Tenjinbashi Aoki

Aoki is a tiny 8-seat kaiseki restaurant in the Kita area that’s notoriously difficult to get reservations at, not least because it has 2 Michelin stars. Michelin hype isn’t everything, but the cooking at Aoki truly is stellar. Plan early if you must go.

[Tenjinbashi Aoki - image © Florentyna Leow]

Reservations at the 2 Michelin-starred Aoki are highly coveted, and for good reason - the meals here are amazing. Imagine a parade of around 10 exquisite, highly seasonal dishes in elegant, traditional Japanese surroundings, along with excellent sake. It doesn’t hurt that the restaurant is small and intimate, heightening the special experience even more. A dinner like this will set you back around JPY15,000 per person, especially if you’re ordering drinks.

[Tenjinbashi Aoki - image © Florentyna Leow]

Like the best restaurants around, the chef spares no effort in sourcing the best ingredients possible. The dashi is made from a particular kind of katsuobushi (skipjack bonito flakes - Makurazaki to be exact), while the simmered soup is made from the highly-prized Rishiri kelp that’s been aged for several years. While the meals change with the seasons, you might have, for instance, a sashimi platter of Wakayama rockfish, Kagoshima tiger prawn, and swordtip squid, paired with homemade ponzu. Or, if it’s in season, a truly sublime charcoal-grilled black throat perch with Okinawan spinach and tiny tomatoes.

Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the kind of place you can just walk into, either at lunch or dinner. Reservations here are highly coveted, and you’ll have to make your plans weeks if not months in advance. Either ask your hotel concierge to make the booking, or use an online concierge service to streamline the process. Unfortunately for solo travellers, Aoki does not take bookings from just one person, so make sure you recruit a friend to come along with you for the meal.

English name:
Tenjinbashi Aoki

Japanese name:
天神橋 青木

English address:
7-12-14 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, 531-0041

Japanese address:
〒531-0041 大阪市北区天神橋7-12-14

Opening hours:
5pm-8:30pm
Closed Sunday

Price:

Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking

Reservations:
Necessary

Nearest Transport:
Subway and Train: 3-minute walk from exit 6 of Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome Station on the Osaka Metro Tanimachi and Sakaisuji Lines, and Hankyu Senri Line.

Telephone:
+81-6-6940-0403

Website:
none

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Tenjinbashi Aoki on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Tenjinbashi Aoki is located in Osaka’s Kita and Umeda district. See our complete list of things to do in the Kita and Umeda district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Best Osaka Restaurants
See our list of the best Osaka restaurants for even more ideas about great places to eat in Osaka.

Where Are These Places Located?

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

---