Originally Posted by ksandness

Commercial space in Tokyo is really expensive. That's probably why the restaurants are small. I don't go in for high-priced gourmet dining, but I have eaten in countless small and unassuming restaurants in Tokyo over the years, and part of the charm is watching the owner cook and interact with the customers.

My impression is that Japanese customers are more interested in how the food is presented than in what the decor looks like.