User reviews

I stumbled on this series by accident as a recommendation by Netflix for me to watch it and I don't know why but I had a feeling Midnight Diner will be amazing and it turned out to be a an absolute gem. My only complaint is that wasn't long enough so I am certainly hoping for a 2nd season!

The sound track is perfect, really sets the mood and the dialogue is smooth and even though I had to use subtitles Midnight Diner made me appreciate the little things in life. The conversations you have with a few close friends, your memorable encounters with total strangers who impact your life immensely. This series has all of that.

There is plenty of drama too! But the sort of humorous drama, the type that create great stories to tell in the future.

As someone who doesn't speak or understand any Japanese, has never been to Japan and knows virtually nothing about the culture, this series charmed the hell out of me. It's as beautifully shot as it is scored, and it really does have a feeling of craftsmanship about it. The premise - an anthology of human stories, linked together by a graveyard shift diner hidden away in the midst of Shinjuku that caters to both a cast of regulars and one-off visitors - and the construction of each individual tale is charming without falling too far into twee familiarity, and each story is perfectly realised.

Kaoru Kobayashi towers as the quietly sympathetic Master, who will cook any dish for anyone, so long as they bring him the ingredients... which gives the show its neat device of theming each episode around a particular recipe. Whether as a symbol of or conduit for togetherness, comfort, romantic or familial relationships, or a Proust-like trigger for bittersweet memories that can never be entirely recaptured, food provides a delicately illustrated metaphor throughout the series.

The issues that the Master's customers face are frequently weighty and almost always universal, but the tone is light enough to take it all in stride and, if the characters feel like archetypes, it's because they're meant to be drawn broadly. Part of the show's whole concept is, just like the remembered taste of a childhood delicacy, to evoke a sense of otherworldly nostalgia - to create something unreal in the liminal space of midnight, in the idea of an oasis untouched by the city; the otherness that strips away illusion - and that evokes feelings rather than the realism of minutiae.

Perhaps the show is at its least successful when it dips into magic realism, but at its core this is a collection of great stories, told well and seasoned with enough humour and enough pathos to satisfy any appetite.

The Master who runs the fabulous 12-seat Midnight Diner has a zen-like all-knowing calm - and almost magically can conjure up dozens of different dishes in his tiny kitchen.

Every food serving takes us into wonderful human stories about our foibles, mistakes, regrets and second chances.

As we get to know the diner's regulars, we become regulars too - glorying in the calm oasis this eatery and its people offer us.

The bite-sized stories run less than 30 minutes and it's easy to binge and get through the series all too quickly. We've now devoured all 50 episodes but are still hungry for a new season of these wonderful tales.

Here's hoping Netflix green lights a sixth season - it's the perfect recipe for our disrupted world.

Each episode have its own story which is beautiful and heartwarming. I wish to know more about the master, how he open the diner at the beginning, his own background story, why is he still single (he must have his own family tho).. The master looks so mature, he knows everything.. Wish I have someone like him to talk to..

I dont even skip the intro, the soundtrack and masters voice is sooooooo soothing... Makes me feel relief...

Haven't found a show this addicting in a long time. It is entirely engaging in a way I cannot describe.

This Japanese series is beautiful and interesting, simple and wonderful, music was indescribable, Certainly l recommend it

Imperfect characters acting in virtuous ways. Portrayed by actors that come across as genuine and real. Wonderful music, reminds me of traditional American folk. Authentic Japanese values and culture presented, according to my Japanese couch buddy.

I enjoyed every episode! Wish there were more. Loved it!

I accidentally came across this series while browsing in Netflix and... am addicted. Is it its simplicity, the amazing food, the backstories, the characters? I don't know as its all there and its really funny. After watching a few episodes I always feel so relaxed. It is calming and still luring. Love it and start now season 2 of the second TV series (there seem to be two?!) and hope I wont finish too early.. LOVE IT

This show grows on you immediately from the first episode. The stories of the diner's patrons are grounded in such humble reality that it's not difficult to imagine why this was a hit overseas. I quiver in anticipation should this wonderful series be renewed for a second season (do it Netflix! Please!). Watching it is as satisfying as one of Master's dishes. The direction, the cast, the sets leave absolutely nothing to be desired. It easily ranks among my favorite TV series and I still have two episodes to go - but I'm savoring them.

An unusual izakaya that opens from midnight to 7 am, and serves atypical foods to an eclectic group of diners ... yes, please!

But the food is not the main point of this series. Rather, it is the customers who come to share their angst and worries to each other or to the Master (chef/owner) that makes it interesting.

Many of these characters are sympathetic, despite their flaws or perhaps because of them. Their situations may not be common, but they are believable and certainly riveting. Even the mysterious Master himself is a curious character.

Unfortunately, the short format gives only a cursory treatment to each customer. I only wish that the episodes were longer than 30-minutes each, to give a bit more time for exploring more fully each character and their situations.

In any case, this is an enjoyable series good for binging.

A very engaging TV show that I've simply come to really love, depicting both the frailty and the resilience of the human condition. Beautifully written and scripted, I only wish I knew fluent Japanese instead of relying on the closed-caption translations. One particular episode, Season 2 Episode 4, "Fried Chicken Wings", revolved around the life of Chizuru Morino, an attractive model who realizes her youthful looks are behind her and she must come to terms with the end of her modeling career. Simply cannot find the name of the actress who portrayed Chizuru in this episode. Funny, her names does not appear in any list of cast members of this episode, and you would think they would at least list the name of the episode's central character! Does anyone out there know her name?

I've live in Japan 50 years and in the Shinjuku area 10 - 6 of them in the area just a few blocks of the "location" of this shokudou. How wonderful to something this close to what I've known (and been to many times). This series will introduce you to a side of the Japanese that is otherwise very hard to find, unless you speak good Japanese. For others try Okuribito, Shoushiki, and of course Tampopo. You might be even a little envious that you don't live here.

Not much to say, other than that this is a beautiful little show that will make you laugh for all the right reasons.

I actually thought it was some kind of foodie reality show, so I'm happy to have given it a try just in case.

This series is my favorite ever. It's a feel-good series like the movie Amelie. I have cried at almost each episode. It's such a gem. hope there will be a third season

It's an humble allegory for people serching the right path. Sometimes the customers are lost in personal problems just to find guidance in simple words. The Master can make whatever customers request, as long as they have the ingredients for it on their hearts. Delicious little show both ways, belive me, I've done some of the dishes too.

I don't remember when i watched a serie as warm as this one, super addicting very sincere

Straight off the bat to let you know who is reviewing... i love JCVD movies. Shallow and profound are the flix i like. I don't know why i have such taste for such drab.... Honesty and clarity is a great starting point. I have fallen in love with this show - why? i don't know. But here's the miracle. It has nothing to do with any of the movies i have loved in the past. This breaks all the films of my shallow judgements and is not something i would think i would ever appreciate.

Without understanding why, i love this show. It was so refreshing it is a show i will remember for the rest of my life. if it is not your type of flick im sure u will forget it - however if u like it you will love it. Last season was 2016 so i assume no more seasons - i was emotional affected but this realisation.

Please watch first season.... watch it honestly (not in front of your iphone).

It is a treasure in a world of limiting values.

We need more of this.

I have no idea how the manga goes. And I don't seem to have access to a translated version so this show will have to do.

The idea is interesting. But the overall atmosphere is of governmental TV, in the late 70s, early 80s. And the acting is on a par with the passionate village association theater troupe.

Six and a half stars. It offers a window into current-day urban Japan, and it's refreshing to look at a culture that has some distinctive quirks and retains some autonomy from the western value system. The series is well led by Kaoru Kobayashi, the Master cook and owner of the diner and its central character, who provides a friendly and steadying influence on his unsettled, sometimes silly clientele. Some are regulars, while a sequence of others provide the changing story line in each new episode. Unfortunately the stories felt too lightweight to me, and the characters lacked depth. It's just appealing enough to keep watching.

Having lived in Tokyo for 4 years, I know how much I miss the ambiance of alleyways of Shinjuku.

While origintal show it self is damn good, Netflix has taken this to next level without changing the authenticy and atmosphere of the show.

I cherised every episode of both versions and will definaly recommend, dont marathon enjoy an episode a day. I do that and I repeat .

Great short stories that showcase each person's heart and mind.

As the series going forward I've realized that it's enter under your skin, in a way that you want to see more, even if you can guess what's the end of each episode. I simply love the intimate feeling of the place , and it's not about food, let's say it's about human condition. It's brilliant movie, it's made with such a fragility in all of aspects! A movie that you will enjoy if you try to get away from mega hollywood production. Enjoy