Yakitori Ichimatsu Osaka

This was my second visit.Just like last time, everything I tried was delicious.My favorites are the ricotta cheese oden and the tsukune (chicken meatballs) with thigh meat.The ricotta cheese oden has a gentle flavor that would definitely soothe you when you're feeling unwell, yet the broth is rich and flavorful, making it easy to eat even without teeth.The cooking methods vary for each dish, resulting in different textures, and even though they all use charcoal grilling, the aroma differs from skewer to skewer.The first cup is a special takeout that you need to order in advance when making your reservation. It contains two whole chickens, along with chicken broth, ginger, and rice.I had it the next morning, and it was the perfect remedy for a hangover. Just be sure to request it ahead of time, as it’s not available otherwise!They are also opening locations in Kagurazaka, Korea, and soon in Taiwan, so be sure to check them out! Less

This restaurant, themed around "playing with fire," impresses with its use of charcoal grilling.The grilled tomatoes served midway through the meal act as a refreshing palate cleanser, enhancing their sweetness and building anticipation for the next skewer.The course is generously portioned, leaving you quite satisfied by the end. Each skewer offers a unique cooking style and texture, making it enjoyable from start to finish without any dull moments.The selection of Japanese sake, including brands like Nabeshima and Isojiman, pairs perfectly with the yakitori. Everything was delicious. Less

Osaka Solo Dining #52 This time, I visited Yakitori Ichimatsu! I was lucky enough to secure a reservation at this renowned yakitori restaurant, and I had been looking forward to it for days. I was so excited as I headed to the restaurant. 【Order】 Course + Drink Set *You can choose between wine or Japanese sake for the drink. I opted for wine. The restaurant's concept is "Fire Play," where various cooking methods using fire are employed to serve everything from yakitori to chicken dishes! They use carefully selected Hinai chicken from Akita Prefecture. The interior exudes a luxurious and chic atmosphere. The staff provides lively service with energetic calls, creating a vibrant dining experience. Every dish in the course menu was delicious! The texture of the Hinai chicken was incredibly firm, and the sweetness of the meat's fat was remarkable. You can also enjoy the cooking process, adding a live experience to the meal. The yakitori, especially the thigh meat, was so tasty that I couldn't help but order more. I left the restaurant feeling completely satisfied both in my stomach and spirit. Although I was a bit nervous, it was a truly enjoyable time. It was a great meal! *I was able to save the menu as an image, so I won't include it here! Less

Today, I visited Yakitori Ichimatsu in Kitashinchi. This restaurant is themed around fire play, and they served a variety of chicken dishes I had never tried before.We started with a ricotta cheese oden! The cheese was delicious, but the broth was exceptional! It was truly exquisite.The skewers began with chicken breast with wasabi and shoulder meat. Despite being chicken breast, it was incredibly juicy and not at all dry! The shoulder meat was wonderfully tender and juicy.Both were truly delicious yakitori!Next, we had the Elf France Shaoxing wine marinated grilled quail (a type of quail). The aroma of the Shaoxing wine was subtle yet delightful.Then, we took a break with some chicken thigh prosciutto! This was amazing! So tasty! It really paired well with the drinks!Following that, we had onion soup. The soup contained caciocavallo cheese, which made it creamy! The onion soup itself was already exquisite, but the cheese elevated it to another level! So delicious!Then we resumed with the grilled items! The fire play chicken wings were grilled with cedar wood. They were incredibly tasty wings.Next came mini tomatoes, chicken thigh bread rolls, negima (chicken and green onion skewers), and fire play tender chicken fried skewers.The mini tomatoes were incredibly sweet. The bread rolls had a unique flavor that I hadn’t experienced before, but they were delicious. The tender chicken fried skewers were also fantastic!From the start to this point, everything has been delicious!Next, we had chicken gizzard, Nagoya Cochin grilled over charcoal, and duck meat in sukiyaki style.The gizzard was unlike any I had tasted before! It was crunchy, juicy, and completely free of any unpleasant odor! Absolutely delicious.The duck meat in sukiyaki style was served first, and when I added rice that was slightly al dente, it created a delightful porridge-like dish. It was also delicious.As we approached the end, we had seigimo (kidney), Inka no Mezame butter candle, and rare grilled tsukune (chicken meatball).If you still have room, you can order more! This time, I added skin-on chicken neck and chōchin (chicken tail).I had never tried skin-on chicken neck before, but the skin was crispy, and the meat retained its juiciness, making it incredibly delicious.From start to finish, everything was truly delicious.To wrap up, we had grilled rice balls and soup curry. Even for someone like me who isn’t fond of spicy curry, the non-spicy soup curry was delightful.Every dish was clearly prepared with great care, and they were all incredibly delicious.It was a great meal. Thank you for the wonderful experience! Less

The sister restaurant was fantastic, so I had high expectations for the main branch, but it was a bit disappointing.■ Overall RatingDuring my last visit to Osaka, I couldn't get a reservation at this main branch and ended up going to the sister restaurant "Torisho Zen." It was surprisingly delicious, so I was excited to visit the main branch this time. However, to put it simply, my experience felt somewhat off. Overall, it seemed like "style outweighed substance"; while the performance aspect was sufficient, the quality of the food did not quite match up.■ Points of Concern and DisappointmentPacing was too fast:The overall tempo felt rushed, making me feel like I was being hurried to eat. I ordered a pairing of five types of alcohol, but before I had even finished my first drink, the second one was already being served (after I informed the staff, they adjusted the serving speed).Quality of the Yakitori:The chicken selected was too firm and had an overly strong texture, which, to be blunt, felt "hard."Taste and Atmosphere:The grilled mushrooms I ordered additionally did not taste as good as those at the sister restaurant, and overall, the flavors were just "average." This might have been influenced by the speed of the course serving and the fact that I accidentally reserved a private room, missing out on the lively atmosphere of the counter seats (where the chefs are).■ Positive AspectsExcellent Customer Service:I was fortunate to have a staff member from Taiwan, and the service in Chinese was outstanding. The other staff members also had a very good attitude, and I felt a nice effort in their communication, which left a positive impression.A Memorable Dish:The dish made with two-year-aged potatoes was surprisingly delicious. It was very sweet, and the texture was superb.■ Advice for Future VisitorsFor those who enjoy alcohol, I believe it’s worth trying the course with drinks. However, I recommend informing the staff in advance to "serve the drinks slowly." The total dining time was about two hours. Less

The event is divided into two sessions: one starting at 16:00 and the other at 18:30. In the 16:00 session, more than half of the guests are foreign tourists, and on some days, it might even be all foreign tourists. It’s true that you don’t often see yakitori when traveling abroad, so it might be considered a rare dish. After enjoying the full course, we can make individual requests for additional items. I usually ask for mushrooms, and let me tell you, they are huge and juicy! Eating them while they are warm and fluffy is simply exceptional. Of course, they can’t compete with the chicken, though! (laughs) Less