Overview
It is often said that Osaka residents spend more on food than anything else, and the term "kuidaore" ("eat until you drop") perfectly captures the city's food culture. Locals have high expectations for quality, so restaurants must maintain top standards or risk closing down.
Unsurprisingly, Osaka is famous for a variety of local dishes, some of which have gained national and even international fame. Fortunately for budget travelers, most of these dishes are affordable:
Takoyaki literally means "grilled octopus." A batter made from flour and eggs is filled with octopus pieces, pickled ginger, and green onion, then cooked in a special pan that shapes the mixture into small balls. Toppings like takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) complete this popular street snack.
Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake enjoyed in various styles across Japan. In Osaka, shredded cabbage and ingredients such as squid, prawn, octopus, or meat are mixed into a flour-based batter and cooked. It is served with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi). At some restaurants, diners cook their own okonomiyaki on a hot plate at the table.
Kushikatsu are skewered, battered, and deep-fried pieces of food. Meat and vegetables are the most common ingredients, but some restaurants offer more exotic options like strawberries. Shinsekai is the best area to enjoy kushikatsu in a nostalgic Osaka atmosphere.
Kitsune Udon is a simple dish of thick wheat noodles (udon) served in hot soup with a piece of deep-fried tofu (aburaage). "Kitsune" means "fox" in Japanese, and the dish is named because fried tofu is believed to be a fox's favorite food.
Teppanyaki means "grilling on a metal plate," referring to cooking a meal on an iron griddle in front of the customer. At teppanyaki restaurants, diners sit at the counter while the chef prepares and serves the food immediately. Part of the enjoyment comes from watching the chef skillfully handle the ingredients. A wide variety of ingredients can be used, but the main dish is typically high-grade beef or seafood.
Getting There and Around
How to get to and around Osaka