Welcome to Japan’s food capital, a true gastronomic paradise. One of the main reasons people flock to this part of Honshu’s Kansai region is to enjoy the amazing, world-renowned food in Osaka.
Known as “Japan’s Kitchen”, or tenka no daidokoro, Osaka is this nation’s number one dining destination for gourmands, with an endless variety of eateries and enticing flavors to sample, from takoyaki and okonomiyaki to seafood caught fresh from Osaka Bay.
While eating out in Osaka, you will quickly understand the true meaning of the Japanese phrase kuidaore, which essentially means “eat until you drop”. So, prepare for a culinary experience like no other.
Street Food
Street food in Osaka
Before setting out to discover the different types of food in Osaka, first, you need to wrap your head around the incredible street food culture. A visit to this Japanese city isn’t complete without wandering around its crowded, aromatic alleyways.
There are three main areas where Osaka’s street food scene is distilled: Dotonbori, Shinsekai, and Kuromon Market.
Dotonbori is the soul of Osaka’s street dining culture. Its massive neon restaurant signs, packed into this busy neighborhood, will dazzle as you feast on hot takoyaki—octopus balls crispy on the outside and melty on the inside—and while you walk along the canal.
Dotonbori
While exploring Dotonbori, snap a photo with the famous canal-side Glico running man sign between your jaunts to different food stops.
Shinsekai, on the other hand, next to Tsutenkaku Tower, mixes a somewhat retro, nostalgic vibe with optimistic dreams of the future. If you enjoy snacking on deep-fried kushikatsu—meat, seafood, and vegetables battered and fried, served with a dipping sauce—or big bowls of inexpensive ramen, this is the place.
Kuromon Market, known as “the kitchen of Osaka,” with its busy alleys, is the perfect spot to sample fresh seafood, wagyu beef skewers, and grilled scallops straight from the shell. Make sure you pick up some taiyaki, a fish-shaped pasty, to snack on as you wander around this colorful, covered market.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is one of the most popular street foods in Osaka. These small balls of deep-fried octopus are made from a batter of wheat flour cooked in specialized molded pans.
Takoyaki, filled with tender octopus pieces, green onions, and pickled ginger, are prepared until they turn crispy and golden. They are then coated in takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito fermented fish flakes, and aonori seaweed powder. It’s a pure delight to see skilled streetside vendors flipping these delicacies in the pan and then serving them to the public.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a delicious pancake-like creation, or if you prefer, Japanese pizza, that consists of a batter made with shredded cabbage, eggs, pork, seafood, or cheese.
The name okonomiyaki actually means “grill as you please,” making this savory treat all about adaptability to your particular culinary preferences. Okonomiyaki is prepared on a teppan, an iron griddle, often right in front of you, and is served with okonomiyaki sauce, egg-yolk mayonnaise, seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes, creating a truly satisfying dining experience.
Hakozushi
Hakozushi
Hakozushi, or “pressed box sushi”, is a culinary art form and an Osaka specialty. Instead of the traditional hand-formed nigiri sushi that Japan is famous for, hakozushi is assembled by placing vinegared rice and toppings like fish, egg, and seaweed in a rectangular wooden mold.
The end product is an appealing assortment of food, with an elegant presentation, made up of pressed layers of perfectly symmetrical stacked sushi.
Hakozushi boasts a harmonious mix of flavors that you will note with every bite, from the mildly acidic rice to the savory garnishes, including but not limited to shrimp, eel, and tamago, or sweet omelet. With its artistic preparation and appealing colors, hakozushi takes food in Osaka to another level.
Kushikatsu
Kushikatsu
Kushikatsu, which is a kind of crunchy skewer-on-a-stick, is a deep-fried hit on the Osaka food scene. This dish consists of chopped-up meats, vegetables, and seafood, which are then covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried.
This tasty snack comes with a tangy, communal Worcestershire-style sauce dipping sauce, with no double-dipping allowed. Ordering and eating kushikatsu is all about friends gathering together in an informal setting to enjoy some fried, belly-filling food, accompanied by laughter and good conversation.
Taiyaki
Taiyaki
While you’re wandering around the streets of Osaka, there’s a good chance you’ll come across vendors selling some delectable taiyaki, which are adorable fish-shaped, waffle-like snacks, without any fishy taste.
Traditionally filled with a soft, sweet red bean paste, taiyaki can also be stuffed with custard, dark chocolate, or even a sugary matcha-infused filling. Crispy, golden crust covers the warm, gooey insides, making every bite a pleasurable one.
Served warm from the griddle, taiyaki are the perfect snack to nibble on while you peruse Osaka’s street markets. You can also enjoy them after you finish a big meal.
Nihonshu Sake
Sake
Osaka is a great place to learn more about nihonshu, or sake, Japan’s traditional rice wine. You can imbibe this versatile drink served hot, cold, or at room temperature. When in doubt, ask your server for recommendations regarding sake temperatures, and the effect temperature has on flavor.
Every batch of sake will tell you a little something about the art that went into making it, from its light floral aromas to its soft, slightly honeyed finish.
Sip your sake in a small and traditional ochoko cup with a meal to better understand how it pairs with some of the food in Osaka you plan on sampling, from sushi to grilled meats.
Many bars in Osaka do tasting flights of Japan’s most famous fermented rice beverage—as do some brewery tours—letting you try different types of sake and, by doing so, experience centuries of Kansai brewing traditions with every sip.
Doteyaki
Doteyaki
If you’re looking for some hearty fare during your time in Osaka, don’t pass up on the chance to try doteyaki, which will warm your soul. Doteyaki is a beef stew made with small chunks of beef tendon that are cooked in a miso sauce.
If you order doteyaki, you will get a filling, umami-packed marinated beef stew. Doteyaki can be had as a main meal, an appetizer, or paired with an ice-cold beer at an izakaya snack bar.
After your first bite, you’ll note doteyaki’s supple texture and savory flavor, along with a little bit of sweetness, which will likely make you want some more. It’s robust Osaka food, served in a bowl, as well as on grilled skewers, reminiscent of Spanish-style tapas.
Fugu Sashimi
Fugu sashimi
If you’re into living on the edge, you may want to consider trying some fugu sashimi in Osaka. Fugu is a unique dish that’s made with pufferfish, a poisonous species that, once upon a time, masterful Japanese chefs turned into a gastronomic experience like no other.
Pan-cut, thinly folded, and fanned out like the blossom of a white flower, transparent fugu sashimi is as much a culinary work of art as it is a visual one. This firm, yet soft sashimi features a subtle, slightly sweet taste.
Fugu sashimi
Fugu is all about ritual and flavor. So, eat it with a splash of citrus ponzu sauce and spring onions—and try not to think about the poison.
Rest assured that highly trained Japanese chefs employ great skill when removing this fish’s poisoned tetrodotoxin bits. That being said, the fact that you’re dining on a poisonous fish will make for some entertaining stories when you get home.
Takaida-kei Ramen
If you adore ramen, rejoice. Takaida-kei ramen is a food in Osaka that you’ll want to add to your culinary “to-do” list. This homestyle ramen, named after a bus and metro stop, is all about its rich, dark tamari shoyu soy sauce broth and thick, slightly chewy noodles.
The sauce, prepared with kelp and chicken stock, adds to the robust flavor. Takaida-kei ramen, at its core, is a simple, no-fuss dish made with green onions, pieces of pork belly, and a well-cooked soft-boiled egg.
Enjoy a big bowl of Takaida-kei ramen while you’re in Osaka. It’s the perfect dish for lunch or dinner.
Tonpeiyaki
Tonpeiyaki
Think of tonpeiyaki as Osaka’s spin on a classic omelet. This dish, made for cabbage lovers, combines thinly sliced pork and shredded cabbage encased in an omelet, which is then served with tangy okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise.
Tonpeiyaki has that umami goodness Japanese food is known for. It mixes sweet and tart flavors, along with a sprinkle of bonito flakes on top for good measure.
This scrumptious pork and cabbage omelet is usually eaten hot, straight off the iron teppan grill. It’s a popular item at casual restaurants and food stands and works well as a quick snack or a side dish, adding some crunchy texture to Osaka’s food scene.
Kitsune Udon
Kitsune udon
If you tuck into a bowl of kitsune udon, you will be treated to a delightful meal of appetizing udon noodles swimming in a seaweed-based dashi broth.
The name kitsune means “fox” in Japanese. Don’t worry, though, as there weren’t any foxes involved in the preparation of this dish.
One thing that makes kitsune udon special is its aburaage fried tofu pocket, set on top of the hot and chewy noodles. The delicate sweetness of the broth also goes nicely with the sweetness of the tofu.
Butaman
Butaman
While you’re in Osaka, a fresh butaman, a steamed pork bun which originally came from China, is the thing to have. These soft, fluffy buns are crammed with meaty pork filling and bamboo shoots and spiced with garlic and ginger.
After you dig into one of these on-the-go snacks, you can relish its doughy texture, bursting with flavor. Grab some of these savory delights from street vendors, grocers, or specialty shops, letting one, or maybe even two or three fuel your body while you explore Osaka’s culinary landscapes.
“One-Bite” Gyoza
Gyoza
In Osaka, if you have the chance, indulge your palate with some crispy deliciousness by trying some hitokuchi “one-bite” gyoza.
These bite-sized fried dumplings, also called Tenpei gyoza, named after a restaurant that perfected the recipe, are a wonderful comfort food made with minced pork, cabbage, garlic, and ginger stuffed inside fried dumplings.
The trick to getting these dumplings just right lies in their preparation: one side is fried golden brown and crispy, while the rest of the gyoza is steamed until tender and chewy.
Dip them in sweet soy sauce, chili oil, or vinegar for the ultimate bite. You will find gyoza bars all over Osaka, especially in areas like Dotonbori. Add a glass of cold beer or some sake to your gyoza order, and you’ll be eating like a local in no time.
Green Tea
Green tea
The Japanese have a very special relationship with tea. Japanese tea, which was introduced from China, has a history dating back to the eighth century and is now an important part of daily life.
In Japan, chanoyu tea ceremonies, which started in the 16th century, consist of powdered matcha green tea prepared and served in an elaborate, ritualized way.
This refined art is a staple of Osaka at tea houses, taking place in tatami rooms with tatami-matted floor coverings, where every gesture of the host is made in a spirit of harmony, reverence, and serenity.
Green tea
If you attend a tea ceremony, you will learn more about Japanese culture and the art of tea making. Beyond the experience of the ceremony itself, you will also get to sample locally produced teas, including loose-leaf sencha and powdered matcha.
And while you’re touring Osaka, away from the tea ceremony culture, you can still order and enjoy green tea, which pairs nicely with desserts and small sweets, like the dried cookie-like higashi, creating a lovely flavor combination on your tongue.
Whether eating matcha-flavored ice cream or sipping a cup of hot tea, you’ll soon discover tea’s vital role in Osaka’s food scene. The ethos in Japan surrounding this warm beverage brings people together while keeping tea traditions alive.
Read: What Is Osaka Known For?
Dotonbori
Ready to explore the city’s delicious cuisine? Browse Celebrity’s cruises to Osaka and prepare for a mouth-watering experience.
