Before heading over to Osaka, I was told to be careful, because it is a place known to eat till you drop (“kuidaore”). Also known as the nation’s kitchen (“tenka no daidokoro”), Osaka has quite a high expectation to fulfil for a land with such exquisite cuisines.
Billiken-san is the God of Good Fortune in Osaka and represents “things-as-they-are”
But I soon realised I was wrong: Osaka is known, not quite for its luxurious spread à la the fancy Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo, but for its affordable and widely popular no-frills street fare. For a taste of the Kitchen of Japan, simply take a walk from Dotonbori – the epicentre of Osaka’s street food scene – to Shinsekai (read: New World), a restaurant district filled with signboards so vibrant you will find it hard to miss.
Before the colourful signboards and wide array of food choices dazzle your senses, here are five types of delicacies you should absolutely give it a go in Osaka!
- Seafood
The moment you step foot in Dotonbori, the first thing you see is probably seafood, be it a giant crab waving at you at the famous Kani Dōraku restaurant or a huge octopus hanging above you. Do not fret over your choices, because the seafood here in Osaka is probably going to be some of the freshest you have ever tasted – freshly caught from Osaka Bay! I would recommend the techiri nabe, which is essentially pufferfish or fugu in a hot pot, a notoriously difficult dish to prepare due to the pufferfish’s poison, but you can trust a Japanese chef’s intricate skills for it. If you are on a shoestring budget, however, you can also go for stalls lining the street selling freshly grilled king crab legs.
- Kushikatsu (Deep Fried Skewers)
“No double dipping!” is the rule when it comes to kushikatsu
Invented in the 1930s, these deep-fried battered foods were created by restaurant Daruma in Shinsekai, and made popular by the working class. From all kinds of meat to all types of vegetables, and from the variety of fruits to even ice cream, as long as you can coat the food in batter, you can fry them till golden brown. Reminiscent of tempuras, kushikatsu uses a stronger-tasting flour (of the restaurant’s own secret recipe) with breadcrumbs added to the batter. It is then served with a light dipping sauce that guests are reminded to avoid double dipping (i.e. do not dip the skewer back into the sauce after taking a bite) for hygiene purposes. As many kushikatsu restaurants are open for 24 hours in the Shinsekai district, it is a popular late night snack for locals and tourists alike!
- Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)
Another street food that originated from Osaka, Takoyaki is a fried battered ball filled with tender pieces of octopus tentacles, and deliciously served with seaweed and dried bonito flakes sprinkled on top of the mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce. These are best eaten on the go, and there is at least one Takoyaki stall in every ten stalls you walk along Dotonbori, so you don’t have to worry about not finding one along the way.
- Okonomiyaki (Savoury Pancakes)
With the introduction of okonomiyaki, I’m starting to think the essence of Osaka cuisine lies in its batter or flour-based dishes (“konamono”). Okonomiyaki is a battered pancake filled with cabbage, meat and/or seafood, and topped with similar ingredients you would find on Takoyaki (i.e. okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed and dried bonito flakes). This hearty dish is considered the soul food of Osaka, so it is not difficult to find a restaurant that serves this dish, though the most popular of them all would be Michelin-approved Mizuno in Dotonbori.
- Ramen
While this savoury bowl of noodle soup is not specific to Osaka, you just cannot come to Japan and not have a bowl of the Kyushu-style tonkotsu (pork bone based) broth ramen, topped with tender slices of roasted pork on it, and finished with an onsen egg. Many ramen restaurants along Dotonbori are self-service, so you will need to select your ramen and pay via a vending machine outside the restaurant to receive your ticket, before you can present it to the counter to receive an order number for service. The restaurants are usually free-seating, so you may sit wherever you like while waiting for your food to be served.
Bonus: Matcha (Green Tea) Desserts
I’m not sure about you, but I always end my meals with dessert, and in Japan, it is all things matcha (read: green tea)! Whether it is a heart-warming cup of matcha latte in a café, a sweet matcha and vanilla ice cream cone along the streets, or PABLO’s Uji matcha cheese tart, topped with adzuki red beans with brown sugar syrup and vanilla ice cream on the side, you can easily find these matcha-flavoured desserts along Dotonbori!
If all else fails, look for the all-encompassing Don Quijote store in Dotonbori, which is open 24/7, where you can find all sorts of matcha sweets and confectionery that you can bring home as omiyage (read: souvenir).
Disclaimer: The writer shall in no way be responsible for any weight gain in your trip to Osaka. Otherwise, enjoy!