Written by Carey Finn
TikTok and Instagram are full of all-you-can-eat gyoza and kilogram-bowls of ramen in Japan, but it’s not often you see a restaurant focused on smaller portions. Nibun no Ichi, or 1/2 in English, is a new eatery in Ginza built around the idea that a little less is so much more.
On the B3 basement level of the newly renovated Ginza Sony Park, 1/2 is not yet on the foodie radar. The restaurant opened in late January this year, with minimal fuss or media coverage, in keeping with its ethos.
On the menu is a range of plates — each of which comes with two quarter-size servings of different dishes. You’ll find Japanese classics like a katsu sandwich, served with a mini curry, omurice and rice-paper rolls, as well as more international offerings like bao and a helping of hummus. The idea is that you can pop in and enjoy a light meal at 1/2, before heading to your final dining destination in Ginza — an area stuffed to the brim with good food.
All plates are priced at ¥1,650, and food is served all day, though the choice of dishes differs between daytime and night. The drinks menu has some sweet surprises, including a chai-based melon soda (it works way better than you’d think). The atmosphere is, like the rest of the Ginza Sony Park complex, minimalist and sleek, yet casual and accessible — making it all the more inviting.
