The BEST episodes of Solitary Gourmet

#1 - Pacific Saury and Sake-Steamed Clams of Iioka, Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2012

Inogashira's sleepiness caused him to make a mistake during his out-of-town meeting with a client. He was already on his way home at a stop-over in Choshi, Chiba when he realized he had taken the wrong product item with him. Since he could not go back to his client until the afternoon of the next day, he decides to stay overnight in the coastal town of Iioka. Before he checks into a guest house, he strolls around, checking out a sweets cafe called "Light House." The next day, the relaxing view of the Pacific Ocean inspires Inogashira to have a seafood feast at a surfers' favorite hang-out called "Tsuchiya"...

#2 - Eating At the Office After Visiting Sunamachi-Ginza Shopping District, Koto Ward

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/2012

On a particularly busy day, Inogashira is in Sunamachi, Koto Ward, meeting up with one client after another. Despite his heavy schedule, he still finds time to help out a lovely client with a sprained ankle in setting up things in her coffee shop. He also takes a break inside a Samurai-themed cafe called "Coffee Dojyo Samurai," where he encounters a fascinatingly somewhat bumbling kind of customer. After his meetings were done, he still has more work to do and decides to buy some take-out food to eat at his office. He goes back to a shopping district which he spotted earlier in the day, the Sunamachi-Ginza Shopping District. There, he drifts from one store to the next, basking in the sights and aroma of their hot and ready-to-eat street food delights...

#3 - Smoke-Cured Mackerel and Sweet Egg Omelet of Jūjō, Kita Ward

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/2012

On a cold day, Inogashira is in Jūjō, looking for a certain shop that sells lanterns. Despite the weather, he orders an icy concoction from a sweets shop called "Darumaya." Then, later on, a sudden hunger strikes Inogashira, abruptly cutting off his meeting with a lantern store owner and goes off in search of a place to eat. As he scours the shops along Jūjō's shopping districts, he finally stops in front of a tavern... The eye-catching red lantern hanging in front of it says "Taya..."

#4 - Mom's Croquette and Buri-daikon of Mitaka City, Tokyo

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/26/2012

It is almost the end of the year and Inogashira is in Mitaka City to visit a client in the area, an owner of a bar. He stops by a tea and sweets area called "Kanmidokoro Takane" for some relaxing tea and taiyaki. Later on, after his meeting, he plans to eat soba at Jindai-ji (Temple) in the nearby city. However, his urgent feelings of hunger tell him he won't be able to make it. So he scours the immediate vicinity for a diner that could appease his appetite. He finds it in a shop called "Itsuki," an eatery that offers home-cooked set meals...

#5 - Zarzuela and Squid Ink Paella of Hatanodai, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/10/2017

Inogashira (Matsushige Yutaka) who was at a shopping district in Hatanodai, entered a traditional cafe called "Attic" to check his email messages. He reads one from a Finnish friend who requested him to look into how a particular old bathhouse in Tokyo was reused for other business purposes. After having thoroughly enjoyed a good old "cream soda", he arrived at the bathhouse. The owner Todo (Kamio Yu) showed him around the place while Goro took pictures to send to his friend in Finland. While reviewing the photos on his digital camera, he chanced upon old pics of the time he spent in Paris. It also reminded him of Sayuki, who once confessed to him before... Then, Goro felt hungry. He saw a shop with the Spanish national flag in front. Its red signboard said "Spanish Diner, Ishii." Wile Goro was ushered in by the wife (Hitomi Sato), he got startled by loud popping sounds from the kitchen. He looked at the menu and was pleased to see that there are offers of half-sized dishes, too. Soon, Goro indulged himself in a one-man fiesta of Spanish cuisine: zarzuela, squid ink paella, albondigas, huevos revueltos, etc...

#6 - Szechuan Cuisine of Keisei Koiwa, Edogawa Ward

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/2012

Arriving early at Koiwa, Inogashira kills some time by strolling through the area's shopping district. He also had a sweet time-out at the confectionery shop, "L'Atelier De Sucre." The town's warmth and sense of community makes him feel at ease so much that he almost forgets his appointment with an owner of a photo studio. Later on, he decides to partake of a spicy dinner at "Zenzen" a restaurant that offers Szechuan home-style cuisine.

#7 - Garlic Chive Ball Rice and Spicy Shrimp of Hatchibori, Chuo Ward, Tokyo

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/29/2018

Inogashira Goro is in Hatchobori to visit a long time client and friend, Igarashi (Otomo Kohei) who manages a music bar. The last time they've been in contact was four years ago when Igarashi made some drunken, unreasonable job request to Goro. This time, he has another "unreasonable" request... After finishing business talks, Goro starts looking for a shop to eat lunch. There were high-end shops within the area but eventually, he found "Chinese Food, Shibuya". It's exactly what he was looking for, an eatery that offers "the common people's meals". Inside, the shopowner (Kadono Takuzo) ushers him in. There were so many Chinese-style dishes to choose from, Goro had a hard time deciding. In the end, he orders Nira-Tama (Garlic Chives Stir Fry with Eggs), Shrimp Toast, Shrimp Chili...

#8 - Spicy Fried Meat and Bean Sprouts of Kiyose City, Tokyo

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/9/2014

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Kiyose, Tokyo for his appointment with an eyewear shop owner (Shiga Kotaro). However, the client is at the moment playing mahjong so Goro goes to the mahjong parlor instead and waits for him to finish. Afterwards, the two proceed with their meeting which ends on a good note, if only the owner had not insisted on making Goro try out some of his flashy sunglasses. Later, Goro aims to satiate his hunger by looking for an eatery near the station. He tries out "Miyuki Shokudo", a simple greasy spoon that offers affordable set meals with hefty amounts. Despite his hunger, Goro is taking a bit of time deciding what to order as he gets lost in the shop's varied menu: written on numerous strips of paper, attached all over one wall...

#9 - Pork Belly-Daikon and Deep Fried Dolphinfish of Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2024

#10 - Shrimp Dumplings and Grilled Onigiri of Ebisu, Shibuya Ward

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/24/2014

When Goro arrives in Ebisu, he stops by a shrine. There, he picks up a lighter dropped by an older man (Ishibashi Renji) and gives it to him. Then, he goes to see a client, a barista (Kobayashi Kentaro) owner of a coffee shop. He is having a hard time understanding this client's strange description of his request. The barista even treats Goro to an impromptu magic trick. Later, Goro again chances upon the man from the shrine. To show his appreciation for Goro's deed earlier, the man invites him to his shop, an izakaya called "Saiki" that also serves delicious seasonal dishes, elegant appetizers, and yummy rice balls...

#11 - Pork and Onion-Garlic Stir-Fry of Hakuraku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/2012

Inogashira visits Kanagawa University in Yokohama City to meet with a client, an eccentric professor and horse enthusiast. He later tries the soft ice cream of the campus' sweets shop, "Chiffon." Afterwards, he checks out the nearby old shopping district in Rokkakubashi wherein he experiences an odd reverie while taking a break inside a quaint coffee shop called "Cafe Bunmei." Strolling through the narrow passageways lined with small stores, he decides to have a meal at "Kitchen Tomo," a shop serving Western-style cuisine...

#12 - Brazilian Cuisine of Oizumi-machi, Oora District, Gunma Prefecture

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/2012

Inogashira travels outside of Tokyo, this time, to Brazil, that is, a Japanese-Brazilian community in Oizumi, Gunma Prefecture. He meets with an old senpai of his who wants to set up an aesthetic salon. He marvels at how different his senpai, who was once conservatively uptight, had become. However, Inogashira is unceremoniously set aside as an unexpected meeting arises for his friend. His friend's teen-aged daughter gets asked to show Inogashira around town, a task which doesn't seem too pleasing for the young girl. Still, she obliges and takes him to a kiosk that sells Brazilian confectioneries. Later, before going back home, he decides to have a late lunch, and since he's in "Brazil"... he tries out a shop called "Restaurant Brazil..."

#13 - Lamb Shoulder Roast and Lamb Chop of Chitose-Funabashi, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2015

Goro has been busy lately. Although he is thankful for the work, he has been feeling a bit tired. He goes to Sakuragaoka via Chitose-Funabashi Station to visit the younger sister of a friend. She is yoga instructor, Saito Rei (Asami Reina), who wants to consult Goro regarding changing the interiors of her own new yoga studio where she is planning to move into soon. She also taught Goro a yoga technique that could help him relax in case he is feeling tired. After the meeting, Goro tries the yoga technique in the middle of the street to see if it works. However, he feels hunger instead of relaxation, and so he goes in search of an eatery. While walking in a residential area, on his way back to the station, he comes upon a small sliver-type of building, which has two entrances. It is a yakiniku shop and bar, called "Maasan", that serves "Jingisukan (Genghis Khan)", or grilling of lamb meat and mutton. Goro enters inside and is greeted by the owner (Kawano Naoki). He takes a seat by the counter, next to a customer, an old man and a regular of the shop named Yoshida (Mickey Curtis). Goro notices that the shop offers varied ways of cooking sheep: grilled lamb chop, sheep rump, offal, neck meat, sheep fat, mutton soup, and even cheese made from sheep's milk. "This shop's sheep level is high," Goro says later on...

#14 - Black Sablefish Nitsuke Set Meal of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/12/2018

The client for this day is the manager of a petshop in Urayasu, Chiba. However, Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) seemed to have arrived there a bit early since there was no one at the shop. He decides to pet a cute dog when Manager Okuda (Fukawa Ryo) arrives. Goro is embarrassed to be seen doing something suspicious... After their meeting, Goro suddenly feels hungry. While looking for some place to eat, he spots a sakanaya (fish diner) with an unusual name "Raten" which he couldn't read at all. Inside, the proprietress (Achiwa Satomi) and the Taisho (Hino Yojin) welcome him. Goro chooses among the delectable-sounding set meals of grilled or simmered fish, that includes soup, pickles, and sashimi...

#15 - Mota Kuto (Mao Zedong) Spareribs and Black Rice of Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/3/2014

Goro goes to Shinjuku to meet with Takiyama (Murata Takehiro), his friend and business associate. Arriving late at their meeting place, a cafe near Gaienmae, the enigmatic Takiyama apparently has a sweet-tooth. He orders fruit-topped pancakes and cola before giving Goro some prospective job requests. After that, while walking around Jingu Stadium, Goro suddenly remembers one hot day when he went to a baseball stadium to cheer for his nephew Futoshi who is a pitcher for his high school baseball team. The memory as well as what he ate at that time prompts Goro to look for a place to eat. Wanting to try something hot, he chooses a restaurant called "Shanway". It offers Chinese home cooking and Teppan dishes. Curious to see what Chinese teppan is all about, he gets inside, to be met with mild-mannered shop owner (Moro Morooka)...

#16 - Jingisukan for One of Musashi-Kosugi, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/14/2019

Goro Inokashira (Yutaka Matsushige) came to Misaki Murai (Maki Mizuno), who had just moved into a tower apartment in Musashikosugi, for a business talk about the interior of the living room. However, Goro was troubled by indecision, and the story did not progress at all. After the negotiations, dinner is over. Goro was hungry and felt like a izakaya, but went into the store to be sucked in by the power word Genghis Khan and the smell drifting from the vents. There is a new way of enjoying Genghis Khan ...

#17 - Tanmen and Pork Sukiyaki of Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/28/2018

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutake) is in Shimonita, Gunma for business. He arrived too early so he strolled around a neighborhood that seems preserved in the Showa era. He decides to eat at a Chinese diner called "Ichiban" that boasts of its delicious tanmen and handmade gyoza, served by an elderly couple and their young apprentice Numata (Tozuka Junki). Next, at the request of city hall, Goro inspects an old brick warehouse that is being planned to be refurbished and reused. After business was done, he tries to head back to Tokyo but falls asleep at the station while waiting for the train. He blames station conductor (Masana Bokuzo) for not waking him up. Instead of staying at the station, he decides to eat for the meantime, and heads for a restaurant he saw earlier in the day. It was a sukiyaki shop known as "Columbia". The proprietress (Yamamoto Yoshie) tells Goro that pork is commonly used in sukiyaki in Shimonita, so Goro orders it. It is Goro's first time to have pork sukiyaki...

#18 - Pork Shioyaki Rice and Mixed Fry of Ohara, Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/28/2015

Inogashira Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) arrives in Ohara's fishing port in Chiba Prefecture. He is enticed to taste the lobsters and turban shells being sold at a shop but alas, he has work to do first. He promises to eat after he attends to business. Riding the local train towards Isumi City, he enjoys a frozen orange. Arriving at the Kuniyoshi Station, he is greeted by a city hall employee, Yamazaki (Tsukaji Muga). Yamazaki takes him to a "trial house" meant to attract outsiders to settle in the area. Goro is tasked to handle the procurement of materials for the interiors. As Goro sets about measuring the interiors, he suddenly remembers the lobsters at the port. Unable to control his hunger, Goro abruptly concludes his task and asks to be driven back to the Ohara station. Knowing his hunger cannot stand the trip back to the port, he tries to find a shop that sells lobsters near the station. Unfortunately, he cannot find one. So instead, he chooses a butcher shop's eatery called "Genji Shokudo" that primarily sells Isumi pork. Goro orders pork meat with unbelievably soft texture...!

#19 - Kue Set Meal and Namerou Cold Chazuke of Ookayama, Meguro Ward, Tokyo

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/2015

"Somehow, I have a good feeling about today..." Goro (Matsushige Yutaka) comes out of Ōokayama Station, feeling optimistic about today's business deal. "If it pushes through, it's going to be a huge deal.". He meets with company director Yashiro Keisuke (Horibe Keisuke) who wants Goro to take care of changing the over-all interiors of their main branch and in their upcoming Roponggi branch. It does seem quite a profitable deal. However, Goro is perturbed by Yashiro's lackadaisical attitude towards the matter... Later on, Goro is in a foul mood. Feeling hungry, he wants to eat delicious food that will placate his anger. He finds what he was looking for in an eatery called "Kue", that serves "fishermen's cuisine": delicious sashimi set meals, simmered fish, seafood donburi and kabayaki dishes, and namerou. Plus, it serves unlimited refills of rice and miso soup! Goro steps inside, and is welcomed by the proprietress (Washio Machiko). Her husband, the Taisho (Katagiri Ryuji) is at the counter about to perform the dismantling of a huge bonito... Goro takes a "front row seat" at the counter in fevered anticipation...

#20 - Pollack Roe Cream Pasta and Pork Cutlet Sandwich of Torigoe, Taito Ward, Tokyo

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/20/2014

Goro is in Taito Ward to meet with a client at his home in Torigoe. However, for some reason, the client (Tochi Hiroki) who is a model hand gun enthusiast decides to meet somewhere else instead. Goro also checks out the area's old shopping districts: Sakata Shopping Street and Okazu Yokocho. He buys a few food items and eventually feels hungry himself. Luckily, he immediately finds a nice shop along the way. Its name is "Mamezo", a drinking/coffee shop establishment run by a husband (Fumiyo Kohinata) and wife (Nishida Naomi) team. Goro seems torn as he looks at the hodgepodge of a menu that offers a variety of Western and Japanese dishes...

#21 - Extra Spicy Curry Rice at a Nomiya (Tavern) in Nezu, Bunkyo Ward

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/14/2012

It's been three years since a friend of Inogashira, a weaving teacher, opened a French goods shop. He visits her and her shop in Nezu, Bunkyo, and was delighted to find her adjusting well. He notices that she is suited to her neighborhood with its warmth and laid-back atmosphere. After he takes his leave, he realizes he needs to go to the bathroom. A bit embarrassed, he had no choice but to use the facility of the nearest shop he could find, a nomiya or a drinking/eating establishment called "Sumire." Since he is feeling hungry, he decides to stay after finding out that not only drinks are being served but real meals as well. But then, an unruly drunk steps inside the shop...

#22 - Roast Pork Sandwich and Salsiccia of Kotake Mukaihara, Nerima Ward

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/4/2013

Goro arrives early in Mukaihara for a business appointment, so he stops by a cafe called "Surprise" to partake of a roll cake with a curious name. Arriving at his meeting with his client and friend, an owner of a charming gallery store of European pieces, he notices that she is in a vexed mood. She tells him her orders will not arrive in time for her opening tomorrow. So Goro decides to stay to help her, and eventually pulls out an all-nighter. With his task accomplished, Goro sets out the next morning, pleased and of course, very hungry. He chances upon a chic bread store that calls itself "Machida no Parlor." Goro orders himself a hearty breakfast of pork sandwich, quiche, Italian sausages, and different kinds of rustic bread...

#23 - Hire Kalbi and Sukiyaki-Style Sirloin of Komiya, Hachioji, Tokyo

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/30/2014

Goro arrives in the quiet suburban area of Komiya, Hachioji to meet with a customer. Being used to meeting with business clients inside their shops in busy commercial centers and shopping districts, he is surprised to see that there was "nothing" there except residential houses. His client, Tanimura Yuya (Nomaguchi Toru), plans to open an Italian restaurant. During their meeting, the client's wife comes to give her husband a bento lunch of grilled beef. Licking his lips at the sight of delicious beef, he resolves to eat yakiniku after work. Thinking it was futile to search for a yakiniku shop in Komiya, Goro is about to head to the city center when a shop's sign catches his eye. It reads, "Yakiniku Daikoen". Smilingly, Goro, gets inside, drawn by the mouth-watering smell of grilled beef. Inside, the proprietress (Enjoji Aya) ushers him to an available table. Goro eagerly chooses from the Yakiniku menu of assorted beef cuts, pork trotters, and other Korean-style dishes...

#24 - Boiled Fish Set of Komagome, Toshima Ward

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/11/2012

Inogashira-san travels to Komagome as requested by an old-time customer of his, a gallery owner. Having finished early with his appointment, he decides to have an early supper. He looks around in an unfamiliar neighborhood and even gets distracted by a group of old men playing shogi. Finally, he stops before "Washoku-tei," a home-cooked style restaurant that serves set meals...

#25 - Garlic Skirt Steak and Samgyeopsal of Inadazutsumi, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2015

Upon exiting from Nambu Inadazutsumi, it was rain. Goro walk while looking at the map. Plump, rather it is quite fat lady rush (Yoriyukikei Akiko) Choi will likely to be rushed in, and arrived at the safe client futon shop Sako fields of (Terada co). Sako field wanting align the trousseau daughter made Europe. Beautiful daughter gave me a cup of tea. When involuntarily say "Is not that a nice young lady," she just a byte's, out of the daughter when you are showing Kore, and the ripples photo of the daughter, was what that your fat-chan. Goro was after the futon shop to flee the terrible Dokkiri. Then belly is hungry Find the store, but meet in the middle or in ripples. With or help the children of fallen, it was downright good daughter. With continued looking for a store, signboard of "charcoal grilled meat Kotobukisono" enters the eye. Entrance to downright exciting, door had been removed. Burden Goro sit in the seat while is recommended to (Nishio Mari). It asks garlic skirt steak and short salt, rice and oolong tea, the kimchi. Burden story of super bathhouse does not stop. While paying no attention to it, to wait for the meat. Eventually, grilled meat is issued one after another, Goro to be fluent. Then add a samgyeopsal and the upper ribs. Although it is a significant amount to be written along with the rice in too much of the effect of. Although me for some reason out to salted fish, which is also delicious. Finally the top until the pear that's regulars brought me, Goro was had left the store with great satisfaction.