Invitation to 'Late-Night Diner'

The musical “Late-Night Diner” is set at a nameless eight-seat diner that opens from midnight till 7 in the morning. The show runs through Feb. 17 at Dongsoong Arts Center in central Seoul. / Courtesy of Company Da

Various dishes appear in the musical “Late-Night Diner.” Green tea poured over rice and salmon

Small Wiener sausages

Fried noodles with a fried egg

Rolled-up eggs

A bowl of rice with soy sauce, butter and dried bonito flakes.

By Kwon Mee-yoo

For modern day people regardless of their jobs, finding a quiet place to wind down and enjoy good food and conversation can sometimes be a challenge. In the musical “Late-Night Diner,” currently on stage at Dongsoong Arts Center in Daehangno, central Seoul, these people frequent a nameless eight-seat diner that opens from midnight till 7 in the morning and tell their stories.

There is only one dish on the menu — pork miso soup — but the owner and cook, only referred to as “master,” can make almost anything with what ingredients he has in store. The genial proprietor, played by Song Young-chang and Park Ji-il, has a scar over his eyes, suggesting a storied life. But while he’s not talkative, he knows what his regulars’ favorite dishes are.

In the show, food is the medium that connects different people, allowing them to share memories and at the same time offer consolation.

The owner-cook makes sweetened rolled-up eggs for Kosuzu, a gay bar owner of 45 years and small Wiener sausages cut to resemble an octopus for Yakuza member Ryu Kenzaki. Three 37-year-old spinsters come for “ochazuke,” or Japanese green tea poured over rice with their favorite toppings, and stripper Marilyn’s palate changes according to the person she is dating at the moment.

A lady in a big jumper always orders fried noodles with a fried egg on top but she leaves the dish untouched each time. The master often puts out a bowl of rice with soy sauce, butter and dried bonito flakes in front of his diner in memory of a woman who liked the dish and dreamt of becoming a singer.

When all the characters get together at Christmas and feast on crabs, the audience may feel as if invited to the party with the cast.

“Late-Night Diner” is based on a Japanese comic book of the same name, or “Shinya Shokudou” in Japanese. The comic was adapted into a television drama in 2009 and staged as a reading in Korea last year.

The musical was created by three Korean artists. Jung Young, who wrote the script and lyrics, composer Kim Hye-sung and director Kim Dong-yeon became fascinated by the simple yet heartwarming stories of “Late-Night Diner.”

The music is simple and the lively characters make the audiences sympathize with them.

Although the show is set in a small alley of Shinjuku, Tokyo, the stories are similar to those of people here.

The musical runs through Feb. 17. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 766-3440.

Real late-night diners in Seoul

There are several places in Seoul that are open late with heartwarming food and drinks similar to the one appearing in “Late-Night Diner.”

Gwang in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul opens at 7 p.m. and closes at 4 a.m. Modeled after the late-night snack bar in the comic book, Gwang offers various snacks along with alcoholic beverages. Grilled skewers of chicken, mushroom, tomato and bacon are among the most popular dishes. For more information, call (02) 338-6463

Chichi, located near Sangsu Station on subway Line 6, also opens at 7 p.m. The place is known for a variety of fried dishes from eggplant and squash to shrimp and squid. Fried oyster is a winter delicacy. Call (02) 323-0782 for more information.

Nuha Udon in Nuha-dong has no sign, just like the diner in the comic, but its owner always welcome guests and likes to talk with them. The snack bar has variety of dishes from sushi and noodles to fried banana and sausage. For more information, call (02) 720-9978.