Soramame

At lunchtime, Soramame makes choosing the side dishes part of the pleasure. The five-side-dish lunch comes with rice, miso soup and pickles, alongside 5 side dishes of your choice—an easy option if you want to try a little of several things. One diner chose beef simmered with konjac noodles, tomato nikujaga and fish nanbanzuke, among other dishes.

In that meal, the beef was flavoured with a hint of sansho, while the tomato nikujaga had a little heat; both made good accompaniments to rice. Another diner described having a fried sardine with tartare sauce alongside the small dishes. The meal can take different forms depending on your mood, whether you feel like a fish main or want the side dishes to take centre stage.

One account notes that diners could choose white or brown rice, and another says the portion was adjusted to an amount they could finish. Coffee and tea are also available after the meal, offering a chance to pause over a drink once lunch is done.