01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked into a side street off Shinjuku's bustling west exit, Hanba Uokin is a straightforward choice for anyone looking to eat their fill of fresh fish. Midday diners are greeted with a lineup of set meals, each rounded out with rotating daily side dishes, pickles, and miso soup. A longstanding lunchtime favorite is the yellowtail and whitebait bowl, served alongside the kitchen's signature scallop cream croquette. The tender whitebait and rich, oily yellowtail make a satisfying pair, accented by the crisp, molten croquette fresh from the fryer.
For grilled fish, the thick-cut salt-grilled coho salmon offers a generous cut prepared with care, alongside savory salt-grilled mackerel. A popular lunch option allows guests to upgrade the standard miso soup to tonjiru pork soup for a modest fee. Brewed with a flavorful dashi base and packed into a generous bowl with tender pork and root vegetables, this soup is also available as a standalone tonjiru set that makes for a deeply satisfying meal on its own.
In the evening, the house sashimi platter—sourced fresh from Toyosu Market—is the centerpiece of the table. Available starting from two servings, it is accompanied by daily specials such as sushi, simmered fish, and grilled collars. The drinks menu includes sakes such as Oze no Yukidoke, along with a wide range of sours and highballs designed to partner comfortably with seafood.
Seating spans first-floor counter spots up to table arrangements on the second and third floors, making the restaurant equally practical for solo diners having a fast meal or small groups gathering over evening drinks.
