Food and Drink in Osaka - Characteristic Foods in Osaka

Sushi and Sashimi

Sushi is a very simple form of food, a combination of fresh fish or other ingredients, rice, and vinegar, served without too many other condiments or sauces. Sashimi is a traditional Japanese dish of carefully selected and sliced raw food; usually thinly sliced fresh fish.

Beef

Kobe beef is one of Japan’s top brands of wagyu beef. It has a reputation for tenderness, sweet flavor and fine texture, all of which appeal to people from all over the world. Two of the best ways to enjoy Kobe beef are yakiniku, grilled over a charcoal or gas brazier, and teppanyaki, grilled over an iron grill.

Kitsune udon

Kitsune udon is a dish which originated in Osaka. It is a hot soup of soft, chewy, thick wheat noodles, topped perfectly with slices of deep-fried tofu. Osaka's famous udon restaurants use a bonito-based broth, competing with each other via their specially-made, customized soup stocks.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki (octopus balls) is one of the most beloved Osaka foods. Bits of octopus are cooked into balls of fried batter and topped with dark and sweet takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and pickled ginger. The snack is commonly found at street festivals during the summer.

Kushikatsu

Kushikatsu is a deep-fried skewer dish with bite-sized meat and vegetables breaded with flour, eggs and bread crumbs. Kushikatsu restaurants are mostly concentrated in Osaka's Shinsekai area, where shops sell thick skewers dipped in breadcrumbs and deep-fry ranging from a crispy to a chewy finish.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a thick savory pancake of mixed ingredients. These days, common ingredients include thinly sliced pork belly and cabbage cooked in batter, topped with a rich okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and dried bonito shavings.

Almost anything can be added to this versatile Osaka food, including dried shrimp, kimchi, cheese, and even chewy mochi.

Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki – named for the flat iron grill upon which the ingredients are cooked – is a widely-enjoyed food that eschews an entirely meat-centered approach to include fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken and an array of exotic spices and sauce.

In perhaps the ultimate expression of luxury, this inviting combination is typically cooked to order right in front of you by master chefs who push the boundaries of both taste and performance.

Negiyaki

Negiyaki is Osaka’s mixed savory pancake-style food. Negi or Japanese leek, is a popular ingredient in Japan both raw and cooked. Negiyaki features tons of cooked sliced green onion, and is often topped with freshly diced onion, along with soy sauce or okonomiyaki sauce.

Genmaicha

Genmaicha is a popular drink in Japan, comprising green tea leaves mixed with roasted brown rice. The addition of rice gives the tea a less bitter, more rounded, earthy and toasty flavor. It can be made or mixed with different grades of green tea, including houjicha (roasted green tea) and matcha.

Soy milk

Soy milk comes in incredibly many varieties in Japan. It is the plant milk with the highest nutritional content; containing a healthy amount of protein and carbohydrate, and no cholesterol. It is available in over 50 flavors. Japan's distinctive flavors such as sakura, matcha, and plum, can all be tasted via different varieties of soy milk.

Sake

Sake is alcohol made from fermented rice, and is served in all restaurants and bars. Kyoto may be a famous city for sake in the Kansai region, but there are also many sake breweries and traditional sake bars in Osaka.

Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M, Hozenji Yokocho

Matsusakagyu Yakiniku is a famous Japanese-style bbq restaurant with a few branches in Osaka. It specializes in Matsusaka beef, a type of wagyu extremely famous in Japan and abroad. The restaurant is located in the 80-meter long Hozenji Yokocho alley. You can get there in 5 minutes by foot from Namba Station.

Opening hours: weekdays 5 pm to 12 midnight; Sat, Sun, and public holidays 12–3 pm

Address: 1-1-19 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka

Phone: +81662112917

Hakata Ippudo Namba

This is a branch of the famous Hakata ramen chain, featuring thin, slightly chewy noodles in a pork-based broth. Taste the highest flavor-quality of Hakata tonkotsu ramen, with smooth and deep broth flavor, and/or try two of the house-specials: the Shiromaru Classic (classic and original broth) and Akamaru Modern (rich and deep modern broth).

Opening hours: every day 11–2 am

Address: 3-1-17 Nanbanaka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka

Phone: +81643976886

Kiji Umeda Sky Bldg

Kiji is one of the famous okonomiyaki restaurants in Osaka. The chef's recommendations are butatama (pork and egg), modern yaki (noodles), and sujiyaki (beef gristle and green onion).

The batter with chopped cabbage is hot, fluffy and really melts in the mouth. Each ingredient goes well with the batter and sauce. Every table has a grill where the okonomiyaki is laid, so it's warm when you eat.

Opening hours: every day 11.30 am–09.30 pm

Address: 1-1-90 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku | Umeda Sky Bldg. B1F Takimi Koji, Osaka

Phone: +81664405970

Alto Tritone

Osaka is a crossroads of international cuisine, and is home to many top-notch establishments serving delicious dishes, with a particular specialty in Italian food. Alto Tritone is a tiny restaurant opposite Osaka Station. There are plenty of pasta dishes here, as well as many meat options. Don’t miss the scallopine all gorgonzola, or the rich and decadent tiramisu.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5.30–10.30 pm

Address: 1-4-20 Oyodominami | 1F Hasegawa Bldg, Kita, Osaka

Phone: +81663450088