[I want to go during the New Year holidays] Recommended yakitori restaurants in Minami (Namba/Shinsaibashi) are here

Even in Osaka, which is known as a city where you can eat all you want, the Minami area is said to be the best when it comes to gourmet food.There are many restaurants that cater to people’s appetites.

Let’s meet in Minami to have some drinks! There are many people who think of yakitori as the perfect food to go with alcohol.

This time, I would like to pick up some recommended yakitori restaurants in the Minami area.

Is Osaka a mecca for yakitori restaurants?

As of 2021, there are 15,325 yakitori restaurants nationwide, or 12.14 restaurants per 100,000 people. The industry’s sales as a whole are on the order of 200 billion yen, and are increasing year by year.

There is also information that there are 3,839 yakitori restaurants in Osaka,
and an additional 180 around Shinsaibashi Station, and
many more around Namba Station and Nihonbashi Station.

Because Osaka is the kitchen of the world, there are delicious yakitori restaurants.

Osaka was a merchant town and was located at a key transportation hub, so feudal clans from all over the country established warehouses and other facilities in Osaka. Osaka became known as the “nation’s kitchen” because many of the daily necessities were once collected in Osaka from production areas and then sent back to consumption areas across the country. 

In addition, Osaka is a key hub for shipping and transportation, and has attracted a wide variety of products.
After being devastated by the Osaka Summer Siege in 1615, Osaka became a territory under the direct control of the Shogunate and its reconstruction progressed. Canals were developed, and during the Edo period, many ships came and went through Osaka’s port, bringing together ingredients from all over the country. It is said that rice was sent from Osaka all over Japan and supported the Japanese diet.

Furthermore, the Minami area is also home to Kuromon Market, which has flourished since ancient times as the base of the nation’s kitchen.

Why yakitori is delicious

The reason why yakitori is so delicious is that the moisture content of charcoal is extremely low, and when grilled over charcoal, the fat from the chicken becomes smoke and falls on the charcoal, giving it the unique aromatic taste of charcoal-grilled yakitori.

Even better when paired with alcohol such as beer!

The reason for skewering yakitori is that it is easier to cook.
In Japanese cooking, it has been a practice since ancient times to skewer grilled foods that tend to lose their shape to keep them in shape.

About the origin of yakitori

Yakitori is said to have originated on the approach to Fushimi Inari in Kyoto during the Heian period. At that time, eating livestock was prohibited or avoided, so sparrows and quail, which were harmful to rice cultivation, were caught and skewered and eaten. 

Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture is known as the birthplace of yakitori. In Kurume City, the quality of Kurume Ramen, Chikugo Udon, Gyoza, and Yakiniku are among the highest in the country. In particular, it is said to have the largest number of yakitori stores in Japan, and is also famous as a yakitori town.

What is “Japan’s 7 Great Yakitori”?

Yakitori from Bibai and Muroran from Hokkaido, and from Fukushima (Fukushima Prefecture), Higashimatsuyama (Saitama Prefecture), Imabari (Ehime Prefecture), Nagato (Yamaguchi Prefecture), and Kurume (Fukuoka Prefecture) have particularly distinctive characteristics. It is called “Japan’s 7 Great Yakitori”.

In addition to “Yakitori Daikichi,” which has the largest number of nationwide chains in Japan, “Torikizoku” also originated in Osaka.

■A Michelin-starred yakitori restaurant

The 2023 edition of “Michelin Guide Kyoto/Osaka + Wakayama” lists 10 yakitori restaurants in the Osaka area. Of these, 4 restaurants have earned one star and 6 restaurants have earned Bib Gourmand.

In the 2022 edition, 9 stores are listed, an increase of 1 store. Newly listed items are “Yakitori Toriizumi” and “Ishii Jr.”

The Michelin Guide evaluates restaurants based on five unique criteria. Three stars for “excellent food worth traveling for,” two stars for “excellent food worth a detour to visit,” and one star for “excellent food that’s worth a trip if you’re in the area.” ” Bib Gourmand has the criteria for listing dishes that provide a sense of satisfaction that exceeds the price.

Osaka is also the birthplace of Torikizoku, a yakitori restaurant that once sold 280 yen for yakitori and was all the rage.
Furthermore, Torikizoku (Torikizoku HD), headquartered in Osaka, has also acquired Japan’s No. 1 chain restaurant “Yakitori Daikichi”, making it the No. 1 yakitori group company in Japan.

Introducing recommended “delicious yakitori restaurants” in Namba and Shinsaibashi! 8 recommended stores

Yakitori Toko Hachimansuji Branch

This is a yakitori restaurant that specializes in charcoal-grilled yakitori using fresh chicken delivered daily from Kyushu. .
Although it has a refreshing taste, the more you chew, the flavor spreads. “Sorires Aburi” is also known as a specialty of Yakitori Fighting Cock.

• Store name: Yakitori Toko Hachimansuji store
  Phone number: 06-6212-0717
  Business hours: 18:00-5:00 (Sunday/Monday holiday)
  Address: BELL Yawata 1F, 2-7-27 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Binchotan charcoal yakitori SASAYA Shinsaibashi main store

SASAYA is a yakitori restaurant whose main store is in Shinsaibashi.
The yakitori is characterized by low-fat, healthy black chicken roasted over binchotan charcoal. We also use Kawachi ducks raised using a unique breeding method, which is said to be so fresh that it can even be eaten as sashimi.

Currently, SASAYA Holdings operates many restaurants in Minami, Osaka.
When you come to Osaka for sightseeing or business, we recommend that you try the yakitori at this restaurant, which can be said to be the founding restaurant!

• Store name: Binchotan Yakitori SASAYA Shinsaibashi main store
  Phone number: 06-6251-2333
  Business hours: 17:00-4:00
  Address: 1-13-9 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

WA Chicken BAR Shinsaibashi Main Store

WA Chicken BAR Shinsaibashi Main Branch is a yakitori izakaya located at 2-5-7 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka. Located in the center of the Minami area, about a 6-minute walk from Exit 5 of Shinsaibashi Station on the Midosuji Line.

You can enjoy creative chicken dishes using freshly ground chicken, including the famous rock salt grill. It’s a hideaway in a back alley with a prominent yellow signboard, and there are counter seats at the entrance on the first floor.

• Store name: WA Tori BAR main store
  Phone number: 06-4708-9040
  Business hours: 17:00-3:00
  Address: 2-5-7 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Back alley bar Tonbo

“Ura Namba Rojiura Sakaba Tombo” is a yakitori restaurant that has a reputation for being easy to stop by and has an atmosphere that can be used for a wide range of occasions, such as drinking parties with colleagues, dates, girls’ parties, etc.
Located in Ura Namba, a 2-minute walk from Namba Station,
You can order chicken sashimi, charcoal-grilled yakitori, straw-grilled thigh meat, etc. using morning-raised local chicken.

• Store name: Back alley bar Tombo
  Phone number: 06-6633-0404
  Business hours: 12:00-00:00
  Address: 13-6 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Charcoal grilled chicken Enya Namba 3rd branch

Charcoal-grilled Tori Enya is a restaurant based on the concept of chicken and vegetables.
You can easily enjoy a variety of birds with our a la carte menu. The stylish yakitori restaurant that doesn’t look like a yakitori restaurant is also well-received.
Fresh chicken pulled in the morning is carefully grilled over Bincho charcoal. Since 80% of the heat in a charcoal fire comes from radiant heat, which is far-infrared rays, it is able to harden the surface while retaining moisture inside, making it crispy and juicy.

• Store name: Charcoal-grilled Tori Enya Namba 3rd store
  Phone number: 06-6633-8055
  Business hours: 17:00-0:30
  Address: 3-5 Sennichimae, Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Grilled chicken

Introducing Yakitori Danna. This is a cozy shop run by two classmates from their school days. This is a yakitori restaurant that is particular about grilled chicken, salt, and sake, so you should definitely try it at least once.

• Store name: Yakitori Danna
  Phone number: 06-6647-8011
  Business hours: 18:00-1:00
  Address: 1-9-6 Namba Naka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka

Charcoal-grilled yakitori Torijin

We offer dishes that bring out the natural taste, flavor, aroma, and texture of chicken, such as morning-grilled Yamato chicken grilled over Kishu Bincho charcoal, chicken sashimi, tataki, chicken sashimi, salads, side dishes, and finishing dishes.

• Store name: Charcoal-grilled Yakitori Torijin
  Phone number: 06-6556-9775
  Business hours: 17:00-2:00
  Address: 2-21 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Sumiyaki Shoten Hi Namba Branch

Sumiyaki Shoten Yo is a yakitori restaurant named “Sumiyaki Shoten” with the character “Yang” added to convey the warm image of charcoal grills, and with the desire to create a place filled with smiles.

Founded in 2006, this yakitori restaurant is popular as an izakaya where you can enjoy a variety of dishes using fresh local chicken yakitori, as well as fresh fish and vegetables. The yakitori made with local chicken ground in the morning
and the “Yamato Meat Chicken Melty Oyakodon”, which has been featured in the media, are worth a meal as a final dish.

• Store name: Sumiyaki Shoten Hi Namba store
  Phone number: 06-6647-8988
  Business hours: 17:00-2:30
  Address: Hannan Building 1st floor, 14-25 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka

summary

We have introduced yakitori restaurants in the Minami area.
There are also recommended yakitori restaurants near shopping and sightseeing spots such as Namba, Nihonbashi, and Shinsaibashi.
Osaka has long been known as a “foodie town” and has been home to many different types of food and food culture, and because many people spend their days and nights out drinking, you can enjoy high-quality yakitori restaurants!
Why not visit a yakitori restaurant in the Minami area (Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nihonbashi)?