Restaurant in Amagasaki, Japan
Eight seats. Book early. Worth it.
Yakitori Taniguchi is an eight-seat counter in Amagasaki that has held Tabelog Bronze status four times and appeared on the Yakitori West 100 list every year since 2021. At JPY 15,000–19,999 per head, it delivers precision yakitori built around rare Kousaka Chicken. Book through Tabelog only — no phone, no walk-ins — and arrive on time.
Getting a seat at Taniguchi requires planning, but the effort is lower than you might expect for a venue with this award record. Reservations are only accepted through Tabelog — no phone bookings, no walk-ins, no asking in person during service. If you can secure a spot, the combination of a Tabelog score of 4.35, four consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026), and five straight years on the Tabelog Yakitori West 100 list tells you this is the most consistently recognised yakitori counter in the Amagasaki area. Book it.
Opened in April 2018, Taniguchi is an eight-seat, counter-only yakitori restaurant in Minamimukonoso, Amagasaki, a four-minute walk south of Hankyu Mukonoso Station. The format is intimate by design: one counter, two seatings per evening (from 16:30 and from 19:00), no private rooms, no large groups. The focus ingredient is Kousaka Chicken, a breed sourced for its rarity and flavour depth — this is the anchor of the menu and the reason the venue's award credentials hold up against yakitori counters in Osaka and Kyoto.
At JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 per head at the listed budget (with some reviewer-reported spending reaching JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999), Taniguchi sits at the premium end of yakitori pricing. For context, serious yakitori in Tokyo or Osaka at this award tier typically lands in the same range, so the price is consistent with the category rather than a premium for novelty. What you are paying for is precision grilling over charcoal, a rare-breed chicken as the central ingredient, and a counter format where the chef works directly in front of eight guests per sitting. The drinks list covers sake, shochu, and wine, which is appropriate for the format.
The service approach at Taniguchi reflects the cooking philosophy: strict, focused, and built around the food rather than hospitality theatre. Perfume is actively discouraged. Latecomers more than 15 minutes past their reservation time will be turned away and charged a cancellation fee. These are not unusual policies for serious counter restaurants in Japan, but they are worth knowing before you book. This is not a venue for a relaxed social dinner where timing is approximate , it rewards guests who arrive prepared and on time. The non-smoking environment and no-cash policy (cards, electronic money, and QR payments only) are practical details that matter when planning.
For food and travel enthusiasts making a trip to the Hanshin area, Taniguchi represents a specific kind of value: a counter that has held its award status consistently since at least 2021, in a neighbourhood that sees far fewer international visitors than Osaka or Kyoto. That location works in your favour for booking , the competition for seats is primarily local rather than tourist-driven, which makes Taniguchi one of the more accessible award-recognised yakitori counters in the Kansai region.
Compare it to comparable experiences in the region: Gion Sasaki in Kyoto operates at a similar prestige level but in a kaiseki format that is significantly harder to book and more expensive. akordu in Nara and Goh in Fukuoka are worth considering if your itinerary extends beyond Hyogo, but neither offers yakitori at this credential level. For Amagasaki dining more broadly, Ogitani covers Japanese cuisine and seafood if yakitori is not your format.
Reservations are made exclusively through Taniguchi's Tabelog page. Phone bookings are not accepted under any circumstances. If you are running late due to transport delays, you can send a text message (not a call) to 070-9178-1194. Plan to arrive on time , the cancellation policy is enforced.
If you are building a wider itinerary, Pearl's guides cover the full picture: our full Amagasaki restaurants guide, Amagasaki hotels, bars, wineries, and experiences. For yakitori and counter dining elsewhere in Japan, HAJIME in Osaka operates at the leading of the Kansai fine dining tier (French and innovative, ¥¥¥¥), while Harutaka in Tokyo is the sushi counter benchmark if that format is on your list. Further afield, 1000 in Yokohama, Abon in Ashiya, affetto akita in Akita, and Aji Arai in Oita are all Pearl-tracked venues worth considering depending on your route. For high-end reference points outside Japan, Le Bernardin in New York City and Atomix in New York City represent the equivalent counter-format precision at the leading of the American market. 6 in Okinawa is worth noting for travellers extending their Japan trip south.
Yes , the entire restaurant is a counter. All eight seats are counter seats, so every guest at Taniguchi eats at the bar. There is no table seating option, and no private room. This counter format is central to the experience: the chef works directly in front of a small group, which is what justifies the JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 price point for a yakitori meal.
Only up to eight people, and even that would require booking the full counter. In practice, the format suits couples and small groups of three or four more comfortably. Private use of the venue is listed as unavailable, and there are no private rooms. If you are planning a larger group dinner in Amagasaki, this is not the right venue , look at options with private dining capacity instead.
Booking difficulty is rated easy to moderate. Because Taniguchi draws primarily local diners rather than international tourists, availability tends to be better than comparable award-recognised counters in Osaka city or Kyoto. That said, with only eight seats and two seatings per evening, the absolute capacity is very low. Booking one to two weeks ahead through Tabelog is a reasonable approach for most dates; popular evenings may need more lead time.
Yes, with conditions. The price (JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 per head, with some spending higher), the Tabelog 4.35 score, and the four consecutive Bronze Awards make it a credible special-occasion choice. The counter setting is focused and intimate rather than celebratory in a traditional sense , there is no room for large parties or theatrical service. It works well for a dinner where the food is the occasion rather than a backdrop to celebration. If you need a private room or a more flexible atmosphere, consider venues with that infrastructure.
Taniguchi is dinner only. The venue opens from 16:30 with two evening seatings; there is no lunch service. Budget accordingly: the JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 listed price reflects an evening meal, and reviewer-reported spending suggests costs can reach JPY 20,000 to JPY 29,999 depending on drinks and ordering.
For Japanese cuisine and seafood in Amagasaki, Ogitani is the closest Pearl-tracked alternative. If you are open to travelling slightly further in the Kansai region, Abon in Ashiya is a short distance away. For top-tier fine dining in the broader area, HAJIME in Osaka operates at the highest award tier in the region, though in a French innovative format at a significantly higher price point and with more demanding booking requirements. Taniguchi is the strongest case for award-recognised yakitori specifically in this part of Hyogo.
Yes — it's the only option. Taniguchi is a counter-only restaurant with eight seats, no private rooms, and no tables. If you prefer a more flexible seating setup, this format won't suit you, but for solo diners or pairs who want a front-row view of the grill, it's the right call.
Not comfortably. With only eight counter seats and no private rooms, the venue doesn't lend itself to groups. Parties of two are the natural fit; four people would occupy half the restaurant. Private use is not available, so if you need a group dining format, look elsewhere.
Book as early as possible. Reservations are made exclusively through Taniguchi's Tabelog page — phone and walk-in bookings are not accepted under any circumstances. For a Tabelog Bronze winner rated 4.35 with only eight seats, availability moves fast, especially on weekends. Build lead time into your planning.
Yes, with caveats. At JPY 15,000–19,999 per head (with some reviewer spending reaching JPY 20,000–29,999), and with Tabelog Bronze recognition every year from 2022 to 2026, the quality case is there. The eight-seat counter is intimate but casual in format — there are no private rooms and no dress code listed, so if your occasion calls for formality or privacy, this isn't the right venue.
Dinner only. Taniguchi does not offer lunch service — the budget entry for lunch is listed as a dash in Tabelog's data. Two evening seatings are available, starting from 16:30 and 19:00 respectively, running through to 22:00.
Taniguchi is the only venue in Amagasaki on Tabelog's Yakitori WEST Top 100 list, so direct local comparisons are limited. For a broader Kansai yakitori search, Tabelog's regional rankings are the most practical starting point. If you're weighing a trip from Osaka, the four-minute walk from Hankyu Mukonoso Station makes Taniguchi accessible enough to justify the journey on its own.
■Business hoursFrom 18:00 onwards■Closed onNot fixedCash payments are not accepted; cards only.
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