Where to Eat Solo in Tokyo | 3 Options That Are Not Ramen

Japan is a country that welcomes solo activities. So much so that there’s a term for it–ohitorisama (おひとりさま)–meaning ‘lone customer’. Restaurants, cafes, bars, and beyond, cater to parties of one, and we’re here to show you three of the best if you find yourself so inclined. Shizuka–our hungry host–begins her solitary gourmet experience in Ebisu, a stylish yet laidback neighborhood just south of Shibuya. She wanders into her first solo-stop of the day–Yakiniku Like–a yakiniku chain restaurant specifically designed for unaccompanied diners. She sits down in her private booth, marvels at the mini grill, then peruses the menu. Settling on a three-beef set, Shizuka puts through her order and before she knows it, the order’s up and ready to be picked up from the counter. The private booths at this yakiniku dining spot are equipped with everything you need to enjoy a solitary meal! Next on the one-person dining train is Shabu Shabu Retasu–a hot pot restaurant that serves one-person portions top hungry diners. Shizuka settles on an all-you-can-eat aged pork set, sesame noodles, and seasonal vegetables before heading over to the condiment area to load up her solo-sauce station. The final stop on this ohitorisama journey takes our cheerful host to Shimokitazawa, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Tokyo (but don’t tell the others that). Blikje Button is a charming and eclectic cafe with single-person window nooks that double as art stations. Shizuka goes with the recommended meal–omurice–and a creme brulee dessert. As she’s waiting for her meal, she taps into her creative side and doodles on a napkin using art supplies scattered throughout the cafe. FEATURED FOODS Wagyu Rib Beef Tongue Skirt Steak Set Aged Pork and Seasonal Vegetable Course Pork Shabu Shabu Lettuce and Ponzu Sauce Sesame Sauce Noodles Omurice Creme Brulee LOCATION Yakiniku Like Ebisu Shabu. Shabu Let us Naka-meguro Blikje Button Shimokitazawa TIMELINE 00:00 Intro 00:35 Yakiniku Like, Ebisu 01:47 Wagyu Rib, Beef Tongue, and Skirt Steak Set 02:39 Wagyu Rib 02:58 Beef Tongue 03:42 Shabu Shabu Retasu, Ebisu 04:41 Aged Pork and Seasonal Vegetable Course 05:33 Pork Shabu Shabu 06:15 Lettuce and Ponzu Sauce 06:58 Sesame Sauce Noodles 07:38 Blikje Button, Shimokitazawa 10:49 Omurice 11:12 Creme Brulee 12:08 Outro ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT BYFOOD: ByFood is Japan’s one-stop platform for foodie travelers. Here, visitors can book food experiences (food tours, cooking classes, dining experiences, tastings), place restaurant reservations without Japanese, and learn about Japanese food culture and places to eat in different regions of Japan. ByFood strives to make Japanese food culture accessible to anyone, removing the language barrier and accommodating dietary needs. And if your perfect food experience isn’t available on our platform, the VIP Gourmet Concierge will create one that is custom-made for you. Best of all, for every experience that’s booked on byFood, 10 school meals will be donated to children in need through the Food for Happiness program. Visit us at: Subscribe: Japan by Food on Facebook: Japan by Food on Instagram: Twitter: