Yakitori Ichimatsu

Much like ramen shops, yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurants come in all shapes and sizes. There are countless street corner eateries where you can give it a try, but expect wildly variable results. For those who want something with a little more luxury, Osaka offers the perfect solution in Yakitori Ichimatsu, a counter yakitori restaurant which holds a Michelin star. The menu is an omakase (chef’s choice) set course with about 20 small dishes and skewers. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned veteran, there’s bound to be a dish or two which surprised you among the likes of chicken breast sashimi, neck meat, thigh meat that’s been wind dried for seven days, fallopian tubes, grilled duck, and even a ricotta cheese oden cooked in chicken broth. The preparations for each dish are on full display at the rectangular stone counter, covered by a widened imposing extractor hood which draws up the smoke from the charcoals, leaving the room comfortably clear. You’ll be enjoying only the best meat from start to finish, with the guarantee that every dish uses the Hinai breed of chicken — one of the three most highly-rated breeds in Japan.