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Osaka's Top 10 Restaurants in 2024: Sushi, Ramen, Takoyaki, and More!
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Osaka is one of Japan's leading food cities. We showcase its top restaurants in 2024―from famous takoyaki all the way to sushi, ramen, and okonomiyaki shops, as well as cafes and a shop featured on Netflix. Many are ideal for vegan and halal diets, too!
Written by
Tokyo, Japan
Editorial assistant at MATCHA since 2022. I'm from Tokyo, and I often go to parks on weekends to see nature and dogs.
I have loved international exchange since I was a child, and during my university years I studied abroad in San Jose, USA. Now, I'm really enjoying discovering new things by seeing Japan from the perspective of a tourist visiting Japan.
Hobbies: Walking, coffee, art, movies, traveling
Favorite places: Shibuya, Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Isshiki Beach, Aso in Kumamoto
Osaka: A Leading Destination for Foodies
Osaka was a center for commerce more than 150 years ago during the Edo Period (1603-1868). It was a city where foodstuffs were brought in from all regions of Japan, and consequently, where a lot of trade was conducted.
As a result, it was the city in Japan with the greatest number of food ingredients assembled in one place―hence it came to be called "The Nation's Kitchen (Tenka no Daidokoro)."
More recently, a documentary on Osaka's Izakaya Toyo was featured on Netflix, a popular video streaming service. This has led to a growing interest in Osaka's food scene from both home and abroad.
Therefore, this article will introduce restaurants that are currently attracting attention in Osaka―a city where a rich food culture has taken root.
In addition to restaurants where you can try Osaka's famous specialties, we'll also feature well-known shops offering Japan's world-class sushi and ramen, and places where you can experience Japan's unique cafe culture!
Table of Contents
1. The History of Osaka Cuisine
2. Sushi
3. Ramen
4. Street Food
5. Cafes
6. Places To Stay Where You Can Enjoy Japanese Sake
7. The Best Ways to Enjoy Your Osaka Visit
8. Closing Words
Click here to buy the Osaka Amazing Pass on klook!
Sushi in Osaka
Sushi Hirokawa: A Famous Michelin-Starred Restaurant
Sushi Hirokawa is a well-known sushi restaurant. It has a proven track record by virtue of its Michelin One Star status.
Visitors to this compact ten-seat restaurant can enjoy cuisine that utilizes the goodness of high-quality ingredients.
As well as its first-class taste, this shop is also renowned for its outstanding hospitality.
You can let them know about your food preferences, allergies, and other concerns ahead of time on their homepage (multiple languages). The shop staff will then do their best to create a course menu that accommodates your specific needs and desires.
At Sushi Hirokawa, they pay special attention to each and every dish's presentation so that the sushi toppings look stunningly beautiful―and of course appetizing! By all means, please give their sushi a try.
Address: Osaka, Joto, Gamo 1-8-39
Official Homepage: Sushi Hirokawa
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
ORIBIO Cafe Dining: Vegetable Sushi Ideal for Vegan and Halal Diets
ORIBIO Cafe Dining is located near Expo '70 Commemorative Park. It's a restaurant where visitors can enjoy tasty cuisine regardless of their dietary lifestyle―vegetarian, macrobiotic, vegan, and even halal.
One of the shop's popular menu items is their vegetable sushi. The sushi is topped with a variety of colorful ingredients such as avocado, tomato, Japanese-grown mushrooms, and eggplant.
In addition, guests can enjoy a wide selection of Japanese entrees that include the katsudon set meal, good for vegan and halal diets, and also curry udon.
Reservations are required so please book your seat at least one day prior to your visit via the official homepage !
Address: Suita City, Aobaokakita 7-2
Official Homepage: ORIBIO Cafe Dining
Ramen in Osaka
Mankai: Serving Up the Great Taste of Hakata's Original Ramen
TasteAtlas is a culinary website that sends out information on world traditional cuisine. Japan's tonkotsu ramen (pork bone) was crowned number one on the list of the 10 Best Rated SOUPS in the World 2023.
Among restaurants specializing in this delicacy is Ichiran Ramen , a popular shop with lineups every day. However, in the gourmet city of Osaka, there are plenty of other shops where you can savor this exquisite ramen.
Mankai Ramen is another famous shop with rave reviews from ramen connoisseurs.
Their most popular dish is Junton. This consists of a special soup that's made by boiling pork bones and other ingredients for 16 hours so that the umami flavor gets condensed and packed in. This is combined with thin noodles that are brought in directly from Fukuoka's Hakata City―said to be the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen.
There are two Mankai locations in the heart of Osaka. So when you're in the mood for tonkotsu ramen please head over and give it a try!
Fukushima Honke
Address: Osaka, Fukushima-ku, Fukushima 7-13-11
Temmabashi Store
Address: Osaka, Chuo-ku, Tanimachi 1-5-9
Official Homepage: Mankai Ramen (Japanese)
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
Veggie Ramen Uniwa: A Shop Specializing in Vegetarian Ramen
Veggie Ramen Uniwa is a vegetarian ramen shop that uses no meat or fish in any of their dishes.
Their rich-tasting soup stock is made with more than 10 different kinds of vegetables including konbu seaweed and shiitake mushrooms. The noodles are chewy and made using whole wheat flour. So you can enjoy flavorful ramen using fresh, locally grown vegetables.
In addition, the menu offers veggie gyoza, the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of ramen. There are also Japanese-style sweets for dessert afterward.
Address: Hirakata City, Kuzuhaasahi 2-4-14
Official Homepage: Veggie Ramen Uniwa (Japanese)
Osaka Street Food
Izakaya Toyo: A Shop Attracting World-Wide Attention
Izakaya Toyo is located in Kyobashi, an old-fashioned entertainment district where old streetscapes remain. This famous shop is representative of Osaka's street food scene.
The shop appeared in an original documentary, Street Food: Asia, on the video streaming service Netflix. Customers are now converging on the shop from all parts of the world so there are lineups in front of Izakaya Toyo every day.
This is a stand-and-eat kind of place where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes accompanied by delicious sake. The shop is famous for Maguro HoHo Aburi (grilled tuna cheek meat), in which the tuna is flame-grilled with a gas burner.
Address: Osaka, Miyakojima-ku, Higashinodamachi 3-2-26
Official Homepage: Izakaya Toyo (Japanese Instagram)
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
Aizuya: The Birthplace of Osaka's Famous Takoyaki!
Takoyaki is a famous dish that's representative of the Osaka street food scene. It consists of a piece of squid placed inside wheat flour dough and then deep fried (see photo above).
Aizuya was established in 1933 and now has nine locations within Osaka. It's been said that Japan's first takoyaki was made in this pioneering shop.
Aizuya's takoyaki dough is filled with a special soya sauce and is known for its fragrant aroma and refreshing taste. Here, by not using a basting sauce or katsuobushi (bonito fish flakes), you can savor the original flavor of this unique cuisine.
Address: Osaka, Nishinari-ku, Tamadenishi 2-3-1
Official Homepage: Aizuya (Japanese)
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
Ajinoya: A Famous Okonomiyaki Shop in Dotonbori
Okonomiyaki is another must-try gourmet food found in Osaka, a city where the food culture of using wheat flour has taken hold.
There are many famous okonomiyaki restaurants in Osaka, but Ajinoya Honten is a shop that's also easily accessible from sightseeing spots such as Dotonbori.
The okonomiyaki here is made by using a thin dough filled with plenty of cabbage. It's characterized by its thick, fluffy texture. The shop staff will prepare the okonomiyaki right in front of your eyes, so you can enjoy it freshly made and piping hot!
Address: Osaka, Chuo-ku, Namba 1-7-16
Official Homepage: Ajinoya
http://ajinoya-okonomiyaki.com/en/
Osaka Cafes
Kissa Suigei: A Cafe With a Charming Retro Atmosphere!
Japan is currently undergoing a retro boom. Garnering much of the attention is the traditional coffee shop or kissaten―a place where you can enjoy a light meal and a coffee amidst an old-fashioned atmosphere.
Kissa Suigei exudes a retro mood with its stained glass and antique interior. This coffee shop can be found in Osaka's Awaza area where the atmosphere of a traditional working-class neighborhood still remains.
Here you can order such items as a cream soda float, a colorful soda drink topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream (see photo above), and homemade pudding, a delectable confectionery that's topped with cherries.
So while ordering something tasty from this old-style cafe menu, why not fully enjoy the shop's classic, retro atmosphere?
Address: Osaka, Nishi, Kawaguchi 1-4-19
Official Homepage: Kissa Suigei (Japanese)
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
Pokemon Cafe: A Must-Visit for Pokemon Fans!
Pokemon (pocket monsters) are Japanese fictional characters that are loved world-wide by everyone regardless of nationality or age.
The Pokemon Cafe is a popular place where visitors can enjoy food and drink that serve as motifs for some of the characters that appear in the Pokemon series. Along with the food, you can also meet some of these characters at the cafe and purchase character goods as well.
The Pokemon Cafe has two locations: one in Tokyo's Nihonbashi area and the other in Osaka's Shinsaibashi area. Reservations are required, so please book your table ahead of time on their official homepage .
Address: Osaka, Chuo, Shinsaibashisuji 1-7-1, Daimaru Department Store (Shinsaibashi) Main Building 9F
Official Homepage: Pokemon Cafe
Make a Reservation with AutoReserve
neu.: A Vegan Cafe With Cuddly Felines!
In Japan, there are many cafes where you can easily spend time with animals such as the Hedgehog Themed Cafe HARRY WOOD and the Mameshiba Cafe (Japanese).
neu. is a cafe near Osaka's Shinsaibashi area. Customers here can spend time with former stray cats who were rescued and now live at the cafe. The shop is located on the building's second floor and at the eat-in space you can enjoy vegan cuisine that doesn't use any animal-based ingredients.
When you visit the cafe, we also kindly ask for your cooperation in observing the shop rules (Japanese) which include refraining from wearing perfume and the use of flash photography, and also not speaking in a loud voice.
Address: Osaka, Chuo, Tanimachi 6-17-5
Official Homepage: neu. (Japanese)
Enjoy Japanese Sake at These Hotels!
In Osaka, The Nation's Kitchen, there are accommodation spots where guests are offered a glass of sake as a welcome drink.
Next, we'll introduce Osaka accommodations where you can relax and enjoy some Japanese sake after a satisfying meal at a restaurant.
Dotonbori's Konjaku-So Dotonbori Garden SPA
Pictures courtesy of Booking.com
For visitors who place importance on spending special time with their friends, partner, and family, we recommend a vacation rental accommodation called Konjaku-So Dotonbori Garden SPA Stay .
It's located in the heart of Osaka, just eight minutes on foot from Ebisubashi in Dotonbori. Guests here can relax in the Japanese-style space that includes a courtyard and rotemburo, or outdoor bath.
For their welcome drink, visitors can choose from Japanese sake, beer, or even a non-alcohol beverage.
Due to the facility's emphasis on privacy, some overseas guests have commented that it was difficult to find the hotel. However, other guests said that they were able to relax in the spacious Japanese-style lodging and that the courtyard with the rotemburo was amazing.
Book a room at Konjaku-So Dotonbori Garden SPA Stay on Booking.com!
MIMARU OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI EAST
Pictures courtesy of Booking.com
For group travel with family and friends we recommend a lodging that accommodates from four to seven guests at a time, MIMARU OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI EAST
Each guest room comes equipped with a kitchen, cooking utensils, and a dining table. The attractive feature is its comfortable space―it feels just like you're relaxing at home.
Meanwhile, at the izakaya on the first-floor lobby, guests can enjoy a welcome drink of either Japanese local sake or craft beer, as well as an all-you-can-pack sweets experience!
In addition to mentioning how the rooms were comfortable and were equipped with everything you need, and how the service was first-class, some guests from abroad also noted the lack of a parking lot.
Book a room at MIMARU OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI EAST on Booking.com!
Enjoy Your Osaka Adventure in an Economical Manner!
Picture courtesy of Osaka Government Tourism Bureau/JNTO
On the experience reservation site, klook, you can buy the OSAKA AMAZING PASS which allows visitors to see Osaka's famous sightseeing spots in an economical manner.
In addition to unlimited riding privileges on Osaka trains and buses, this pass also includes admission fees to some 40 popular sightseeing spots. This includes the Osaka Castle Tower, a special Dotonbori boat cruise (Tonbori River Cruise), and the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel.
So if you'd like to spend the entire day going to restaurants and sightseeing spots, then please get this handy pass!
Click here to buy the Osaka Amazing Pass on klook!
Enjoy Osaka Cuisine to Your Heart's Content!
Today we introduced must-visit shops that are currently attracting a lot of attention―from sushi and ramen restaurants all the way to street food shops that allow you to feel Osaka's energy and vibrant atmosphere.
By all means please use today's article as a reference and go and experience Osaka's special food culture!
Read also
Main image by Pixta
Editorial assistant at MATCHA since 2022. I'm from Tokyo, and I often go to parks on weekends to see nature and dogs.
I have loved international exchange since I was a child, and during my university years I studied abroad in San Jose, USA. Now, I'm really enjoying discovering new things by seeing Japan from the perspective of a tourist visiting Japan.
Hobbies: Walking, coffee, art, movies, traveling
Favorite places: Shibuya, Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Isshiki Beach, Aso in Kumamoto
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