Teishoku is a set meal which can be a main dish, fish, meat, or vegetables, rice, miso soup, and pickles. The prices are very reasonable and the setting is casual.

On a Sunday night Darumaya was busy with solo male diners. Lots of older men, probably single, coming in to get nourished. They are in and out. This could be their second home the way they rush through a meal.

The vegetable stir fry, yasai itame, has a bit of pork and satiated the craving for something healthful. Karaage, fried chicken, also good and the handmade gyōza potstickers 🥟 could have been a meal on its own as they were so big.

All of this for only ¥2,000 ($13.50), and no tipping in Japan!

Look for these teishoku or shokudo restaurants in Japan. If you’re not a big rice eater ask for gohan sukuname and the staff will bring a smaller portion. You can always ask for more rice. You can see the difference between the regular rice with the chicken.