The Verdict
Sushi Kawaguchi opened in February 2026 in the Dojima area of Kitashinchi, Osaka’s dense restaurant district, as the first solo counter of chef Satoshi Kawaguchi. His pedigree is the headline: eight years at Sushi Harasho, which in 2026 is the only Osaka sushiya holding two Michelin stars continuously, followed by five years at the two-star Sushi Saeki, where he later ran the kitchen after Saeki relocated to Ginza.
The format is a single seven-seat counter serving a set omakase at one shared start time in the evening, with the dinner course listed at 27,500 yen on its reservation page. The style blends the edomae technique of his two mentors with his own touch: cooked openers such as abalone and octopus are served before the run of hand-pressed nigiri, a deliberate, traditional pacing rather than a parade of fish.
Because it is new, it carries no Michelin star or ranking of its own yet — the credential is the chef’s training, not the restaurant’s record. For diners who want to sit in front of a serious Kitashinchi sushi chef early in a place’s life, before the waitlist hardens, that is precisely the appeal.
What to Expect
There is one path: the chef’s set omakase, listed at 27,500 yen for dinner. Expect cooked openers — abalone and octopus are served before the nigiri — followed by a run of hand-pressed edomae sushi made one piece at a time. The seven-seat counter starts together, so arrive on time, skip strong fragrance as the restaurant requests, and let chef Kawaguchi set the order and pace of the meal.
The Room
Sushi Kawaguchi is a seven-seat counter on the second floor at Dojima 1-1-20 in Kita-ku, about seven minutes’ walk from Kitashinchi and Hanshin Umeda stations and twelve from JR Osaka. Dinner begins at a single shared start time, and the room is closed Sundays and public holidays. With only seven seats and limited services, it is an intimate, counter-focused room rather than a large dining hall.
Why It Works for a Counter Occasion
A seven-seat counter with one chef makes Sushi Kawaguchi a strong choice for a quiet anniversary for two, a small, serious dinner to impress a client in Kitashinchi, or a focused solo seat in front of the chef. The set omakase and shared start time give the evening a clear shape, and the chef’s two-star training is the assurance behind it.
Not For
It is not a casual, walk-in, or large-group meal: seven seats, a single start time and a 27,500-yen set omakase mean it suits planned, smaller bookings. It carries no Michelin star or ranking of its own yet, so anyone who wants a proven, decorated counter rather than a promising new one may prefer Kawaguchi’s former houses, Sushi Harasho or Sushi Saeki.
Reservations
Reservations are essential given the seven seats, and are taken through the restaurant’s booking page and by phone. Dinner runs at a single shared start time in the evening, and the counter is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Arrive punctually and avoid strong perfume, which the restaurant specifically asks of guests at the counter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the chef at Sushi Kawaguchi in Osaka?
The chef is Satoshi Kawaguchi, who trained for eight years at Sushi Harasho, the only Osaka sushiya holding two Michelin stars continuously as of 2026, and for five years at the two-star Sushi Saeki, later running its kitchen. He opened Sushi Kawaguchi as his first solo counter in February 2026.
How much is the omakase at Sushi Kawaguchi?
The dinner omakase is listed at 27,500 yen on the restaurant’s reservation page. It is a set course served at the seven-seat counter at one shared start time, beginning with cooked openers such as abalone and octopus before a run of hand-pressed edomae nigiri made one piece at a time.
Does Sushi Kawaguchi have a Michelin star?
Not yet. The restaurant only opened in February 2026, so it carries no Michelin star or ranking of its own. The credential it trades on is chef Satoshi Kawaguchi’s training at two two-Michelin-star sushiya, Sushi Harasho and Sushi Saeki, rather than any award the new counter has earned.
Where is Sushi Kawaguchi and how do I book?
It is a seven-seat counter on the second floor at Dojima 1-1-20 in Kita-ku, Osaka, in the Kitashinchi district about seven minutes from Kitashinchi station. Reservations are essential and taken via its booking page and by phone; dinner runs at a single start time, and it is closed Sundays and holidays.
Also in Osaka
To compare the counter with the houses that shaped Kawaguchi, Sushi Saeki and Sushi Harasho are both in the city, and Koryu shows Osaka’s three-star kaiseki at the highest level. Each is linked below.