Fifth grader Ooi Shiina attends private Hibiya Elementary School, located near the Kasumigaseki government district in Tokyo. She is a small girl, often mistaken for a third grader, and for reasons that are never fully spelled out, she never brings a packed lunch to school. Instead, on school days she eats lunch at nearby restaurants, venturing into the same establishments that veteran salarymen and office workers frequent. Her choices are unexpectedly bold and sophisticated: she casually walks into old-school curry shops, soba joints, and long-established Western-style diners that most new employees would hesitate to enter. Sometimes her attempts to act mature backfire, leading to small, endearing failures.

The series is a heartful, slice-of-life gourmet comedy. The title’s “rori” is explicitly stated to come from “lonely,” not from any other implication. Each chapter follows Shiina as she enjoys a solo lunch, often interacting with the adult patrons and shop owners around her. The story is set in the real-world streets of Kasumigaseki and nearby areas, with many of the restaurants loosely based on actual establishments. There is no overarching conflict; the narrative’s charm lies in the quiet pleasure of a young girl confidently navigating the adult world of dining alone, bridging the gap between childhood innocence and a budding independence.

A direct sequel, Rorimeshi Okawari!, shifts focus to a new protagonist: Kamu Mai, a fifth grader at a different private school, Kandagawa Women’s University Elementary School. Mai’s hobbies are browsing secondhand bookshops and eating alone. She frequents a wide range of eateries—from famous curry houses to old-fashioned cake shops, ramen stands, and pure coffee shops—and does so without hesitation. Unlike Shiina, Mai carries a secret that explains her solo dining habit, a personal reason that gradually unfolds across the sequel’s chapters. The sequel retains the same gentle, observational tone, exploring the quiet solitude and small joys of a child discovering good food in the city.