Known in English as Midnight Diner (although I don’t believe the manga has been published in English, or maybe it has but it’s out of print, I wasn’t able to find any precise info), this is the manga that inspired the Netflix show Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories.
The titular diner is open from midnight to 7 am, and even though it has a very modest menu, the chef will prepare anything you want as long as he has the ingredients. The diner is located in an area with a busy nightlife, with many hostess bars, theaters, etc. The clientele is colorful and varied, from comedians, porn actors, yakuza and strippers to cab drivers, salary men, retirees and all kinds of people, really.
Each volume of this manga is a collection of stories, built around a dish and a particular customer. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, others are heartwarming, but all of them feel very real and human. People come together around food, something that we can all relate to, regardless of our cultural background.
You can read my full review here.
Thanks so much for this review. That show is going straight to my watchlist. Looks awesome!
I hope you enjoy it, it’s such a delightful show.