Travelling on a budget? You’ll love the wallet-friendly Buta Daigaku – delicious pork rice bowls can be had here for as little as JPY500. To go the whole hog, shell out JPY1080 for a donburi topped with 1kg of pork slices.
Buta Daigaku - image © Florentyna Leow
Clean, green eating is all well and good, but there are some days when only a heap of meat will satisfy the hunger churning inside you. On those days, head over to Buta Daigaku in Shinbashi for their pork rice bowls.
As with most of our favourite restaurants, Buta Daigaku does one thing – alright, variations on one theme – and they do it well. Think bowls of rice topped with slices of garlic and soy-grilled pork. That’s really all they serve, discounting optional toppings like garlic, green onions, and kimchi. We wouldn’t expect anything less of a restaurant whose name translations to “Pork University.”
Not only are these pork rice bowls delicious, they’re also incredibly wallet-friendly. A small rice bowl sets you back just JPY500, and the super-large bowl clocking in at JPY1080 is reputedly topped with 1kg of pork slices. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a lot of food and you won’t go hungry.
Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is popular with local salarymen in Shimbashi. You’ll see hordes of them scoffing down these hearty bowls at lunch hours. We suggest joining them.
For more Tokyo teishoku and donburi choices, see our Best Teishoku and Donburi in Tokyo page.
English name:
Buta Daigaku
Japanese name:
豚大学
English address:
1F New Shimbashi bldg., 2-16-1 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004
Japanese address:
〒105-0004 東京都港区新橋2-16-1 ニュー新橋ビル1F
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 10:30am-9:45pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11am-3pm, 4:30pm-8:15pm
Closed 2nd Sunday of odd month
Price:
Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking
Reservations:
No Reservations
Nearest Transport:
Train: 2-minute walk from the Hibiya exit of Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote line.
Telephone:
+81-3-5512-3121
Website:
Official website (Japanese)
Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Buta Daigaku on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Buta Daigaku is located in Tokyo's Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa district. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo's Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations:
See all teishoku and donburi restaurants we recommend on our Best Teishoku and Donburi in Tokyo page and get the complete list for all cuisines on our Best Tokyo Restaurants page.
Where Is This Place Located?
See this place on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
