Japanese restaurant chain’s solo-diner boxes look depressing, but are actually pretty awesome

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Casey Baseel

Single-person dining capsules turn meal time into me time with some nice amenities.

In Japan, casual western-style restaurants, like Denny’s, for example, are called “family restaurants.” Despite the name, though, some of family restaurants’ most frequent customers are people who dine alone.

Family restaurants have large portions, low prices, and stay open until well-past midnight, if not 24 hours. That makes them popular with students and young adults, many of whom don’t have the time, energy, or skills to cook for themselves, especially if they’re starving after a long day of school or work. As a matter of fact, family restaurant chain Gusto gets so many solo customers that they’ve started installing single-person semi-private dining boxes in their restaurants.

お昼に入ったガスト 満喫みたいな一人用席あるとかすごいな🙄🙄しかもコンセントまで◎ https://t.co/JRmOqVY6w5

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†くえむねんど† (@ysJan) December 04, 2018

ノマド作業いろいろな所に行ったけど、ガストを超える環境を知りたい •完全1人席 •電源wifi完備 •時間制限無 •電話会議OK(声出して良い) 「完全1人席」+「電源」だけでSSSクラスなのですが、ガスト以外にそんな店あれば… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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アプリもウェブもPython | 村上昴平 (@klono_ryuta) May 05, 2019

At first glance, this might look like another example of modern Japan’s painful shyness, since the dining capsules basically make it so that you can eat your meal without the risk of even accidentally making eye contact with another human being. But it turns out there’s actually a few entirely different reasons why some customers love these single-person booths.

ガストの1人用ボックス席まじ捗る。電源も自由に使えるし、ドリンクバーあるし、小腹が減ったらサイドメニュー頼めるし。確実にヘビロテする。 https://t.co/hYVsFolH2U

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藤田雄一郎@Funds (@YYYFFF) May 19, 2019

As mentioned above, family restaurants are particularly popular with students and young workers, and many of them use them as study lounges or offices for mobile, online jobs. It’s sort of like working on a project at Starbucks, except that these studious/creative types have access to a full food menu, as well as all sorts of beverage options, including soda and beer, that they wouldn’t in a coffeehouse. Speaking of drinks, family restaurants are some of the only eateries in Japan that offer unlimited refills for their entire soft drink menu, which makes them a budget-friendly option if you’re going to be staying long enough to feel thirsty more than once.

１人ガスト、ハッピーアワー200円ビール間に合った🍺 １人ボックス席あるから、色々便利、充電用のコンセントも使えるし、無料Wi-Fiもある。 https://t.co/1DqelI1vs6

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猫夜叉🎪次回11月黄金暗号6 (@nekoyamaneo) November 02, 2018

Gusto also has free Wi-Fi, and its single-person dining boxes have multiple power outlets to keep your electrical devices topped up.

幡ヶ谷のガストは作業スペースとして快適すぎる。 ・一人席がある ・電源がある ・フリーWifiある ・ドリンクバーもある ファミレス大好き人間だけど、ここまで快適に作業できる場所はなかなかないぞ...革命的だ。営業時間も7時から2… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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たっけ💐🤗🔥 (@takeee814) March 03, 2019

And of course, the high walls help keep customers from feeling self-conscious about extended lingering, while also providing some extra privacy for anyone typing out emails or working on documents they’d rather not have nosy strangers sneaking a peek at.

ガストの2人がけボックス席が、1人用ボックス席になってて、時代だなぁって思った。私もおひとりさまだから良いんだけど。 https://t.co/Eg8t1pxxvu

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peach.tarte (@TartePeach) October 29, 2018

Honestly, between the free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and the fact that family restaurant menus have tons of pictures that make it easy to order by pointing, Gusto’s single-person box seats are also a great option for anyone traveling across Japan who wants to multi-task fueling up their body and phone.

Currently, the solo seats can be found at Gusto’s Tokyo branches in Akasaka Mitsuke, Azabujuban, Hatagaya, Higashi Ikebukuro, Kameari Station North Exit, Kichijoji, Medai-mae, Mito Keio Daigaku-mae, and Shinbashi.

Related: Gusto location list
Sources: Corobuzz, Jin, Tanemaki
Featured image: Twitter/@YYYFFF
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