What to eat in Osaka?

As with every region and city in Japan, Osaka too, has some signature dishes, so you may ask yourself, what to eat in Osaka? And you are right, there are a few dishes I think everyone should try. Just what are these must-eats in Osaka? And where do I get them?

Let me share what you cannot miss out on while visiting and give you some recommendations for the best restaurants serving each of these dishes.

1.Okonomiyaki 

I am sure you heard about this delicious savory Japanese pancake. With its name begin derived from two words: okonomi, meaning “what you like”, and yaki meaning “cooked or fried”. It basically means cook what you like. Which explains the many toppings you can add to your basic pancake. Which essentially is a flour, egg, and dashi omelet mix with cabbage and pork.

Now, we are in Osaka where all the ingredients are mixed and you will be searching a long time for noodles. Wait, but doesn’t Okonomiyaki include Soba noodles? Not in Osaka, what you are thinking about is Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki, almost the same but not. As this style layers or stacks all the ingredients and adds some tasty Noodles, before being smothered in tasty Okonomiyaki sauce and Mayo. Which one is better? I let you decide.

There are plenty of Restaurants in Osaka, but perfectly located in Dotonbori and hands down the best place to eat Okonomiyaki in Osaka is Ajinoya Okonomiyaki. They don’t take reservations, so come early, but it is definitely worth it!

2.Kushikatsu

Not as famous with foreign tourists, but well known and appreciated by locals is Kushikatu. And trust me, once you try it it’s hard to deny how tasty those skewers are.  

Kushikatsu, also often referred to as kushiage are deep-fried skewers of meat and vegetables. The name comes from the Japanese, kushi that refers to the actual skewers used and katsu, which normally means a deep-fried cutlet of some sort.

The great thing about Kushikatsu are the many varieties. And especially in vegetable deprived Japan being able to choose from more than 10 is quite a luxury. We love how each is adding a different texture and flavor, so make sure you try a few. I recommend the Renkon (which is lotus root), quail eggs, mochi (a soft rice cake), camembert as well as anything wrapped in bacon…

The skewers are served with raw cabbage and a pot of sauce to dip them in. Now the only rule is “no double-dipping”. And you don’t need to be a germophobe to figure why. As the sauce is usually shared with the whole table and only topped up when running low. But don’t worry, you won’t forget this one, as there are usually plenty of signs (in various languages) making you aware of this.

Probably the most famous Kushikatsu Restaurant in Osaka is Kushikatsu Daruma, with many Restaurants dotted all over Town. Great if you are looking for some food and maybe a beer. A match made in heaven.

3.Takoyaki

Maybe one of the best street foods in Osaka is Takoyaki and another dish you must try while you are in town. These tiny balls made of batter and generally filled with bits of octopus are the perfect snack, pretty much any time of the day. Also watching them prepare it is already worth your money. With the skilled chefs moving so quickly is a performance of its own..

As Takoyaki means fried or cooked octopus it is pretty straight forward. Normally you will get a small tray of 6 balls topped with takoyaki sauce, mayo, seaweed and generous shavings of dried bonito flakes. And the funny thing is, the more you eat the better they get. Just be careful, these are piping hot, so make sure to give it a few seconds before you dig in.

My favorite place is Kukuru located in Dotonbori, but if you cannot make it there, get them somewhere else. You may also see them at local festivals, which would be another great opportunity to give it a try.

Last words…

So here we are and these are Osaka’s signature dishes. If you visit Osaka even just for a day, make sure to try at least one of them. You will not regret it. And if you do, let me know what you think in the comments below. Because we always love to hear from our readers here at Obsessed with Japan!

Check out all our Osaka Guides for more travel information as well as where to eat and what to do while in Oska. And make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest info straight into your mailbox.