Restaurant in Nagoya, Japan
Serious wagyu, small room, book early.
A Tabelog Award winner every year since 2019, Nikuya Setsugekka Nagoya is the pick for a special-occasion yakiniku dinner near Nagoya Station. The 14-seat basement counter seats just 10 at the bar, with sommelier-supported sake and wine service. Budget JPY 20,000–30,000 listed; actual spend with drinks typically runs JPY 40,000–50,000. Book up to three months ahead.
Spend JPY 20,000–30,000 per head at dinner (reviews suggest actual spend runs closer to JPY 40,000–50,000 with drinks) and you get a Tabelog Award winner that has held recognition every year from 2019 through 2026, including Silver in 2020 and 2021. For a special-occasion yakiniku dinner in Nagoya, this is the booking to make. The 14-seat format, basement location near Nagoya Station, and sommelier-supported drinks list make it a better fit for a celebration meal than a casual weeknight out. If you want fine dining without the yakiniku format, consider Hachisen or Reminiscence instead.
Nikuya Setsugekka Nagoya sits in the basement of the Third Horiuchi Building in Meieki, a two-minute walk from Exit 5 of Nagoya Station and directly connected to the Unimall underground shopping area. It opened in August 2016 and is affiliated with Nikuya Tanaka in Ginza, Tokyo, under chef Satoru Tanaka. The Nagoya outpost has earned a Tabelog Award every year since 2019, peaking at Silver in 2020 and 2021, and carrying a current score of 4.03 on Tabelog. Google reviewers rate it 4.5 across 134 reviews. In the Nagoya restaurant landscape, this is one of the more consistently decorated yakiniku addresses available.
The room holds 14 seats: 10 at the counter and 4 in a private table configuration. The counter is the main draw for solo diners and couples; the private room accommodates groups of up to 4 for a seated meal, and the full space can be hired out for private events for up to 20 people. There is no smoking inside, though a smoking area exists elsewhere in the building. The space is described as stylish and relaxed, with spacious counter seating that suits a long, considered dinner rather than a quick meal.
The drinks program is taken seriously here. The venue stocks sake, shochu, and wine, with the team described as particularly focused on both sake and wine selections, and a sommelier is available. For a yakiniku dinner where pairing matters, that level of service is not standard across the category; most yakiniku restaurants in Japan do not offer sommelier support at this price point. If you are planning a corporate dinner or a celebration where the drinks list is part of the occasion, that is a genuine differentiator. Compare that to Cossott'e in Tokyo, which operates at a similar yakiniku tier but in a very different market.
Dinner runs Monday through Saturday, 17:00 to 23:00. Sunday is officially closed, though the venue occasionally opens on Sundays on request. International visitors should note that the restaurant specifically asks for a contactable phone number or email address when booking, and hotel concierge bookings require the same. Cancellation terms are firm: 50% of the meal cost for cancellations made the day before, 100% for same-day cancellations. Given the 14-seat capacity, that policy is practical rather than punitive, but it means you need to be committed before you confirm. Reservations can be made up to three months in advance.
A 10% service charge applies. Major credit cards are accepted (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted, so plan accordingly. Parking is not available on site, but coin parking is nearby. Junior high school-age children and above are welcome with advance notice.
For comparison elsewhere in Japan, Nagoya's award-winning restaurant scene also includes French Ryori Kochuten and Hama Gen for sushi. If you are building a broader Japan itinerary, other awarded destinations worth noting include HAJIME in Osaka, Harutaka in Tokyo, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, and Goh in Fukuoka. For Nagoya-specific planning across dining, stays, and more, see our guides: Nagoya hotels, Nagoya bars, Nagoya wineries, and Nagoya experiences.
Quick reference: Dinner only, Mon–Sat 17:00–23:00. JPY 20,000–30,000 listed; actual spend closer to JPY 40,000–50,000 with drinks. 14 seats. 10% service charge. Credit cards accepted. Book up to 3 months ahead at 052-433-1029 or nikuyasetugekka.jp.
Reservations are available up to three months in advance by phone (052-433-1029) or via the venue website at nikuyasetugekka.jp. Booking difficulty is rated Easy, though the 14-seat room means availability narrows quickly for weekend dates. International visitors and hotel concierges booking on behalf of guests must provide a contactable phone number or email address at time of booking. Cancellation terms apply strictly: 50% charge for cancellations made the day before, 100% for same-day cancellations.
No formal dress code is listed, but the setting warrants smart-casual at minimum. This is a basement counter with Tabelog Silver and Bronze recognition, a sommelier on staff, and dinner prices that run JPY 40,000–50,000 per head in practice. Turning up in casual streetwear would be out of place. Think along the lines of what you would wear to a mid-range fine-dining restaurant in Tokyo or Osaka: neat, put-together, and respectful of the room.
Yes, and the counter format is specifically suited to it. Ten of the 14 seats are counter seats, which for a yakiniku restaurant at this level is a deliberate configuration that works well for solo visitors. You will be eating at a price point of JPY 20,000–30,000 stated, likely closer to JPY 40,000–50,000 with drinks, so plan accordingly. Among Nagoya's award-winning restaurants, few yakiniku venues offer this kind of counter experience with sommelier service for a solo diner. If you are travelling solo through Japan and want a benchmark yakiniku meal, this is a practical choice. 1000 in Yokohama offers a different but comparably considered solo-dining counter experience at the other end of the cuisine spectrum.
There is no bar in the traditional sense, but the 10-seat counter functions as the main dining surface and is where most guests eat. For yakiniku at this level, the counter is the preferred seat, not a fallback. You will have full access to the sake, shochu, and wine list, with sommelier support available. If you want the counter rather than the private table, mention it when booking.
Groups of up to 4 can book the private table room. For larger events, the venue can accommodate private hire for up to 20 people across the full space. Call 052-433-1029 directly to discuss group bookings and confirm availability, as the standard online reservation path is designed for smaller parties. For groups wanting a Nagoya fine-dining experience across different cuisines, Hanaichi and Cucina Italiana Gallura are worth checking for rooms with larger group capacity.
The venue allows bookings up to three months in advance, and for a weekend or special-occasion date that lead time is worth using. With only 14 seats and consistent Tabelog Award recognition across eight consecutive years, popular dates fill up. For a weekday dinner you may find availability within a few weeks, but do not rely on that for a specific date. Book via phone at 052-433-1029 or at nikuyasetugekka.jp, and provide a contactable number or email address at the time of reservation.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikuya Setsugekka Nagoya | Yakiniku | Easy | |
| Cucina Italiana Gallura | Sushi | Unknown | |
| Hachisen | Kyoto Cuisine | Unknown | |
| il AOYAMA | Italian | Unknown | |
| Reminiscence | French | Unknown | |
| Tokusen | Japanese | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
No dress code is listed in the venue data, but the setting — a 14-seat basement room with a 10-seat counter, a sommelier on hand, and bills running JPY 40,000–50,000 with drinks — points firmly toward smart dress. Overly casual clothing would feel out of place. When in doubt, treat it like a serious dinner reservation rather than a casual grill night.
Yes. Ten of the 14 seats are counter seats, which makes solo dining a natural fit here. You get the full experience at the counter without needing a group. Book by phone at 052-433-1029 or via nikuyasetugekka.jp and note that the restaurant requests a contactable phone number or email for all reservations, including solo guests.
The venue has a 10-seat counter — that is the main dining format, not a separate bar. Sitting at the counter is the standard experience for most guests, so this is the right venue if counter dining appeals to you. The 4-seat private table is the only alternative configuration.
Groups of up to 20 can book the venue for private use. There is also a private room available for up to 4 people. For groups larger than 4 and up to 20, check the venue's official channels at 052-433-1029 to arrange exclusive use. With a strict cancellation policy (50% the day before, 100% same-day), confirm all group headcounts before locking in a date.
Book as early as possible — reservations open up to three months in advance, and a Tabelog Award winner with 14 seats fills quickly. For a weekend evening, three to four weeks minimum is a reasonable baseline; for specific dates or groups, go further out. International guests should note the restaurant explicitly asks for a contactable phone number or email address when reserving.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
