solo dining

A Tabletop Journey: Hakata Ikkousha Hakata DEITOS (August 2026)

Ajitama chashu ramen and bite-sized gyoza at Hakata Ikkousha in Hakata Men Kaido, Hakata Station. A solo ramen tabletop journey with foam-style tonkotsu soup and an unexpected kaedama incident.

2026.08.15

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Mariage Frères Ginza Main Store (August 2026)

A glossy chocolate cake and a strong chai-based tea at the Mariage Frères main store in Ginza, plus a box of Rouge Bourbon — a vanilla-flavoured rooibos — to take home. A tea-time record from Ginza's temple of tea.

2026.08.14

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: NeRoLi herb (July 2026)

Vegan soft serve at NeRoLi herb, a herbal tea specialist in Omotesando. Thursday's flavour is Prime Quality, served on a brown rice cone: a cooling solo treat on a hot day.

2026.07.16

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Kissa Shokubutsu Saikou (July 2026)

A medicinal curry that turned out to be an incredibly delicious keema curry. A solo tabletop journey through Kissa Shokubutsu Saikou, a yakuzen cafe near Gaienmae.

2026.07.16

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Coppie (April 2026)

The reservation I had mentioned booking last time has finally come around. My third tabletop journey through Coppie, the borderless-cuisine spot in Kyoto's Takatsuji, from the hanazansho-topped opener to bamboo-and-sansho noodles and the closing sorbet.

2026.04.11

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Coppie (March 2026)

A second solo dinner at Coppie, a borderless-cuisine sakaba in Takatsuji, Kyoto. From opener and potato salad to spring roll, onion, noodles, and sorbet, this is a tabletop journey through the meal in order.

2026.03.08

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Coppie (January 2026)

A solo dinner at Coppie, a tiny restaurant just south of Hankyu Omiya in Kyoto. From amuse-bouche to kiln-roasted pork and medicinal-herb curry, this is a tabletop journey through eight carefully made dishes.

2026.01.24

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Tokuwo (January 2026)

An omakase dinner plus two extra dishes at Tokuwo, a Japanese restaurant in Kyoto's Kiyamachi district. A gilded plate fit for Hideyoshi, deep-fried ebi-imo taro, and pillowy warabi mochi: a solo tabletop journey complete with the most genuine hospitality.

2026.01.17

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Osoba Horai (December 2025)

A tiny counter-only soba shop down a Gion alley, Osoba Horai. The star is the nine-compartment appetizer treasure box. From sashimi and spring rolls to soba with plenty of condiments and an ice-cream monaka finish, this is a solo tabletop journey in the order each dish arrived.

2025.12.23

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: CANAVON (December 2025)

CANAVON, a vegetable-and-natural-wine bistro near Jingu-Marutamachi in Kyoto. After all the clever dishes, the one that stole the show was the fries. A solo tabletop journey that proved the strength of a classic.

2025.12.19

Solo Gourmet