Ahinama Cuban Sandwich Deli in Ueno
One of the best parts about living in Tokyo (as opposed to the rest of Japan) is that you can actually get good foreign food. While other Japanese cities may be home to one or two interesting international options, much of Japan is limited to chain Italian restaurants or lousy burgers when it comes to the cuisine of other countries.
But not Tokyo. Tokyo has good Italian, French, New York bodega sandwiches, Thai, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Nepalese, vegan cuisine, and a lot more. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here. Part of that is because it’s a huge city with a lot of immigrants, and part of it is because Tokyo is just awesome. So when we went looking for a place to eat for lunch near Ueno Park on Eriko’s birthday, we found a spot serving a food you might not expect in Japan: Cuban sandwiches.
Ahinama Cuban sandwich shop near Ueno Park
Ahinama Cuban Sandwich Deli is located in Tokyo’s Ueno neighborhood. Ueno Station is right next to Ueno Park, home to a zoo and a whole bunch of museums. Because of the high tourist traffic, the area around Ueno Station is full of chain restaurants and shops. But if you walk for just a few minutes, on a relatively quiet side street, you’ll find this small sandwich shop run by a Cuban man who’s lived in Japan for 19 years.
“Small” is an understatement. There are only a few counter seats along with a couple outside tables, so if they’re full, you won’t have anywhere to sit, and before you order, you’re likely waiting outside. Just like at our #1 sandwich shop of all time Tonton Garby, this is a one-man operation: he makes the sandwiches, the drinks, the chicharrones, and everything else, and chats with you if he’s not too busy. This makes for a slow experience, but a fun one if the proprietor isn’t overwhelmed with the lunch rush.
Menu & drinks at Ahinama
While the traditional Cuban sandwich is a fairly well-known mix of pulled pork and ham with cheese, pickle, and mustard, Ahinama offers far more in terms of choices. There’s the Media Noche (pulled beef) the Pollo Loco (pulled chicken), and the Camarones al Ron (shrimp). You can even get guava paste on a sandwich, and there’s also a lunch deal for a mixed plate that includes all types of meat along with beans and rice.
Just look at the price on that lunch deal. Superb! How does this place stay in business with prices like that? Eriko ordered the lunch deal with a half Cubano with chicharrones (they also offer fries or nachos) and tea, and I went with a full-size make-your-own sandwich and a Cuban coffee.
The wait for the sandwiches is long because one guy is doing everything, but that’s a mark of quality: he carefully cuts the bread, adds the ingredients, and grills both sides. The chicharrones are fried fresh, leaving them light and crispy. And while the shop is small, there were counter seats open while we were there, and you can also chill outside during the wait, which despite what the sign says will probably be at least ten minutes.
I’ve mentioned before how everywhere you go in Japan, you have to listen to smooth jazz covers of popular songs. Well, the same was true here, except the CD on rotation featured smooth jazz covers of absolute bangers. The playlist included:
A soundtrack like that can make any wait tolerable.
Sandwiches at Ahinama Cuban Deli
The bread is rather thin at Ahinama, but don’t let that fool you: the sandwiches are filling and packed with meat. Eriko’s Cubano had everything in perfect proportion, one of the best I’ve ever had, with the bread toasty but not mouth-destroyingly hard. The chicharrones weren’t oily or soggy; they were just right.
My sandwich was a mix of pulled beef and pulled pork with mustard (I don’t like pickles or mayo, and I generally avoid cheese, especially in Japan where it can do a number on my tummy). I cannot stress to you enough just how friggin’ good this thing was. I don’t know what he’s doing with that beef, but it is working. Absolutely delicious. I wanted to do backflips. We thanked him profusely and left extremely satisfied.
Verdict: is Ahinama worth a visit?
Ahinama is, without a doubt, one of the best finds in Tokyo. Considering the quality of the sandwiches, he could charge twice as much and make you wait twice as long, and I’d still want to come back. We want one near our house. Next time we are near Ueno, we will definitely be visiting again. The proprietor is friendly and makes delicious sandwiches that show off a cuisine that isn’t commonly found in Japan.
If you’re a local who works nearby, you should eat lunch here every single day. If you’re a tourist, yes, you probably want Japanese food, and there’s a lot of restaurants in Ueno, but I’d still say you should try it because a good sandwich is hard to beat, and a great sandwich was in my tummy after visiting this place. One million stars.
Where to find Ahinama Cuban Sandwiches in Tokyo
Address: 新井ビル 1f, 3 Chome-23-5 Higashiueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0015
Hours: M 11:30am-5pm, T closed, W-F 11:30am-5pm, Sat 12pm-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Phone: +81 03-6284-4547
Website: ahinama.tokyo/
Ahinama is walking distance from Ueno Station, a big area where you’ll find Ueno Park, home to the Ueno Zoo, Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature & Science, and a whole lot more. When the weather is nice, Ueno Park is a great addition to your Tokyo itinerary, and Ahinama is a great place to stop for lunch!
