With everything you could want in a ramen spot, Tsurumen delivers a nearly ideal single-diner  experience. If it’s busy, you’re likely to be seated more quickly if you’re flying solo, and tucking into a steaming hot bowl of umami-rich ramen right away. Try the signature shio ramen, and be sure to add an extra egg.

Guided by locally sourced ingredients, this oasis tucked off Somerville’s Union Square has a menu that’s  always changing, but you’re sure to find something seasonal. Make a reservation specifically for the bar at this intimate restaurant; it’ll give you a front-row view into the bustling open kitchen. You’ll find a vegetable and seafood forward line-up of small plates. Two or three should be enough for one, and don’t miss the monkfish schnitzel or cheddar scallion cornbread if they’re on the menu.

Steps away from TD Garden, but set back a bit from the bustle of Boston’s West End, Alcove is an upscale option that’s a standout in the neighborhood. The service is warm and hospitable without being cloying, and the staff will happily chat with you about the wine list or anything on the menu.  Open for lunch and dinner, Alcove serves coastal New England cuisine — including a good number of full-size entrees — and features a solid cocktail list.

Much like other spots on this list, finding a reservation for two or more at the Koji Club can involve some patience, while sneaking in solo is generally more of a breeze. That’s because outlets near and far — including Esquire dubbing it one of the best bars in America in 2023 — just can’t get enough of this Brighton sake bar snuggled within the Charles River Speedway. Yes, pop in for limited and unusual sake that are all listed with helpful tasting notes. But do stay for the bites of sushi, mushroom miso soup, and Japanese curry empanadas. Moe Kuroki, formerly of the beloved Oisa Slurp and Go ramen shop, serves as the consulting chef, and she sometimes holds popups in the space and elsewhere.

Most spots on this list involve eating at the bar or a quiet little nook, but this slick food hall deserves an overall endorsement for a great solo lunch or dinner. There’s always enough seating, and you can choose from Dive Bar’s raw seafood, Pennypacker’s sandwiches, Tenderoni’s pizza and lots more — then finish your meal with a sweet treat or a cocktail from Daiquiris and Daisies.

It almost feels like cheating to put Uni on this list, because the restaurant features so many dishes – like nigiri and a deep starters menu – that are best consumed alone. Don’t hurry when you grab a spot at the bar. Slow down and savor bites of wagyu temaki, miso eggplant and all the fresh sushi and sashimi your heart desires.

Here’s a real hack: Larger parties usually need to book well in advance to savor the omakase experiences at Colin Lynch’s nine-seat sushi restaurant in the back of Shore Leave, while solo diners can head to Open Table and often snag a seat within the next few days. Besides, you’ll be so focused on watching the chefs prepare fourteen-ish courses right in front of you, that you likely wouldn’t have a chance to chat up a dining partner, anyway. The menu changes based on daily whims, though you can expect offerings like tuna tartare with uni rice and barracuda dressed with black garlic and lime among the treasures.

It’s always a treat to enjoy award-winning food, and Chickadee — nominated by the James Beard Foundation in the Best New Restaurant category in 2019, and Best Chef: Northeast in 2022 — soars to the top. With a sprawling bar and welcoming staff, it’s usually easy to get a spot as a solo walk-in diner, and enjoy a dinner of small plates from chef John daSilva’s ever-changing menu. The chickpea panisse fries and crispy fried chicken are a forever must-order.

The crowd at this South End brassiere and raw bar is usually bumping, with good reason —from the Wednesday four-course dining specials, to the two-dollar afternoon oysters, and the late-night Friday smash burgers. The bar is a great place to cozy up alone (or, more likely, make fast friends with the bartenders) over plates of duck leg frites with orange bearnaise and a tasty lamb burger topped with Calabrian-chili-spiked whipped feta.

A nearly ideal mix of a cool, casual vibe with high-end dining, Lenox Sophia is a favorite recently opened restaurant. The menu is a five-course prix-fixe affair, and for $99 you have the choice between omnivore and vegetarian. Make a reservation (or shoot your shot early on a weekday) for the chef’s counter and watch the chefs create your five-course French-inspired meal. Stop by Social Wines on the corner to pick out a bottle before heading over — this is one of the few BYOB restaurants in Boston.

Chef Karen Akunowicz’s second restaurant in Southie has a 25-seat main bar housed in a former Airstream that’s been given a marble-topped, glamorous revamp before opening. It’s the perfect spot to set up shop for a solo meal of farro arancini, burrata pomodoro and lamb ragu orecchiette – or whatever you desire. The fare is made even better because you don’t have to share.