The Solitary Gourmet (2012)

Name: The Solitary Gourmet
Genre: Drama
Rating: 8.1
Cast: Yutaka Matsushige, Tomoki Uekusa, Masayuki Kusumi

Drama

Centered around typical Japanese food, a solitary salesman travelling through the country for business purposes, eats at its various establishments and experiences the various delicacies of Japanese cuisine.

IMDb rating: 8.1 (643 votes)
Episode average: 7.6 -0.5 vs IMDb
Seasons: 10
Language: JA
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 10 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (2012)

7.53 avg 12 episodes 7.9 → 7.5 30 min avg

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Yakitori and fried rice in Monzen-nakacho, Koto	7.9	31
2	Boiled fish set menu in Komagome, Toshima	7.6	29
3	Brothless dandan noodles in Ikebukuro, Toshima	7.5	27
4	Shizuoka oden in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture"	7.5	23
5	Oyakodon and yaki udon in Eifuku, Suginami	7.5	25
6	Garlic pork loin in Saginomiya, Nakano	7.3	25
7	Kissaten naporitan in Kichijoji, Musashino	7.2	23
8	Yakiniku at Hatchonawate Station in Kawasaki, Kanagawa	7.5	24
9	Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki in Shimokitazawa, Setagaya	7.6	24
10	Pork shogayaki in Nagasaki, Toshima	7.6	24
11	Extra-spicy curry rice in Nezu, Bunkyo	7.7	24
12	Soki soba and agu pork shioyaki in Nakameguro	7.5	25

Season 2 (2012)

7.92 avg 12 episodes 7.7 → 7.9 47 min avg

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Fried meat with green onions at Shin-Maruko Station	7.7	30
2	Tempura donburi in Nihonbashi	8.3	17
3	Wasabi kalbi with tamago kake gohan at Numabukuro Station	8.1	18
4	Brazilian cuisine in Oizumi, Gunma	7.9	17
5	Fried pork with onion and garlic at Hakuraku Station, Yokohama	7.6	16
6	Extra-spicy Sichuan cuisine at Keisei Koiwa Station, Edogawa	8.1	17
7	Sanma namero and hamaguri sakamushi in Iioka, Chiba	7.9	17
8	Chankonabe for one in Ryogoku, Sumida	8.0	17
9	Office meal from Sunamachi Ginza, Koto	7.7	17
10	Smoked mackerel and sweet tamagoyaki in Kita	7.9	16
11	Thai curry and no-soup chicken noodles in Adachi	7.9	16
12	Mom's korokke and buri-daikon in Mitaka	7.9	16

Season 3 (2013)

7.83 avg 12 episodes 8.0 → 7.9 47 min avg

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Guineafowl and unadon in Akabane, Kita	8.0	24
2	Offal and ginger, 'patan' yakisoba in Hinodecho, Yokohama	7.7	18
3	Wasabi-don in Kawazu, Shizuoka	8.1	19
4	Fried sablefish at Edogawabashi Station	7.7	17
5	Lamb and laghman in Nakano	7.4	17
6	Horumonyaki in Itabashi	7.9	17
7	Mushroom garlic oyster gratin at Komaba-todaimae Station	8.0	17
8	Avocado-chicken menchi-katsu and chicken rice pot in Uguisudani, Taito	7.9	17
9	Roast pork sandwich and sausage at Kotake-mukaihara Station	8.0	17
10	Flaming shabu-shabu and mugitoro in Nishiogu, Arakawa	7.9	16
11	Roadside beef stew and kamameshi in Tokamachi"	7.5	16
12	Sardine yukhoe and nigiri sushi in Oi, Kanagawa	7.9	16

Season 4 (2014)

7.72 avg 12 episodes 7.6 → 8.0 47 min avg

Big finale

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Spicy fried meat and beans in Kiyose	7.6	19
2	Korean tempura and samgye-tang ramen in Ginza	7.5	15
3	Steak don in Hakone, Kanagawa	7.9	15
4	Hire galbi and sukiyaki-style sirloin in Hachioji	7.7	15
5	Anchovy tempura and takomeshi in Himakajima	7.8	15
6	Cheese kulcha and lamb mint curry in Kiba, Koto	7.5	15
7	Alaska pollock cream pasta and katsu sandwich in Torigoe, Taito	7.8	16
8	Oxtail soup and açaí bowl in Asagaya, Suginami	7.7	15
9	Mota Kuto (Mao Zedong) spareribs and black rice in Jingumae, Shibuya	7.8	15
10	Ham and eggs set meal and cutlet plate in Edagawa, Koto	7.8	15
11	Vietnamese shrimp salad roll and chicken glutinous rice in Kamata, Ota	7.5	15
12	Shrimp dumplings and grilled rice balls in Ebisu, Shibuya	8.0	15

Season 5 (2015)

7.84 avg 12 episodes 7.6 → 7.9 40 min avg

Season 5 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Garlic skirt steak and samgyeopsal in Inadazutsumi, Kawasaki	7.6	18
2	Popeye bacon and saury sashimi in Koto	7.7	14
3	Lamb hamburger and vegetable couscous in Nishiogikubo, Suginami	7.8	14
4	Stir-deep-fried pork red yeast rice in Yilan County	8.1	13
5	Chicken rice and dried noodles in Taipei	8.0	15
6	Cold chazuke with Namero and Kue set meal in Ookayama, Meguro	8.5	16
7	Lamb shoulder loin and lamb chops in Funabashi, Setagaya"	7.7	14
8	Ema datshi and pakshapa in Yoyogi-Uehara, Shibuya	7.6	14
9	Grilled pork rice and mixed fried in Ohara, Isumi	7.6	13
10	Pure liver bowl in Kameido, Koto	7.7	14
11	Oyster meuniere and omurice with American sauce in Sengendai, Koshigaya	7.9	14
12	Sukiyaki in Nishisugamo, Toshima	7.9	15

Season 6 (2017)

7.46 avg 12 episodes 7.9 → 7.4 40 min avg

Season 6 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Okonomiyaki set meal and plain kushikatsu in Bishoen, Osaka	7.9	19
2	Pork shogayaki set meal in Yodobashi, Shinjuku	7.5	16
3	Chicken and vegetable medicinal soup curry in Mita, Meguro	7.6	16
4	Special Salted Beef Tongue and Kainomi of Higashi-Yamatoshi, Tokyo	7.5	17
5	Conveyor Belt Sushi of Sangenjaya, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo	7.3	16
6	Stir Fry Pork with Pickled Takana Mustard Greens and Beef Soup Soba of Takadanobaba, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo	7.2	15
7	Sara Udon and Spring Rolls of Dogenzaka, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo	7.4	16
8	Stir Fry Lamb with Leeks and Spareribs of Okachimachi, Taito Ward, Tokyo	7.1	15
9	Zarzuela and Squid Ink Paella of Hatanodai, Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo	7.4	15
10	Aji Fry Set Meal of Kanaya, Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture	7.8	16
11	Chilled Dandan Noodles and Twice Cooked Pork of Myogadani, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo	7.4	15
12	Deep Fried Corn and Beef Rice - Gotanda, Shinagawa Ward Tokyo	7.4	15

Season 7 (2018)

7.48 avg 12 episodes 7.5 → 7.5

Season 7 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Shoulder Rosukatsu Set Meal of Honcho, Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture	7.5	14
2	One-Person Buffet of Kondo, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo	7.4	14
3	Queso Fundido and Pipian Verde of Minami-Azabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo	7.5	14
4	Tanmen and Pork Sukiyaki of Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture	7.5	16
5	Green and Red Mapo Tofu of Mikawashima, Arakawa Ward, Tokyo	7.3	15
6	Black Sablefish Nitsuke Set Meal of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture	7.7	13
7	Natto Pizza and Spicy Pasta of Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida Ward, Tokyo	7.6	14
8	Chicken Nanban and Jidori Momokushi of Hyakken Yokocho, Nakano Ward, Tokyo	7.5	13
9	Natto Chigae and Self Bibimbap of Cheongju City, South Korea	7.5	14
10	Bone-In Pork Ribs Galbi and a Cluster of Side Dishes of Seoul, South Korea	7.4	14
11	Garlic Soup and Salmon Butter of Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture	7.4	15
12	Garlic Chive Ball Rice and Spicy Shrimp of Hatchibori, Chuo Ward, Tokyo	7.5	14

Season 8 (2019)

7.43 avg 12 episodes 7.3 → 7.6

Season 8 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Chinese Kamameshi and Shrimp Wonton Noodles of Yokohama Chinatown, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.3	14
2	Tongue Steak and Meat Patra of Takaido, Suginami Ward, Tokyo	7.3	14
3	Cabbage Rolls Set Meal at a Ginza Bar in Hibiya, Chuo Ward, Tokyo	7.7	13
4	Meat Soup Udon of Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture, and Castella Pancakes of Hibarigaoka, Nishitokyo	7.5	14
5	One person roaster yakiniku in Fujioka city, Gunma prefecture	7.3	13
6	Roast Pork Salad and Jim Jum of Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo	7.4	13
7	German Smoked Mackerel and Spare Ribs of Yuigahama, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.4	14
8	Okaku and Horumon Soba of Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture	7.4	14
9	South Indian Set Meal and Garlic Cheese Dosa of Ochanomizu, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo	7.5	14
10	Amberjack Teriyaki and Cream Croquettes of Gotokuji, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo	7.5	13
11	Jingisukan for One of Musashi-Kosugi, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.3	13
12	Katsudon and Hiyashi Mapo Noodles of Minowa, Taito Ward, Tokyo	7.6	13

Season 9 (2021)

7.40 avg 12 episodes 7.5 → 7.6

Season 9 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Hirekatsu Gozen and Seafood Cream Croquette in Miyamaedaira, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.5	14
2	Braised Kinmedai and Gogo's Original Parfait of Ninomiya, Naka-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.3	14
3	Moussaka and Dolmades in Higashi-Azabu, Minato, Tokyo	7.3	13
4	Eel Kabayaki Fried Rice with Spicy Oyster and Leeks of Shinmachi, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo	7.3	13
5	Beef and Pork Shabu-shabu from Usami, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture	7.2	13
6	Stir-fried meat and eggplant set meal in Minaminagasaki, Toshima-ku, Tokyo	7.4	13
7	Guizhou Home-style Twice-cooked Meat and Natto Hot Pot in Shinkoiwa, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo	7.5	12
8	Rice balls and grilled sweetfish in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture	7.6	12
9	Drive-In Yakiniku Set Meal of Mogimachi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture	7.5	12
10	Tripe Stew and Ham-Katsu of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture	7.4	12
11	Salt Boiled Mutton and Lamb Zhajiangmian of Sugamo, Toshima Ward, Tokyo	7.2	12
12	Cheese Hamburger Steak and Beef Tenderloin Shogayaki of Isezaki-Chojamachi, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.6	13

Season 10 (2022)

7.72 avg 12 episodes 7.4 → 8.2

Big finale

Season 10 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Stir-fried Beef Stamina and Negitama of Hashimoto, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.4	12
2	Rendang and Nasi Goreng in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo	7.8	11
3	Red sea bream sautéed with aurora sauce and tuna yukhoe donburi from Sakuragicho, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture	7.7	11
4	Turban Shells and Mushroom Provence-Style and Beef Tongue Stew Omurice of Oizumi Gakuen, Nerima Ward, Tokyo	7.7	11
5	Stir-fried green onion liver and chicken skin gyoza from Washinodani, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture	7.5	11
6	Ton-chan and Kei-chan in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture	7.9	10
7	Fuu-chan Puru Tomato Curry Tsukesoba in Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo	7.6	11
8	Crab Mask Oden and Seafood Tororo Don in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture	8.1	12
9	Sweet and sour pork and chamcha noodles in Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo	7.4	11
10	Pork intestine powder and cloud noodles in Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa	7.8	12
11	Salted Wasabi Pork Loin Saute in Asahi City, Chiba	7.6	11
12	Meatloaf at an Italian restaurant in Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo	8.2	13