Tori Ichizu (鶏一途)

Chef Takao Nakagawa opened Tori Ichizu in 2008 after a career in large-scale hospitality, building a seven-seat counter restaurant in Kobe’s Sumiyoshi area around a philosophy of one skewer, one soul. The kitchen specializes in Omi heritage chicken from Shiga Prefecture, earning Bronze Tabelog Awards annually from 2017 through 2022 and continuous Tabelog Hyakumeiten yakitori WEST selection from 2018 through 2025 — among the longest active streaks on the list. The dining room is entirely non-smoking and cash-only, offering both a lunch menu and dinner service on most days.