At the entrance of the building, I saw a sign. I thought it was a lunch menu for an izakaya, but it turned out to be this place. There were only 3 menu items available: chicken Jingisukan, hashed pork, and cold noodles. All priced at one coin. There were 7 seats at the counter in a L-shape facing the wall, with plenty of space between seats. And then, they brought out an appetizer - surprise! It was tsukune (chicken meatballs) with ginger and tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette). I thought it would be cold like a bento, but it was actually warm! After a short wait, the cold noodles arrived. They kindly offered more sauce if needed. The noodles were plentiful and topped with meat instead of ham, along with a generous amount of shredded omelette and miso soup on the side. The service was fantastic, and the staff were very friendly. This place in Maruyama offers great value for money! Takeout is also available. Thank you for the meal!

Today, I wandered in search of a one-coin lunch and found a supported employment facility run by the non-profit organization "Shimarisu" in the Carnival Building along the back approach of Maruyama. Descending the stairs, I came across "Sokosoko," a standout glass-fronted restaurant beyond the izakaya that serves lunch. Upon entering, a cheerful lady greeted me from the kitchen with a welcoming "Irasshaimase." The interior had around 10 counter seats facing the walls and windows, with no other customers present. I sat down, and a tray with ice water was promptly brought to me, along with a serving of "chicken skin tempura and okra salad" as a complimentary appetizer. The menu was displayed on the wall, and I ordered the daily bento box priced at 500 yen. I chose the mixed grain rice over white rice. The bento arrived in 6 minutes, presented in a fancy-looking tiered box. Opening it revealed side dishes like "simmered komatsuna, pickles, and pumpkin salad." The main dish was something resembling "chicken breast piccata" with shredded cabbage and a generous amount of tartar sauce on top. The bowl I initially mistook for miso soup turned out to be a soup with bean sprouts and leeks. The meal also included a satisfying amount of rice. I started eating, enjoying the well-cooked komatsuna, the sweet pumpkin salad, the crispy chicken skin tempura, and the refreshing okra salad. The chicken piccata, though covered in tartar sauce, would have been better if the sauce was served on the side. The pickles were store-bought but a nice addition to the set meal. The supposed miso soup, which was actually soup, had a light flavor that I found just right. The mixed grain rice was perfectly cooked. Despite the lack of customers, the incredible value for money surprised me. They also offer noodle dishes with rice as a side. This hidden gem of a one-coin lunch spot is located just a 5-minute walk from Maruyama Koen Station, with no parking available. Note: Smoking is prohibited on the premises.

Near Maruyama Koen Station, in the basement of a tenant building, there is a restaurant with a menu sign outside. Although there were no opening hours listed, I visited around 2:30 PM after seeing a noren curtain hanging in the basement from the ground floor. The service was very friendly and welcoming. The portion of rice in the set meal is generous, and you can choose between white rice and mixed grain rice for free. You can hear the lively voices of many staff members coming from the nearby kitchen, but it didn't feel uncomfortable. They also served small dishes while waiting for the main dish to be ready. The daily bento box featured ginger pork with plenty of vegetables, offering a satisfying portion for the price. Although the shop card indicated operating hours from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, they mentioned that they are open until around 3:00 PM. The photos of ramen on the menu looked delicious. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.