[/floatr]FG featured an article a few years ago which discussed the social status of eating yakiniku on your own. Around 12% of the survey respondents, including 30% of the men, said they had done this which is perhaps the inspiration for a new yakiniku restaurant in Ueno called "Hitori" (which I suppose is better translated as "Solo" rather than "Alone" or "Billy No-Mates"). There's room for 25 covers and each customer gets a private cubicle so they don't have to catch anyone's eye while eating. Although you might think this is aimed at socially, if not gastronomically, herbivorous men, the manager claims that women and the elderly have been among the restaurant's customers since it opened a couple of weeks ago. He says yakiniku fans like the fact they can order single servings for around 250 yen a plate which means they can try different cuts at one meal without breaking the bank.Source(Japanese)
