Nikuya Setsugekka Nagoya

About Nikuya Setsugekka Nagoya

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.