Itamae Yakiniku Ichigyu Shinsaibashi

Restaurant Details

Ask the team at Itamae Yakiniku Ichigyu anything about wagyu, and they’ll likely have the answer.

The Osaka-based yakiniku chain, in its Shinsaibashi location, is unwaveringly obsessed with Japan's iconic beef — wagyu, a title reserved for only four specific breeds. This obsession is evident in every detail of the restaurant, from the countryside-slicing action and sunken dining spaces with built-in grills to the marbled meat posters adorning the walls. A lit-up display showcases thick, butcher-cut wagyu slabs bathed in red-hued lights.

The restaurant sources whole cows from top wagyu regions like Kobe, Sendai, Saga, Kumamoto, Yamagata, Kagoshima, Yamaguchi, and Miyazaki, adjusting the chosen suppliers based on the season’s best cows. It exclusively focuses on rare female cows, known for their softer, more melt-in-your-mouth texture compared to male beef.

The result is worth the effort. Meat experts in white chef uniforms lead the counter, slicing wagyu with precision right before diners' eyes in a way that doesn’t ruin their delicate structural integrity. The course, a 10-plus menu, is a lavish display of the red meat. Think pot-marinated skirt steak infused with tare sauce, delicate slices of raw wagyu topping perfectly pressed nigiri sushi, and salt-marinated beef tongue roasted to perfection. The meat gets further flavor notes from their homemade fruit-based sauce.

The space leans on the comfy side, with just enough hints of sophistication to make dining an event. A serene white color palette dominates the interior. Guests can choose from horigotatsu-style seating for group gatherings or enjoy the intimacy of semi-private rooms, thoughtfully partitioned by half-length noren curtains for added privacy.