Taian

Okay, I'll be honest here, I'm quite conflicted. 3 Michelin stars, but less than 4 average on Google maps was quite surprising to me. I read up on it and went into the experience with lower expectations, which is crazy due to this having 3 Michelin stars, that's supposed to mean it's worth traveling to Japan to just eat here! First impression is that the service is not what you expect, it's quite casual, noone takes your bags, you put them yourselves underneath the table, there's a no smoking sign and a sign showing free Wi-Fi, not sure why that's needed at a upscale place. Food was good, but it was not anything mind blowing honestly, I think all the servings had something that was great/amazing, something that was good, and something that was meh. So overall it was just good, but that is disappointing, it's supposed to be amazing. There are glimpses of brilliant, the tuna sashimi was amazing, the shellfish in egg yolk was really good. But it's just not enough to pull it up more. I went in with lower expectations and somehow still leave a bit disappointed. I guess at least the price is good and cheaper than most Michelin places.

Food was really amazing. Worthy of the 3 stars. Excellent sake and wine pairing that allows you to get tipsy enough to enjoy thr evening. Excellent service by the old aunty that keeps trying to explain the dish despite her limited english. However, the Chef is anal about keeping the restaurant quiet and will not hesitate to stop you if you are making small annoyiny noise. This kinda dampen the mood when you are already high on the alcohol.

We came here with an open mind but were sadly disappointed. The only courses I liked was the sea urchin, raw fish and fruits (things they didn’t cook). All the other courses had flavours that shouldn’t have mixed and it made me very nauseous. I have tried other one and two star michelin places and I wonder how this place even got one star. After leaving the restaurant, I felt so nauseous that I threw up the entire dinner 5 meters away from the restaurant. My friend had major stomach ache and diarrhea the same night. It was definitely an experience, one that I won’t forget. I definitely would say to save your money and go to anywhere else.

Very surprising. The strength of this omakase is their cold dishes and soups, genuinely impressive, and made with so much precision, layering, and heart. However, their main and hot dishes felt average and trite. It was a strong contrast.

Where do I even begin? Me and the boys were coming into Taian with very low expectations given these reviews, but in our minds we thought that surely a 3-star michelin establishment would be decent enough. The good: While the dishes were bare-bones simple, this also meant that there was no room for error, in which I am happy to say they nailed it especially with the star of the course being the fish that balanced immaculate texture with the subtle flavours that combine together to paint a picture of the oceans and the flora on my taste buds. The bad: Hair was in one of the dishes, and a fly/mosquito was on another one. There was a language barrier, so it was difficult trying to explain how the food they served presented a bit of a health risk. Eventually we got there in the end and we were provided replacements of the dishes that should've been served hazard-free to begin with, but oh well. Overall: I can see this place barely qualifying for a Michelin star, but to be awarded 3 is a bit of a question mark. The courses dishes themselves were good, but our experience we had for that dinner session was quite disappointing with a lack of care in food preparation.

An unpretentious 3 Michelin-starred restaurant, Taian is the kind of place where you truly appreciate honest-to-goodness food, cooked in the best possible way. It’s not about flash or theatrics—it’s about letting top-quality ingredients and expert technique quietly speak for themselves. Located just a pleasant 20-minute walk from my hotel, Taian immediately made an impression with its calm, inviting atmosphere. What truly elevated the experience was the warm hospitality of Chef Hitoshi Takahata and his gracious wife. Their presence made the space feel less like a fine-dining establishment and more like a welcoming home. Every course was beautifully plated, a subtle work of art that never felt overdone. But what really mattered was the taste—refined, seasonal, and deeply satisfying. One dish that left a lasting mark was the pan-fried scallop with Japanese rice crackers. It looked simple and unassuming, but the texture and flavor were unforgettable—a perfect example of how Taian delivers understated excellence. For my main, I stepped out of my usual comfort zone. I tend to favor beef or pork, but the grilled fish I ordered was a revelation. It was hands down one of the best grilled fish dishes I’ve ever had—expertly cooked, flavorful, and so well-balanced it made me reconsider my usual choices going forward. Taian is the kind of restaurant that earns its stars not just through technique, but through heart. The food is elegant yet grounded, the service personal yet unobtrusive. If you’re in Osaka and want to experience a Michelin-starred meal that feels sincere and soulfully crafted, Taian is an absolute must.

We had a great experience. Dishes were refreshing and fresh. This restaurant deserves all the stars it can get. We got a bottle of sake to accompany our dishes but there is also a sake/wine pairing available. You can choose your main course and there are many options to choose from. We selected the eel and ribs. The staff explains the dishes every time and they are really kind, ensuring your comfort. This was the best dinner I had in Japan.

Came here for dinner. Mostly foreigners like me sitting at the counter. Chef does not like people conversing with another and would have the shush finger quite often. Chef needs to read the atmosphere of the patrons who All were socializing and not look so grumpy and wanting to shush everyone. This definitely does not deserve 3 Michelin stars. I've been to a few Japanese Michelin restaurants and really this is more like a 1. Food is good and the eel dish was superb. Otherwise the remaining dishes were ok. Nothing out of this world. I expected there to be at least otoro in the sashimi mix but only chutoro.. on par with about izakayas sashimi mix... Noticed other people didn't finish the dessert either.I even went to family Mart afterwards. Id early rather go to kikunoi roan for lunch then come here for dinner again. Lost my trust in Michelin. This is just simply nicely made food at a high price in a sterile preferred environment.

My husband and I decided to have our last dinner in Japan at Tai An and it did not disappoint. Chef Takahata serves traditional kaiseki meals with a modern twist that will leave your palates both satisfied and wanting more at the same time. He is able to tame the most pungent of seafood with mild Japanese flavors to bring guests a true taste of realistic Japanese cuisine; which is a testament to the chef's unique understanding of flavors, technique, and execution. Service is run between one waiter and one waitress whom is the wife of the chef. It's does not at all feel intrusive and they make sure you're comfortable throughout your entire experience. The husband and wife duo make the meal feel so homey. The decor is traditional Japanese and there is calligraphy and art work displayed throughout the restaurant from the chefs father and daughter. It truly feels like you're dining in their home. Very unique experience. Of note, my husband whom usually detests Michelin rated restaurants absolutely loved the food so that's a plus. Well deserving of its 3 Michelin star rating. Please take the time to eat at Tai An if you are in Osaka.

Outstanding food. Impeccable service. Warm and inviting atmosphere. Left me desiring more. The chef was very kind as well.

Set near a big shopping district and with a strip-mall-restaurant feel to it, I'm pretty confused about how this place got its 3 Michelin stars. I'll break it down: Service was okay, but truly average compared to any Japanese restaurant that tries to charge more than $20 a head for dinner. English skills were marginal, chefs rotely and wordlessly go about their tasks, servers merely drop food off and don't have much to say even when I asked questions. The food was, at times, inspired, but mostly took advantage of local ingredients that are considered delicacies (and hence expensive) but not particularly tasty. Some examples include a condensed seaweed appetizer served cold that felt stringy and slimy to my (admittedly, not well-developed) Western palate. Dishes like blowfish, which are impressive to locals but lost on Western tastes, abound. More details here: ow.ly/N8ou3009of9 The interior decor was simple and well-laid-out, but the atmosphere of the place was overly casual and didn't line up with the 3-star experience I was expecting. People chat loudly, stare at their phones. Unshaven chefs look in the distance as they wait for their turn to help prepare a dish. The overall spirit of the place felt disheveled and confused. I enjoyed my meal, but wouldn't return.

I'm prefacing this review by saying that I have only dined at one other Michelin star restaurant...Le Bernardin. So I am basing my review on that. I was holding this restaurant to a lot higher standard with more expectations. Also, I love to eat, but am not sure I have the most sophisticated palate. With that said, we really wanted to try a special restaurant while in Japan. For those of you who have visited Japan before, you will know that it is pretty hard to make a reservation. Restaurants there are not known to be friendly to foreign visitors. They aren't big and don't have lots of seats. And most don't speak english. So the main ways you can go about making dining reservations is via hotel concierge or third party concierge. My friend booked via TableAll. We just wanted to try a Michelin star restaurant and found Osaka to be easier. We were initially ecstatic to have gotten a reservation at Taian (a 3 star). HOwever, after doing some research, I wasn't sure what to expect. Meal price, including Tableall fee was around $200 per person. Most other 3 star restaurants were going for a lot more. This should have been the first sign. We got reservation for Thursday night at 8pm. Ambiance/Location: We took a cab and he dropped us right in front of the restaurant. There is not English sign for it out front, so I went based off of pics I saw of it. The restaurant had only 1 table (set up for our party of 4) and bar seating (maybe 10-12 seats). Aesthetically it was very simple and decorated in typical Japanese fashion. Restroom was very clean. Service: Excellent throughout. The main server spoke decent English. Everything was explained properly. For the most part, the service was great, just not sure if it is 3 michelin star worthy. For example, water was not served until requested (not sure if this is a Japanese thing or not). Meals were not brought out together (they would serve us 1-2 at a time and then go back to the kitchen for the other plates). The timing of the food was pretty good. NOt too slow, not too fast. Cool aspect was that sake glasses were all different and we got to pick our own glass. YOu are allowed to take pics of the food, just not of anything else. Server was very friendly. Chef and server walked us out (pretty neat). For anything other restaurant, I would have thought that service was fantastic, just not sure if it is 3 star standard. Food: My expectation of it was to be blown away...and I was not. Food overall was great, but once again, I wasn't floored by it all. IT was a typical Kiseki menu. The previous reviews hit most of the dishes right on the head. All were unique with good flavor. There were a couple of weird items that my colleagues didn't like. I tried everything and really had no bad things to say about it. I appreciate trying the new items. They had these small fried fishes that you ate like fries...pretty good. There was a soup (egg drop with seafood) that was pretty good. Very clean flavors. I loved the sushi/sashimi. The fish was sea bream i believe. IT was a tad difficult to understand the explanation of the server. I loved the fact that you could choose your entree. I just did't like the fact that there was an upcharge for the beef (wagyu?) and fish dish. We tried the beef (cooked perfectly and was pretty damn good), short ribs (also cooked nicely), and sea bream. The fish was flaky and well seasoned. The biggest disappointment to me was the rice. I was expecting big and bold flavor (from either beef marrow or something), yet it was bland. Dessert was a fruit jelly of some sort and that was good as well. The sake selection was ok, and was priced fair. We didnt try anything else. Overall it was a great dining experience, just not sure if the 3 stars are justified. I would not need to return, and would recommend trying another restaurant if you can get reservations.