Local Guide
5 recommended yakitori restaurants in Nagato City, the

Nagato Yakitori" is one of the most delicious delicacies of Nagato City, along with seafood. Nagato, with its Senzaki Port and thriving fishing industry, began to produce its specialty, kamaboko, in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The poultry farming industry also developed in parallel, using the fish grounds generated in the process as bait. An agricultural cooperative specializing in poultry farming was established, a rarity in Japan, and the area became one of the leading chicken meat production areas in western Japan. The number of yakitori restaurants, which have gradually increased due to the easy access to fresh chicken meat, is now one of the highest in Japan per 100,000 people. This article introduces five recommended restaurants in Nagato, the "town of yakitori. We will visit some of the oldest and most popular yakitori restaurants in Nagato, and other restaurants with a variety of personalities that are sure to become repeat customers.

A wide variety of excellent skewers of "Choshu Kuro-Kashiwa" and "Choshu Tori" (Choshu chicken)!

From left to right:
From left to right: "Choshu Kuro Kashiwa" "Sasami" (280 yen per skewer), "Momo" (280 yen per skewer), "Tebasumoto" (330 yen per skewer)

A famous restaurant that spread the charm of Nagato yakitori to the world. Nagato Yakitori uses the common "Choshu chicken" and the "Choshu black Kashiwa," which is a more particular type of chicken in terms of its breeding method. The restaurant offers three types of skewers of Choshu Kurokashiwa: "Tebasaki," which has a crispy and savory skin, "Momo," which is a hearty and satisfying skewer that lets you enjoy the flavor of the meat, and "Sasami," which is served with two kinds of paste, one plum and the other wasabi.
Choshu chicken skewers are also delicious. One of our recommendations is the chicken skin, which is boiled once during the preparation stage to remove excess fat, giving it an irresistible savory flavor. You will want to eat as many as you can.

This restaurant is synonymous with Nagato yakitori. The secret of its popularity is its extensive menu.

The spacious tatami room, counter seats, and private rooms make it easy to use the restaurant by yourself or in a group.
The spacious tatami room, counter seats, and private rooms make it easy to use the restaurant by yourself or in a group.

The owner of Nagato Yakitori Restaurant is a key figure in promoting Nagato as the "City of Yakitori" throughout Japan, and the restaurant is synonymous with Nagato yakitori. Since its establishment, all Staff/staff members have been women, and the restaurant is well-received by families and women's groups for its ease of use, even for non-alcoholic customers.
In addition to the standard skewers, the restaurant offers a wide variety of creative skewers such as "Yamaimo Maki" and "Shiitake Tuna Cheese. In addition to dried local fish such as "Heitaro" and "Kintaro," the restaurant also offers a wide variety of a la carte dishes, allowing diners to enjoy Nagato's famous mountain and sea delicacies with yakitori as the main dish.

Local Guide Comment
The "Nagatori-men" (chicken noodle soup) is an absolute must. You can enjoy the taste of Nagato's all-natural ingredients, such as chicken stock, skin, and vegetables from Choshu black kashiwa chicken, a broth made with locally produced soy sauce, and tender Choshu chicken chashu pork.
Yakitoriya Chikuzen Sohonten
  • Address 892-1 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from JR Nagato City Station
  • Business Hours 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 0837-22-0735
  • Parking Free of charge

A rare restaurant open for lunch. Set meals featuring yakitori are recommended.

Yakitori of
Yakitori of "Choshu-dori" (Choshu chicken) are priced from 150 yen per piece, with "momo" (thigh) and "tsukune" (chicken ball) being the most popular. During lunch hours, set menus are available.

This is a sister restaurant of the famous "Chikuzen Sohonten" introduced earlier. Fresh local Choshu chicken is skewered every morning and carefully grilled over a charcoal fire, creating an exquisite taste. It is one of the few yakitori restaurants open for lunch, and the most popular dishes are "momo" and "tsukune". The lunch-only set meal "Sakura Gohan" includes these two items plus one skewer of the day's special, and is served in a set with sashimi and other local fish. Of course, you are also welcome to add individual items.
The "Naga Chiki," fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce, is a must-try on evenings when the menu is full of single items. Hot and freshly fried with plenty of juices, it is one of the restaurant's prized items, along with its yakitori.

Popular among tourists and families. Take-out is available from a single skewer.

In addition to counter seating, there is also tatami room seating that can be partitioned off into fusu.
In addition to counter seating, there is also tatami room seating that can be partitioned off into fusu.

The restaurant is located on a street along the Onshin River in Nagato's Yumoto hot spring resort area. Like its sister restaurant "Chikuzen," it is run by a female owner and is popular with children and groups of women. It is also popular among tourists because they can stop by during lunch hours. Walking around the neighborhood is also a fun way to enjoy eating, and takeout is available from a single skewer. It is also recommended to sit on the riverside and enjoy yakitori.
At night, in addition to yakitori, there is a full menu of a la carte dishes that can be enjoyed with drinks. You can enjoy nodoguro (northern bluefin tuna), kensaki squid dried overnight, and other delicacies.

Local Guide Comment
Chicken Chicken Gobo" is the soul food of Yamaguchi Prefecture, consisting of fried chicken and fried burdock with sweet and spicy sauce, and is served yakitori style on skewers instead of the usual style of serving on a plate. It is an inevitable and irresistible taste that makes you want to eat it again and again.
Yakitori Sakura Shokudo
  • Address 1272-6 Fukagawa-Yumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi-ken MAP
  • Direction 10 min. walk from JR Nagato Yumoto Stn.
  • Business hours 11:00 - 14:30 (L.O. 14:00), 17:00 - 22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Regular holiday Thursdays (open if Thursday is a national holiday, closed on another day)
  • TEL 0837-25-3660
  • Parking None (use Nagato Yumoto hot spring parking lot)
  • Memo Reservations accepted only at night

Also, look out for the creative menu. A restaurant behind the station loved by local customers.

From left to right: The famous
From left to right: The famous "Tomarigi Skewer" (180 yen per skewer), "Hatsu" (120 yen), "Pork Belly" (150 yen), and "Tsukune" (160 yen).

This restaurant is located on the west side of Nagato Station, where a variety of restaurants line the streets. A red lantern with the word "Yakitori" written on it is a landmark. The specialty "Tomarigi-Kushi" was created to let people know the deliciousness of Choshu chicken "momo" (thigh). The flavor of the two sauces, tomato garlic and basil, is a perfect match for the rich flavor of the chicken thigh.
The owner, who used to be a chicken handler, is well versed in the tastes of each part of the chicken and is eager to come up with creative menu items such as "Tomarugi Skewers" and "Liver Stewed in Red Wine.

Excellent yakitori made with careful preparation. Be sure to check out the rare parts!

Inside the restaurant, there are mainly counter seats. The aroma of yakitori grilled over charcoal is appetizing.
Inside the restaurant, there are mainly counter seats. The aroma of yakitori grilled over charcoal is appetizing.

The regular skewers are also excellent. The "liver" and "sunazuri" are carefully soaked in water to remove the smell, and the "chicken skin" is thoroughly prepared by boiling the skin beforehand. The salt is also homemade. We recommend the "Hatsu," in which three chicken hearts are lined up on a skewer. You can enjoy the exquisite elasticity and flavor of the meat.
Check the whiteboard in the restaurant for the day's recommendation and available items. Along with the standard Nagato Yakitori, please enjoy our exquisite menu that defies categorization as Japanese.

Local Guide Comment
Be sure to check out the yakitori parts that are only available when the restaurant stocks them. One of them is "Hatsumoto," the part of the aorta located in the heart, and only 6 or 7 birds' worth are used for each skewer. The rich and robust flavor is sure to impress.
Yakitori Tomarigi
  • Address 946 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from JR Nagato Station
  • Business Hours 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 0837-22-7174
  • Parking None

The new face of Nagato Yakitori, focusing on safe ingredients.

Kawa Tanakaya's special sauce grilled Choshu black kawa (230 yen per piece) and chu-hi
Kawa Tanakaya's special sauce grilled Choshu black kawa (230 yen per piece) and chu-hi "homemade honey lemon" (630 yen).

The restaurant offers yakitori and a la carte dishes made with ingredients from Nagato City and Yamaguchi Prefecture. Recommended is the "kawa," a rarely distributed Choshu black kashiwa. The taste is exquisite, with a special homemade sauce made from locally brewed soy sauce, brown sugar, fruit, and other ingredients. The surface is crispy, and when chewed, it has just the right amount of elasticity. The more you taste it, the more the flavor fills your mouth.
The "white liver" of Choshu chicken is also a must-try. The white color of the liver is evidence of its rich fat content, and the entire liver is cooked over a charcoal fire with just the right amount of heat. The soft texture and rich flavor are blissful delicacies.

A restaurant where you can enjoy Nagato's delicacies in a relaxed atmosphere, just like at home.

The restaurant has both counter and tatami room seating. The restaurant is committed to hospitality based on the spirit of the tea ceremony,
The restaurant has both counter and tatami room seating. The restaurant is committed to hospitality based on the spirit of the tea ceremony, "Issa Kenritsu.

This restaurant is the long-cherished dream of the owner, who has devoted himself to the promotion of "Nagato Yakitori" as a member of the Regional Development Cooperation Team. The name of the restaurant, "Ie" (house), is a reflection of the owner's wish that everyone, from children to the elderly, can relax and feel at home here.
In addition to the traditional charbroiled dishes such as yakitori and sake, the restaurant also offers a variety of family-friendly dishes such as yakitori donburi (yakitori bowl). The restaurant is particular about using safe ingredients that are produced by local farmers, and its commitment to local production for local consumption is reflected in the charcoal fire that brings out the best flavors. Local Nagato "Misumi Charcoal" is blended with prefectural charcoal.

Local Guide Comment
The Tanaka family's special chu-hi drinks are popular for their presentation with fruit ice, such as "homemade honey lemon," "summer orange," and "yuzukichi" (630 yen each), and the "oichu" (370 yen) is a great value. Rare local sake "Miyoshi" is also purchased directly from the brewer.
Charcoal Yakitori Tanakaya
  • Address 864-1 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 1 min. walk from South Exit of JR Nagato Station
  • Business hours 17:00-22:00
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 0837-27-0505
  • Parking Free of charge

Look out for the restaurant's unique skewers, such as "Tamago" and "Kawa" chicken wings!

From left to right:
From left to right: "Kimo", "Tamago", "Torimame", "Kawa", "Kashiwa" (from 162 yen per piece) and "Sunasashi" (540 yen)

The oldest Nagato Yakitori restaurant has been in business for 75 years. The most popular staples are "Kashiwa", "Kimo", and "Kawa". Kawa" is generally made from the neck, but the restaurant uses the tip of the chicken wing, called sakihada. It is characterized by the fact that a little of the meat remains, and the balance of the deliciousness of the skin and the meat is exquisite. It is addictive and delicious.
The egg is the yolk of the hen before it is encased in the shell, and can be ordered only on days when the restaurant stocks it. Sunasashi," sashimi with sandy meat (not available on Wednesdays and Sundays when the market is closed), can only be ordered in Nagato, where fresh, morning-fresh chicken meat is distributed. Don't miss it.

The starting point of Nagato Yakitori's history, the restaurant where the standard style was born

Enjoy touching each other at the counter
Enjoy touching each other at the counter

The restaurant is also said to be the birthplace of Nagato's classic style of yakitori, in which the chicken is sandwiched between onions instead of leeks and sprinkled with garlic powder. The dish is also characterized by the addition of yuzu kosho (Japanese citrus pepper) on the plate, if desired. The spiciness and rich flavor of the yakitori go perfectly with the yakitori that has had excess fat removed from it over the charcoal fire.
The restaurant has only counter seating, so even if you see other people you don't know, you will feel right at home. The comfortable atmosphere is another reason why the restaurant is loved not only by locals but also by many tourists.

Local Guide Comment
The restaurant opens at 2:00 p.m., making it easy for tourists to stop by, and if you come early, you do not have to worry about running out of rare items such as "Sunasashi" or other rare parts of yakitori.
Yakitori Koumori
  • Address 911 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 3 minutes walk from JR Nagato Station
  • Business Hours 14:00-21:00 (L.O. 20:45)
  • Closed Tuesdays
  • TEL 0837-22-0617
  • Parking None
  • Memo Reservations not accepted, occasional closing
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.