I was initially expecting a lot of food porn, and yes, there is a LOT of it. It really is a love letter to all the small yakiniku restaurants who cannot compete with the big boys. Every time I eat yakiniku, I'm going to hear drums beating in the background (an inside joke you will get once you watch the movie).
But more than that, this is a story of a son trying to reconnect with his estranged mother, who meets other restaurateurs who were influenced by his mother's skill and kindness. A journey made harder by his own demons he never forgave himself for. Naoto's performance is convincing enough, although he won't be winning any awards with this one.
And then there's Tao, who I admit I have a bias for. She seems to make any movie or show so much better. Her food reactions are priceless! What makes her performance stand out is that she isn't trying to stand out. While she is a main character, she's more of a main supporting character, where she helps the protagonist through his difficult journey.
All in all this is a nice touching movie you definitely don't want to watch on an empty stomach!