You can find the same "old Japan" atmosphere,respect and love for food and the stories that brings within.
Shinya Shokudo (2009)
Similars
Similar to Kodoku no Gurume, this drama centralizes around food with a "slice of life."
both are about food and how they affect people. they both tell the story of supporting roles (except that shinya shokudo primarily focuses on it) and how they are helped to resolute their problems by the main casts.
they are also both not plot driven and are warm with a great cast of actors.
The stories of the recipes told by the chef and his best customer's perspective, while we enjoy viewing the chef preparing the food and his message being received by the customer and thoroughfully enjoyed. Stories being told by the food. Stories about the relationship between the cook and the customer.
Same vibe, same setting of a shop owner and his costumer's story through the food/wine.
slice of life, drama in the style.
Quiet and dark atmosphire
Both Japanese dramas revolve around food and everyday life. Wakako Zake is about a woman who enjoys drinking and eating different dishes based on how her day went.
Both of these Japanese episodic anthology dramas center around a simple dish that has significant meaning to the central character of the episode. The episodes also feature characters coming to terms with an aspect of themselves or their relationships, and how quickly that can change in your everyday life.
Both story is about food and the main genre also slice of life. However, Tenno no Ryoriban is a drama based on the true story of a famous cook in Japan.
Both have a bar with interesting concepts regarding services and have interesting guests each episode.
A male protagonist with outstanding cooking skills likes to prepare quality food for his "guests". With different dish and guest in each episode we enjoy a great home cooked foodporn and learn recipes.
These dramas tell their stories in a similar fashion. Each episode concentrates on a specific client or patron. They're both a little on the serious or somber side.
Same setting, same ambient. Do I have to say more?
A male chef tries his best to appeas to the culinary needs of his customers. Both are chefs which are very skilled and both shows reveal the reason the particular customer requested the said dish.
Both center around a man who runs a place in a zone out of the ordinary life (an inn on the desert / midnigth eatery). Despite wuxia disguise, Ashes of Time share similar slice-of-life vibe that Shinya Shokudo is famous for, featuring several smaller stories of different people.
Similaritiies: They both deal with lives of people, each episode comes with a heartwarming story.
Difference: MtH deals with stories from dead, while SS deals with stories told by living people who comes to the midnight restuarant.
Despite their difference, they both are amazing and it feels good to watch them. They are must watch.