Osaka is known as the "Kitchen of the Nation" and the "City of Kuidaore" (eat until you drop). It's a city where a unique food culture has historically developed. It's particularly famous for its cheap and delicious gourmet food. For example, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu are well-known. It's also famous as a sake-producing region, with many renowned sake-producing areas nearby such as Nada, Itami, and Ikeda.
As a city, Osaka is Japan's second-largest metropolitan center after Tokyo. About 7% of Japan's total population is concentrated in Osaka. Osaka is also popular among foreigners. About 10% of foreigners residing in Japan live in Osaka.
As the largest metropolis in the Kansai area, it's packed with numerous restaurants. Furthermore, Osaka, being a center of Japanese food culture, attracts famous restaurants from all over Japan.
Of course, yakitori is no exception. Osaka's yakitori restaurants are among the best in Japan. This time, we'll introduce some of the most recommended yakitori restaurants, focusing on those listed in the Michelin Guide.
The Gourmet City of Osaka Boasts Nationally Famous Yakitori Restaurants
In the eastern part of Japan, Tokyo is the center, while in the western part, Osaka is the center. People gather in big cities, and restaurants concentrate there. As a result, select famous restaurants from all over Japan gather for each type of cuisine.
As mentioned earlier, yakitori is no exception. In Osaka, the central city of the west, there are many famous restaurants that could be considered top-rank yakitori shops in Japan. In the gourmet city of Osaka, yakitori, a representative of Japanese casual gourmet food, has been loved for a long time. As each shop competes to raise the level of their cuisine daily, there are many sophisticated restaurants.
In fact, five yakitori restaurants from Osaka were listed in the 2024 Michelin Guide. From high-end yakitori restaurants to standard shops loved by locals for many years, each has its own characteristics.
We've summarized the characteristics of each shop, including the degree of grilling and recommended menus. Use this as a reference for choosing a shop to taste exquisite yakitori.
4 Must-Try Exquisite Yakitori Restaurants in Osaka That Earned Michelin Stars in 2024
Yakitori Matsuoka
Source:Official Instagram
Yakitori Matsuoka is a restaurant where you can enjoy rare local chicken, and it was listed in the 2024 Michelin Guide. The highlight is the use of Kuro Satsuma chicken, a rare domestic chicken. Furthermore, they pride themselves on their course meals where you can enjoy the innards, which are particularly rare and valuable parts, in a fresh state.
The menu offers only a luxurious Satsuma chicken omakase course. While the menu changes depending on the ingredients available, among the skewered yakitori, the shin meat is especially recommended. The juicy chicken meat full of umami, unique to free-range Satsuma chicken, is irresistible.
The internal organs, represented by the heart (hatsu), might be off-putting if you're not used to eating them. However, Satsuma chicken innards have little peculiarity or smell. Also, they are very easy to eat due to careful preparation. If you like it, you'll become addicted. If you want to try it, please eat it at Yakitori Matsuoka.
・Address: 102 Uemachidai Yoshizumi Heights, 1-4-17 Higashihirano, Chuo-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Mondays
・Phone: 08097472200
・Business Hours: 18:00-20:00, 20:30-22:30
・Official Website: https://www.yakitori-matsuoka.com/
Yakitori Ichimatsu
Source:Tabelog
Yakitori Ichimatsu is a restaurant where you can enjoy high-end yakitori course meals. It was awarded one Michelin star. Ichimatsu's commitment is to the handling of fire, which is crucial in yakitori cooking. Thanks to the chef's years of experience, it's served at the optimal degree of grilling, maximizing the umami of the yakitori.
Ichimatsu's menu consists only of chicken omakase courses. Among them, popular menu items are the shoulder meat and the tail area called bonjiri. Bonjiri, in particular, has a good elasticity and is well-cooked, characterized by a very good texture.
The course also includes seasonal side dishes and desserts.
Another attractive point is that you can see the cooking area right in front of your seat. The cooking, which is like a live performance of freely manipulating fire, is also a must-see. It's a high-level restaurant in terms of taste, performance, and the quality of the space. If you want to taste top-class yakitori, please visit Yakitori Ichimatsu.
・Address: 1F Espace Kitashinchi 23, 1-5-1 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays, Mondays
・Phone: 0663460112
・Business Hours: 16:00-20:30
・Website: https://omakase.in/r/ib508202
(No official website. Reservations through OMAKASE)
Torisho Ishii
Source:OMAKASE
Torisho Ishii is a famous yakitori restaurant that's called the No.1 in Osaka. It's popular for its range of dishes that fuse high-end Japanese cuisine with yakitori. It's said to be a restaurant that has elevated yakitori, a casual cuisine, to a high-end dish on par with sushi.
At Torisho Ishii, only omakase courses are offered. High-end brand chicken is used abundantly throughout the course. The skewered dishes, especially hatsu (heart), tsukune (chicken meatballs), and seseri (neck meat), are spectacular in taste. The grilling is characteristically a bit on the firm side, allowing you to clearly taste the sweetness and umami of the chicken.
The chicken burger, which can be enjoyed in the course, is also a notable signature dish. It's a dish where juicy chicken meat is deliciously combined with the refreshing flavors of tomato and basil.
Torisho Ishii has recently opened a branch in Tokyo, gaining popularity. In 2024, it was awarded one Michelin star. It's highly recommended for those who want to taste top-class yakitori in Japan.
・Address: 1F, 3-11-4 Nishitemma, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 0677087864
・Business Hours: 18:00-23:00
・Website: https://omakase.in/r/fe370231
(No official website. Reservations through OMAKASE)
Yakitori Izakaya Torisen
Source: Official website
Yakitori Izakaya Torisen (Torisen) is a restaurant where you can eat carefully crafted course meals using a whole local chicken. They especially value "eating with gratitude for the life of the creature." Therefore, those who enter the restaurant are basically expected to eat the course meal without leaving anything.
The recommended menu is the popular "one bird complete" course. Using a high-grade chicken raised with particular attention to breeding methods, you can taste each part little by little, eating the entire bird without waste. The thigh meat and the neck area (seseri) are particularly rich in flavor, unique to special chicken. You'll be surprised by the difference from regular chicken meat with just one bite.
If you want to fully savor the umami of the highest quality chicken meat, why not visit Torisen? Torisen is a restaurant that requires reservations. Make a reservation in advance and enjoy the Michelin one-star taste.
・Address: 3F Tamaya Building, 1-4-26 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: None
・Phone: 0663425565
・Business Hours: 18:00-23:00
・Official Website: http://www.chidoriya-torisen.jp/
3 Popular Yakitori Restaurants Loved by Locals and Listed in Bib Gourmand!
Sumibiyakitori Ikoka
Source:Tabelog
Sumibiyakitori Ikoka is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic charcoal-grilled yakitori at reasonable prices. They are particular about charcoal grilling, which is important in yakitori cooking, and use the highest quality charcoal to achieve a rich flavor.
The recommended menu at Ikoka is tsukune. Tsukune, which is minced chicken meat, tends to be oily, but Ikoka's charcoal-grilled tsukune is not greasy and is moderately juicy. The sasami (chicken breast strips) also has an exquisite salt flavor and is so light that you can keep eating it.
They are also particular about their beer. You can fully enjoy the best combination of yakitori and beer, which has been loved by Japanese people for many years.
The low price is also attractive for such a high-quality experience. It was listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for providing satisfaction beyond its price. It's recommended for those who want to stick to taste while keeping the price low.
・Address: 3-3-3 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Irregular
・Phone: 050-5590-7286
・Business Hours: Weekdays 18:00-22:30, Weekends and Holidays 18:00-22:30
Ayamuya
Source:Hitosara
Ayamuya is a restaurant where you can taste classic and traditional yakitori. In recent years, many yakitori restaurants across Japan have introduced new creative dishes using yakitori. Among them, Ayamuya is committed to and continues to maintain traditional cooking methods and tastes.
The recommended menu is tsukune. Tsukune is a yakitori dish made by kneading minced chicken and grilling it on skewers. Ayamuya uses Tamba chicken from Hyogo Prefecture, a famous local chicken. As they mince the meat in-store, it has a good texture and fresh taste. Pay attention to the homemade sauce that enhances the juiciness.
Ayamuya is a restaurant supported by professionals, with many yakitori restaurant owners and chefs visiting. It was also listed in the Bib Gourmand. If you want to taste traditional and high-quality yakitori in Osaka, please visit Ayamuya.
・Address: Kusunoki Building, 5-17-39 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays
・Phone: 0664557270
・Business Hours: 17:30-22:00
・Official Website: https://ayamuya.myconciergejapan.net/
Ishii Jr.
Source:Tabelog
Ishii Jr. is the second branch of the high-end yakitori restaurant Ishii, which we introduced earlier. It's a restaurant where young chefs who trained under the famous chef Ishii are active. It's somewhat more reasonable compared to the main store, so it was listed in the Bib Gourmand.
The menu consists only of omakase courses, where guests can enjoy yakitori until they say stop. Particularly popular is the "harami," which is the belly part of the chicken. It has a good texture and is full of umami. A characteristic is that each skewer is carefully grilled. They are well-salted, and the sauce is light.
They also pay attention to detailed services such as frequently changing hand towels and seeing off guests to the outside of the shop. Ishii Jr. is highly recommended for those who want to taste the flavor of trained chefs at reasonable prices.
・Address: 2F, 3-11-4 Nishitemma, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Irregular
・Phone: 0661309480
・Business Hours: 17:00~ (No closing time listed)
・Website: https://omakase.in/r/jv334632
Opened in July 2024! 2 New Yakitori Restaurants Creating Local Buzz
Kushi and…
Source:Tabelog
Kushi and... is a restaurant where you can enjoy unique skewer dishes, starting with yakitori. The attractive point is its unique and varied menu, which includes skewer dishes of chicken, pork, beef, as well as vegetables and fish. It's a hot topic restaurant that just opened in July 2024.
The recommended menu is the signature daifuku maki. It's made by kneading and solidifying chicken meat, with burdock root and shiso leaves sandwiched inside. It has a chewy texture and is a very healthy dish.
The vegetable skewer negimaki is also recommended. This is soft pork wrapped in vegetables. It has a healthy taste and looks visually appealing. You'll definitely want to take a photo.
There are many other notable menu items, such as the mushroom burger, which uses healthy mushrooms instead of buns with tomato sandwiched in between, and beef roll sushi using beef. The restaurant has a casual and relaxed atmosphere. When you want to enjoy unique skewer dishes along with yakitori, please choose Kushi and...
<Shop Information>
・Address: 5-11-23 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Sundays
・Phone: 0661478729
・Business Hours: 16:30-23:00
・Official Website: https://www.instagram.com/kusi_and/
Yakitori Minami
Source:Tabelog
Yakitori Minami is a famous yakitori restaurant that gained popularity in Kitashinchi, an area known for its famous restaurants. It relocated and reopened in Tenjinbashi in July 2024. It features only 8 seats and simple interior design.
The menu consists only of omakase courses where you can enjoy everything from yakitori to side dishes. The highlight is the rare medium-rare sasami. You can enjoy its light taste and soft texture. The tsukune with cartilage and seseri are also popular menu items. The overall grilling is on the firm side. The secret to its popularity is also the special sauce that perfectly coats the chicken.
It's a reservation-only restaurant with a hidden gem atmosphere. While it's lively inside, you can have a relaxed meal due to the small size of the shop. It's also recommended for spending time with close friends or for dates. If you want to relax at a secret hideaway-like yakitori restaurant, please try using Yakitori Minami.
・Address: 2F Luxe Plus Tenroku, 1-2-4 Honjo Higashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
・Closed: Mondays
・Phone: 0644009949
・Business Hours: 18:00-23:00
・Official Website: https://www.instagram.com/yakitori_minami/