Guenpin Fugu Ueno

Why We Recommend This

• Pufferfish is a high-end white-flesh fish that has been beloved in Japan since ancient times. As you chew, the rich, sweet umami spreads throughout your mouth. Though the liver and ovaries are poisonous, pufferfish served in restaurants in Japan are meticulously prepared by chefs who have gotten special certifications, so you can enjoy this delectable fish without any second thoughts!
• The pufferfish served at Guenpin is a variety called “Torafugu,” which is also known as the king of pufferfish. The restaurant buys Torafugu that has been carefully raised for 1 to 1.5 years in large quantities in order to offer it to customers at a stable price. Each branch is equipped with special refrigerators to maintain the freshness for long periods of time, so incredible, high-quality pufferfish can be enjoyed whenever.
• There are many ways to enjoy pufferfish, such as “tecchiri” (pufferfish hot pot), “tessa” (pufferfish sashimi), fried, and more. If you reserve a course menu, you can try multiple variations at once. We recommend dipping the pufferfish into “ponzu” (soy sauce with citrus juice) for a refreshing flavor!
• Those who like sake should certainly try the fragrant and umami-filled “hireshu,” which is sake with grilled pufferfish fin in it. Guenpin has a patent for its particular hireshu, so you can enjoy a unique flavor only found here.
• The restaurant is located a 3-minute walk from Okachimachi Station, a 1 minute walk from Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, and a 1 minute walk from Ueno-Okachimachi Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line. Please check them out if you’re ever in the Ueno area.