Restaurant in Osaka, Japan
10-seat fish-focused counter, book ahead.
Noguchi Taro is a 10-seat, counter-only Japanese cuisine restaurant in Osaka's Kitashinchi district, with nine consecutive Tabelog Bronze wins (2017–2026) and a fish-focused menu priced at JPY 20,000–39,999 all-in. Dinner only, Monday through Saturday. The right choice for two people who want serious, attentive counter dining — less suited to groups or anyone who prefers a table-and-chairs setup.
The most common misconception about Noguchi Taro is that a 10-seat counter in Kitashinchi will feel like a casual neighbourhood izakaya. It won't. This is a dinner-only, reservation-driven room where the price runs JPY 20,000–29,999 per head at the listed rate, with actual reviewer spend tracking closer to JPY 30,000–39,999 once drinks are factored in. That drink bill is easy to run up here: the kitchen's stated focus on fish is matched by a drinks program that takes sake and shochu seriously — the venue is explicit about being particular about both. If you've been once and ordered wine, go back and let the sake pairing do the work instead.
Noguchi Taro sits on the third floor of the Ohashi Building in Sonezakishinchi, Osaka's densely packed entertainment district. The room holds 10 seats, counter only, no private rooms available. That layout is the whole point: every seat faces the kitchen, every guest is at the same distance from the food. The Tabelog listing classifies the space as stylish and relaxing , and the counter format, while intimate, is designed for focused eating rather than sprawling group conversation. It has been that way consistently enough to earn Tabelog Bronze recognition every year from 2017 through 2026, a run of nine consecutive years that places it in a small category of Osaka restaurants with that kind of unbroken track record. It was also named to the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST Top 100 in 2021, 2023, and 2025. That longevity is the most persuasive credential on the page: this is not a room coasting on a recent opening , the format has held up across nearly a decade of scrutiny from Japan's most review-dense dining platform.
At JPY 30,000–39,999 all-in, Noguchi Taro sits in a tier where service expectations are high. The 10-seat counter format means the ratio of staff attention to diner is structurally strong , there is no back room to get lost in, no large party pulling focus. The fish-particular kitchen and the sake-particular drinks program both suggest a kitchen and floor team that have made deliberate choices about what they care about, which tends to translate into confident, knowledgeable service at the counter rather than the rote delivery you sometimes get in larger operations. Children are permitted, but only if they eat the full menu , a policy that signals the room is run with some discipline about the dining experience. Google reviewers rate it 4.4 across 130 reviews, which at this price point and this format indicates consistent execution rather than occasional brilliance. Compared to Kyoto's Gion Sasaki, which operates a similar counter-focused Japanese cuisine format, Noguchi Taro is a plausible Osaka equivalent for those who won't make the trip north. For fish-focused counter dining in Tokyo, Harutaka is the natural peer comparison.
Booking is available by reservation, rated easy difficulty. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 18:00 to midnight , closed Sundays and public holidays. No parking is available, but the venue is a 10-minute walk from Kitashinchi Station on the JR Tozai Line, and 139 metres from the Kitashinchi area proper. The building entrance is northeast of Avanza Dojima on Dojima-kami Street , third floor, west side of the intersection. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted. The venue can be booked for private use for groups of up to 20 people, which requires a separate arrangement from the standard 10-seat counter service. Reservations can be made through the venue's website at noguchitaro.com or by phone at 06-4796-8222.
Quick reference: Counter only, 10 seats, dinner from 18:00 Mon–Sat, JPY 20,000–39,999 all-in, reservations required, credit card accepted, 10 min walk from Kitashinchi Station.
| Venue | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Noguchi Taro | — | |
| HAJIME | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| La Cime | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
| Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama | ¥¥¥ | — |
| Taian | ¥¥¥ | — |
| Fujiya 1935 | ¥¥¥¥ | — |
A quick look at how Noguchi Taro measures up.
Yes — the bar is the only option. Noguchi Taro is a 10-seat counter-only restaurant on the third floor of the Ohashi Building in Sonezakishinchi, so every seat faces the kitchen. There is no table seating or private room option for regular bookings. If you prefer a more separated dining setup, this format will not suit you.
Come expecting a fish-focused, counter-format dinner starting at 18:00, priced at JPY 20,000–29,999 by the restaurant's own listing (reviewer spend averages JPY 30,000–39,999). Reservations are required — this is not a walk-in venue. The restaurant has held Tabelog Bronze consecutively since 2017 and appears on the Tabelog Japanese Cuisine WEST 100 list for 2021, 2023, and 2025, which signals consistent peer recognition over time, not a one-off spike.
For private-hire events, yes — the venue is available for exclusive use for up to 20 people. For standard reservations, the 10-seat counter limits group size considerably, so parties larger than four should plan carefully. There are no private rooms available for partial-group bookings.
For a similar counter-focused, Japanese cuisine format with comparable Tabelog credibility in Osaka, Taian and Kashiwaya Osaka Senriyama are the most direct comparisons at the kaiseki tier. La Cime and Fujiya 1935 work better if you want French-influenced technique rather than a fish-led Japanese approach. HAJIME is the step up if budget is not the constraint and you want Michelin three-star ambition.
Yes, with the right expectations. The 10-seat counter and fish-focused menu create an intimate setting that suits a dinner for two or a small group of close friends — Tabelog reviewers specifically flag the friends occasion as a top recommendation. The price point (JPY 30,000–39,999 all-in based on reviewer spend) matches a special occasion budget, and the Tabelog Bronze recognition from 2017 through 2026 gives you confidence the experience is consistent. Avoid it if your group needs private space or prefers a more formal separated-table setup.
Dinner only — Noguchi Taro does not serve lunch. The restaurant opens at 18:00 Monday through Saturday and closes at midnight, with Sundays and public holidays closed entirely. Plan accordingly, especially if you are combining dinner with other Kitashinchi plans.
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 18:00 - 00:00
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
