Osaka is the first stop of many tourists heading to the Kansai region because of the amazing number of things to see, do, eat, and shop there all year round.
Just on the matter of food alone, there’s yakiniku (grilled meat), ramen, sushi, Osaka okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), kushikatsu (deep-fried food on skewers), and the list just goes on and on.
But here’s the conundrum – where does one even begin with so many things to eat? If that’s the situation you’ve somehow found yourself in, check out this list of tasty goodies we’ve specially prepared for food hunters flying into Japan from around the world.
To make it extra convenient, we’ve grouped them into the five main tourist destinations of Namba, Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi, Umeda, Shin-Osaka, and Shinsekai/Tennoji. We’ll even throw in the trendiest new must-visit shops of 2022! Bon appetit from one foodie to another!
Main image: PIXTA
Best of Osaka specialty foods
As one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations, Osaka is jam-packed with all sorts of delicious foods to try.
Likely the first thing to come to your mind when thinking of the city is folk favorites such Osaka okonomiyaki and takoyaki (octopus balls), usually topped with savory-sweet sauce, bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes. A single bite of this plain but deep-flavored dish is enough to bring back to mind the heartwarming memories of home.
Some of these foods are so ubiquitous that Osaka residents eat them at almost every meal, because that’s just how good they are.
1. Okonomiyaki – the soul food of the Osakan people
Okonomiyaki is a common home-cooked dish in Osaka. However, citizens of Osaka also acknowledge the deliciousness of restaurant-cooked okonomiyaki and often eat it when dining out.
Okonomiyaki is made by adding eggs and wheat flour to broth, then adding thinly sliced cabbage, onions, and tiny flakes of tempura (tenkasu), to which additional ingredients are added and then grilled on a hot iron plate.
Though pork is a traditional ingredient, one of the selling points of okonomiyaki is the freedom to create original combinations and variations with other ingredients, such as adding seafood or topping it off with cheese.
Once it’s cooked, you top it with sweet sauce, bonito flakes, dried seaweed flakes, and, if you like, mayonnaise. Eating okonomiyaki as a side dish alongside rice is unique to Osaka.
There are okonomiyaki restaurants in every area of Osaka, from the big downtown districts to local shopping quarters. You’ll wa…
