. They accept credit cards. You can make a reservation here but, unless it’s a peak weekend night time, you should be fine with just a walk-in. Most meals are 1000-2000 yen each. I like their Japanese style Caesar Salad. They also have fries and you can get sausages too. See pictures of the full Pasta More menu here.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : A food hall where everyone can eat something different but still sit together
And then in the open food court section called “Goo Food Hall” are several restaurants along the side and you order at one counter and can side wherever you like!
Meal options include hamburger steaks, steak, hamburgers, omurice, Indian food, Korean food etc. You can pay by credit card. They also serve alcohol here.
Matsuzakaya is more of an old school department store. It is 7 mins walk from Ueno Station. I recommend going here for the depachika section (the deli floor on the basement floors). Makes for incredible Japanese bento style dinners to take back to the hotel. Children’s clothing and stationery can be found on the 8th floor.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Tempura and a Sushi train (separate restaurants)
Parco Ya Ueno is 9 mins walk from Ueno Station. There is a restaurant floor on the 6th floor. You can buy Japanese sneakers Onitsuka Tiger on the ground floor here. This includes a kid-friendly sushi train restaurant, and the most delicious tempura restaurant called Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (I recommend asking the hotel to make a reservation for you here. They welcome babies and children. Budget for adults: 4000 yen at lunch and more like 9000 yen at dinner time. There is a lovely night view from the restaurant in the evenings.)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Ichiran Ramen
There is an Ichiran Ramen right next to Ueno Station. To be completely honest, Ichiran can be quite the tourist trap and the lines are wrong (and locals almost never eat here.) However, if one parent wanted to line up to try it while on a walk at night – it can be a good option. It is open from 9am – 6am the next day. This is a walk-in only restaurant. Walk-ins only. Kids are welcome (if you are brave enough to wait out the lines.)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Standing Sushi
Tachigui Sushi Misaki Ueno 3153 is a Standing Sushi restaurant just 1 min walk from Ueno Station.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and is the perfect spot for bigger kids to try a few things and move on OR a great spot for one parent to entertain children in the park while the other parent goes and has some sushi and sashimi and then switch! (it’s just on the outskirts of the park so this is very doable.) It’s just next to Family Mart.
See pictures of the Misaki menu items here. (Use google translate if you need more info on certain items. If your kids want sushi with just cucumber in side ask for Kappamaki – wasabi nashi (cucumber sushi but no wasabi. They also do a small bowl of french fries-call it “fried potato” if you order- with ketchup for 250 yen.)
TACHIGUI SUSHI MISAKI UENO 3153
台東区上野公園1-57 UENO3153ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, UENO 3153 BUILDING, 1-57 UENO-KOEN, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : a Japanese yoshoku restaurant
For an old school Japanese diner restaurant just outside Ueno Station I recommend Juraku. This place is definitely not fancy (although I do find the vibe to be a little cozy) but my kids LOVE it. Big colourful ice-cream floats and lots of kids meals to choose from. Very reasonably priced too. The cuisine is “Yoshoku” (aka westernized Japanese good.)
I would budget around 1500 yen per adult to dine here. They accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They have high chairs here and plastic plates and cutlery for kids. The entire venue is non-smoking.
JURAKU UENO
台東区上野6-11-11
6-11-11 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11A:30M-9PM (LAST ORDERS 8PM)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays welcome families at lunch and dinner time. Please note that there is a 10% table charge after 5pm. They specialize in burgers, steak and tacos. There is space to store a stroller here while you dine. See the full TGI Fridays Ueno menu here. For lunch time I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and more like 3000 yen at dinner time. For vegan options, ask for the guacamole bowl (made at your table) or the button mushroom appetizer (make sure you tell them you are vegan when you order though.) For gluten free diners, steak is probably the safest option (or the shrimp plate or a salad without the blue cheese and no croutons or the cobb salad without any dressing. )
Happy Hour prices for alcoholic drinks is in between 5pm-7pm.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. It’s a non-smoking restaurant (they do have a designated smoking cubicle though – but it is enclosed.) They do accept reservations but the restaurant does seat 180 people so I would also try for a walk-in.
TGI Fridays Ueno Chuo Dori branch is 4 mins walk from Ueno Station.
TGI FRIDAYS UENO CHUO DORI
台東区上野4-9-6ナガフジビル 本館 2Ｆ
2ND FLOOR, HONKAN (THE MAIN BUILDING SECTION OF THE ) NAGAFUJI BUILDING, 4-9-6 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10:20PM)
LUNCH MENU AVAILABLE FROM 11AM-4PM
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Not technically a restaurant but you can eat while at Karaoke!
SEE HERE FOR STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON TAKING KIDS OUT TO KARAOKE IN JAPAN.
I recommend visiting Pasela Resort, Ueno Koen Mae Branch. If you ask the hotel reception to book – as them to organise an “all flat” type room and then it’s great for babies and toddlers who need to crawl around and play. Like all karaoke boxes in Japan, you are in your own private booth and can order food and drinks to be delivered to your room. See here for the Pasela Resort Karaoke food menu. And click here to see the Pasela Resort Karaoke kid’s menu. They even provide a little booster seat style high chair. You can also bring in your own baby food (other foods not allowed though.) Remember, this is open from 11am so makes for a great rainy day activity. This karaoke branch is 4 mins walk from Ueno Station. 
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : A kid-friendly , cheap and cheerful izakaya in Ueno
I recommend going to casual Japanese restaurant Ganko for dinner in Ueno. It is just near the station and the vibes are very much “old world Japan.” The menu is Japanese food and is extensive enough that everyone can try lots of little dishes. In fact, this is the kind of restaurant where it would be a bit weird to order one meal per person. You order a whole lot of little dishes and then share as you go.
Please note that this restaurant has a 10% service charge on top of the total bill.
This restaurant is 3 mins walk from the station. Take the elevator as it is on the 6th floor (the elevator is just next to the Lawson convenience store.)* When coming from Ueno Station, take the Shinobasu Exit.
Ganko accept reservations but if you’re dining with kids and just want to turn up without a booking, you should be fine right at 5pm.
Ganko accept most major credit cards.
For an adult meal here, I would budget 3000 yen at lunchtime and 7000 yen each at dinner. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
Please note that this is a shoes off restaurant- so make sure you have your good socks on ! I recommend asking for horigotatsu seating- it looks like you’re sitting on the floor but the seating is sunken so you are still in a seated position.
This restaurant welcomes children – they have a kids menu, place to store strollers while you dine and they also have high chairs.
GANKO UENO
台東区上野4-9-6ナガフジビル6F
6TH FLOOR, NAGAFUJI BUILDING, 4-9-6 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM (LAST ORDERS AT 2:30PM) & 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9:30PM)
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-9:30PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Wagyu Beef Yakiniku
Another Ueno family-friendly recommendation is a Wagyu Beef Yakiniku restaurant called Ushihachi. The restaurant has a beautiful view and the booth seating options makes for a lovely family-friendly option – even with small children. As it is yakiniku, every table has it’s own small bbq grill in the middle. Ushihachi has an English menu and accepts most major credit cards. This restaurant is 1 min from Ueno Station, via the Asakusaguchi Exit.
This restaurant has space to store strollers while you dine.
The entire venue is non-smoking.
For adults, I recommend budgeting 2000 yen for a lunch set at lunch time but more like 10,000 yen per adult at dinner ( it is good quality wagyu beef.) See the full Ueno Wagyu Yakiniku Ushihachi menu here.
UENO WAGYU YAKINIKU USHIHACHI
台東区上野7-2-4 FUNDES上野 10F
10TH FLOOR, FUNDES UENO BUILDING, 70204 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-3PM & 4PM-11PM
See here for my tips regarding Japanese dining etiquette.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Hard Rock Cafe
If you need something for breakfast, lunch OR dinner – try the Hard Rock Cafe is inside Ueno Station. The Hard Rock Cafe in Ueno is open from 8am.
In case you’re a die-hard fan they have a jacket of Madonna’s and Pink Floyd’s on display, Justin Timberlake’s jeans, Elvis’s boots and some other treasures too.
If you are gluten free – Hard Rock in Japan can do a burger without the bun and you can also order a steak (after the breakfast menu finishes, of course.)
THE HARDROCK CAFE UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレー上野１F
GROUND FLOOR, ATRE UENO SHOPPING COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO ,TAITO
OPEN 8AM-11PM (THE GIFT SHOP OPENS AT 10AM)
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Denny’s Japan
If you are keen to eat at Denny’s Japan for breakfast, lunch or dinner – the Denny’s Ueno Yanaka branch is 6 mins in a cab from Ueno Station (use google maps if you want to use public transport..)
Denny’s Japan (note, not the same as Denny’s in the US.).
Open from 10am -10pm. Please note that there are “smoking sections” of the restaurant on weekdays.
They have a low common allergens menu. There is a change table in the toilets here. No bookings. Walk-in only. They accept most major credit cards.
See the full Denny’s Japan menu here. Please note that Denny’s in Japan can be difficult if you are vegan (the zero meat burger contains milk and egg) or gluten free.
Family-friendly restaurant in Ueno : Burger King
Burger King has a breakfast menu (breakfast burgers, hash browns and hot dogs) and they are open from 8am. Burger King is just 6 mins walk from Ueno Station. They are, of course, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
