The quality is a world of difference though.
Those tiny restaurants in other countries have real chefs with full, if small, kitchens, cooking sit down meals.
Best bowl of ramen I had in Japan was a single chef establishment, he was in a U-shaped open kitchen and guests sat around him.
> I wonder if there are any differences on the retail market, business capital market, or legal regulations that encourage empty retail spots to be quickly filled in Kyoto and Suzhou.
I think the very existence of small retail spots helps!
> and to a lesser proportional degree Suzhou, have much more tourism than Seattle has.
In 2017 Seattle had 39.9 million tourists (https://www.visitseattle.org/press/press-releases/seattle-se...), in 2013 Suzhou had 1.7 million (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/jiangsu/suzhou/travel/2013-09...)
FWIW, if anyone reading this is wondering where to go next, I'd recommend Suzhou! (or visit Seattle in late spring, Suzhou in early autumn!)
Every year at PAX West I am saddened by the lack of good food around DT Seattle for people to eat. Granted downtown is largely a business district, but I bet Subway gets the majority of PAX West food sales!
I wonder what all the factors are that contribute to the increase in small businesses. I would like to see an increase in these types of retail businesses and restaurants. Kyoto, and to a lesser proportional degree Suzhou, have much more tourism than Seattle has. Both cities experience more foot traffic. Both cities are much older. I wonder if there are any differences on the retail market, business capital market, or legal regulations that encourage empty retail spots to be quickly filled in Kyoto and Suzhou. I wonder if Asian retailers feel strong competition from online orders. The Seattle housing market, either with market forces or legal regulation, have more complete kitchens than the Kyoto/Suzhou housing market. I wonder what effect this has on the restaurant market.
> On a related note, I'd love to see more restaurants that fit only 5 or 6 people in them, with just a chef running the whole show. Is it less efficient? Maybe, but the food is better.
Food trucks are a very close approximate to this type of restaurant.