What to Eat in Osaka

Top 5 Osaka Street Snacks

Takoyaki

Osaka's pride, takoyaki, is crafted with fresh octopus chunks, mixed with batter, eggs, and scallions. On a hotplate, they flip, fry, and bake into golden, crispy spheres. Each bite reveals a juicy, plump interior, with octopus's savory taste blending perfectly with sweet batter.

Restaurants recommended (all within 5 min walk from Namba Station)

 Takoyaki Kukuru, avg. spend 1,000 yen.
 Dotombori Akaoni, avg. spend 800 yen.
 Takoyaki Juhachiban, avg. spend 800 yen.

A Takoyaki Stall, Osaka

A Takoyaki Stall, Shinsaibashi

Okonomiyaki

Meaning "ingredients of your choice", it showcases Osaka’s unique culinary philosophy. Grill a savory batter mixed with cabbage, shrimp, and more on an iron plate. Top it with sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, green onions, and seaweed powder before serving. Each bite is a mix of soft batter, crisp veggies, delicate seafood, and rich sauce.

Restaurants recommended:

 Okonomiyaki Kiji: 3 min walk from Osaka Station, avg. spend 1,000 yen.
 Dotonbori Ichiaki: 4 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 1,500 yen.

Kushikatsu

Cooking this kind of deep-fried skewers is an art. Fresh pork, chicken, seafood, and veggies are meticulously sliced, threaded onto bamboo, coated in a special batter, and fried to golden crispiness. A communal sauce adds the final touch, with each diner dipping just once for a delightful, shared experience.

Restaurants recommended (10~12 min walk from Tennoji Station):

 Kushikatsu Daruma - Shinsekai Main Shop, avg. cost 1,600 yen.
 Yaekatsu, avg. spend 2,000 yen.
 Ittoku Honten, avg. spend 2,000 yen.

A Kushikatsu Stall, Osaka

Ikayaki

While it can be translated as “grilled squid”, in Osaka, Ikayaki is much more than that. Imagine sliced squid mixed with seasoned flour, pressed flat, and fried to golden. Top it with a savory-sweet sauce for a crispy pancake wrapped around squid. As you bite into it, the crispy exterior gives way to a bouncy, tender squid that's been cooked to perfection.

Restaurant recommended:

 Hanshin Meibutsu Ikayaki: 4 min walk from Osaka Station, avg. spend 500 yen.

An Ikayaki Store, Osaka

A Barbecue Stall, Osaka

Butaman

It is a steam bun featuring a soft, fluffy outer skin and a juicy, pork-filled center carefully marinated with soy sauce, sake, and mirin, bursting with a rich aroma and savory broth with each bite.

Restaurant recommended:

 551 Horai Ebisubashi honten: 1 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 1,200 yen.

A Butaman Store, Osaka

5 Osaka Must-try Food

Kitsune Udon

Osaka's most popular noodle dish features udon noodles that are bouncy and smooth, soaked in a fragrant broth. It is complemented by "kitsune," thin slices of deep-fried tofu that add a sweet touch to balance the udon's saltiness. Intriguingly, folk tales say foxes love fried tofu, hence the dish's nickname, "Fox Udon".

Restaurants recommended:

 Udon Kisuke: 13 min walk from Umeda Station, avg. spend 1,500 yen.

 Hommachi-seimenjo honten: 11 min walk from Shinsaibashi Station, avg. spend 800 yen.

Kitsune Udon

Unadon (Eel Rice)

Freshwater eel, meticulously prepared and seasoned, is grilled to perfection, its crispy golden exterior contrasting with juicy, tender flesh. Mixed with steaming rice, the eel's flavors intertwine, creating a harmonious taste symphony.

Restaurants recommended:

 DOTONBORI KUROFUNE Higashishinsaibashi: 6 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 2,000 yen.
 Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho Grando Front Osaka: 6 min walk from Osaka Station, avg. spend 3,000 yen.

Unadon (Eel Rice)

Fugu Hot Pot

In a metal or ceramic pot, fresh seafood, meat, veggies, tofu, and other ingredients stew into a delicious broth, resulting in this premium Osaka specialty. "Tecchiri", a savory porridge with thinly sliced raw fugu, offers even richer culinary experience.

Restaurants recommended:

 Fukunomai: 8 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 7,000 yen.
 Genpin Hozenji Sohonten Fugu Unagi Kani Ryori: 3 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 5,000 yen.

Hakozushi

Originating from Tokyo, the sushi is renowned for its hand-pinch artistry. In Osaka, it features a delightful combination of vibrant colors and flavors, presented in a square wooden box adorned with shredded egg, shrimp, grilled eel, sashimi, mushrooms, and other fresh ingredients, skillfully layered atop the rice and between tiers.

Restaurants recommended:

 Yoshino Sushi: 12 min walk from Shinsaibashi Station, avg. spend 2,500 yen.

 Abaraya: 8 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 4,000 yen.

A Hakozushi Restaurant, Osaka

Omelet Rice

In 1925, Hokkyokusei ("Polaris" in English) in Osaka's Shinsaibashi introduced omelette rice: fried rice with mushrooms, onions, and sweet tomato sauce, wrapped in a thin omelette. This dish has evolved into many flavors like beef, chicken, ham, and mushrooms, even topped with cheese. Its sweet, homey taste feels like a mother's cooking.

Restaurants recommended:

 Hokkyokusei - Shinsaibashi Main Shop: 5 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 1,500 yen.
 MUGUNI: 8 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 2,000 yen.
 Meiji Ken: 11 min walk from Namba Station, avg. spend 1,500 yen.

Tips

 There is a high probability of waiting in line (10~30 minutes) for a seat during the meal time. 
 Pay attention to opening hours, as some restaurants are only open for lunch.