7 Must-Eat Foods in Osaka, with Restaurants and Tours
Want to know the must-try foods in Osaka, Japan? You’re in the right place! This Osaka food guide not only gives you the not-to-miss dishes, but it lists all the best restaurants in Osaka in which to eat them! And if you’re a real foodie at heart, you’ll be glad to know that we also have the best markets to visit and Osaka food tours to take. You will be fully armed to have the best culinary experiences in one of Japan’s best food cities!
Food in Osaka, Japan
After eating our way through the most iconic food in Osaka, it’s clear why this place is a top food destination. But before we get into all the mouth-watering dishes, and what to eat in Osaka, let’s take a brief look at the competition.
Japan is bursting with some of the world’s best food. Tokyo holds the prestigious title of the most Michelin-starred city in the world. If that doesn’t prove how famous Japan is for its food, enter Kyoto. Kyoto is 3rd. And Osaka? It comes in at the 4th spot. That’s right: Three out of the top four most-Michelin-starred cities in the world are in Japan!
Because Tokyo and Kyoto are higher on the list of cities with the most Michelin stars, Osaka can sometimes seem like the little brother in Japan that is often overlooked in favor of his more popular siblings. And this is despite the fact that Osaka is the birthplace of some of the most famous Japanese foods and has some of the best cuisine in the world. More Michelin-star Osaka restaurants exist than in foodie cities like New York, London, or Singapore.
Famous area for food in Osaka, Dotonbori
There’s a reason Osaka is referred to as “the kitchen of Japan,” and has the motto, kuidaore, or “eat until you drop”!
So, don’t underestimate this city because it’s where you’ll find some of the most delicious foods in all of Japan. From Japanese street food, to traditional Osaka food, to famous Osaka restaurants, enjoying the food of Osaka is an unforgettable experience!
In Osaka, good food is easy to find. But if you want the best food Osaka has to offer AND the best restaurants in Osaka in which to eat them, then forget about a list of what to do in Osaka, and dive into this Guide to Food in Osaka, Japan! Okay, it’s time to get to the specifics regarding Osaka food!
The Most Iconic Foods in Osaka & the Best Osaka Restaurants
1. Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)—Specialty Food of Osaka
There are many regional specialties Osaka is known for. One of them is Takoyaki. This incredibly popular food is made from a wheat flour-based batter that, when cooked, is soft on the inside yet crispy on the outside. And, of course, it’s filled with octopus at the center. This is one of those foods that sounds adventurous, and it is, but it’s more batter than octopus.
It doesn’t taste overly seafoody, which is good news if you’re on the fence about trying it. It’s a lovely dough ball with just the perfect amount of octopus, complemented by the flavors of green onion, tenkatsu (tempura scraps), and pickled red ginger.
Takoyaki is an Osaka street food. Take a short walk down any of the streets in Osaka, and you’ll almost certainly see Takoyaki being made. Restaurants use big cast iron pans to make these balls, and it’s almost hypnotic to watch them being flipped and cooked. Takoyaki might just be the most famous food within the local cuisine, and it is definitely a must eat in Osaka!
Where to eat Takoyaki in Osaka: The best Takoyaki in Osaka can be found walking around Kuromon Market. Stop at one of the street food vendors and you’ll get to watch the octopus balls being made before you buy them hot out of the pan.
The best Takoyaki in Osaka, at Kuromon Market
2. Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancakes)—Osaka Restaurant Show
Another local Osaka specialty food is Okonomiyaki. If you like restaurant outings that double as a show, this is the food for you. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, grated sweet potato, and typically a protein like shrimp or pork. It’s often topped with Japanese mayonnaise, dried bonito flakes, and Okonomiyaki sauce, which is an umami-rich blend whose main ingredients are Japanese Worcestershire sauce, sweet soy sauce, and shiitake mushrooms. But each place that makes Okonomiyaki puts their own spin on their recipe for the pancakes and their toppings.
Now back to the show part. When you go to Okonomiyaki restaurants, you’ll notice a big flat-top in front of you (often on your table). Depending on the restaurant you visit, a restaurant chef may come over and cook in front of you. Or, they may give you the ingredients for you to cook up on your own. And that’s what makes Okonomiyaki so special. It’s not just great, traditional Japanese food. It’s an experience. And it’s also one of those foods you’ll want to re-create when you get home.
Okonomiyaki is also great if you’re taking kids to Osaka. They will be so entertained by the show, they’ll forget all about their iPad.
Where to eat Okonomiyaki in Osaka: Mizuno has some of the best Okonomiyaki in Osaka. But come early—this restaurant often has long lines queuing out the door.
The Japanese pancake, Okonomiyaki, is a specialty food in Osaka, and its preparation can be an Osaka restaurant show.
3. Butaman (Pork Buns)—Osaka Cheap Eats
I’m salivating just thinking about these little pockets of heaven. Butaman are soft buns filled with ground pork and onion. They are so pillowy and flavorful. If you order them, most places will give you a side of what can only be described as wasabi mustard. It pairs very well with the Butaman. But be careful—it looks exactly like American style mustard. So don’t coat your pork bun with it, or you’ll be in for a rather spicy surprise.
These Japanese style pork buns are similar to Bao. And they are very filling due to their density. While the bun part is fluffy, the whole package packs a big punch. It doesn’t take more than 2 or 3 to get filled up—making them the perfect Osaka cheap eats. What’s especially nice is that one of these costs less than $2 USD. Not a bad way to spend your money.
Where to eat Butaman in Osaka: Horai 551 is a restaurant known as one the best places in Osaka for these handcrafted pork buns.
The Osaka food, Butaman, or pork buns, make great Osaka cheap eats!
4. Gyoza (Pan-Fried Dumplings)—Staple Food in Osaka
Gyoza are another staple food of Osaka that you can find available at street stalls or in most restaurants. Gyoza originated in China, but they have long been embedded in Japanese food culture. In China, these dumplings are most often boiled and served soft, as they are when offered as Beijing street food. In Japan, on the other hand, they are pan-fried and filled with minced pork, cabbage, and garlic.
The people of Osaka will snack on Gyoza after work, as a snack, or when out with friends. These dumplings are often served with a dipping sauce (soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil is a classic mix). These are also an excellent starting point if you’re looking to ease your way into Japanese cuisine.
Where to eat Gyoza in Osaka: Gyozaoh! in the famous Dotonbori area is the best Gyoza restaurant.
Gyoza Japanese dumplings are a staple food in Osaka.
5. Kushikatsu (Deep-Fried Meat and Veggies)—Popular Japanese Food
If your idea of an ideal meal involves deep-fried food, you’ll want to add the popular Japanese food Kushikatsu to your list.
Kushikatsu is panko-crusted meat and veggies placed on a skewer and then deep fried. Popular items include shrimp, beef, chicken, asparagus, and even cheese and quail egg. I recommend getting a combination and trying some items you wouldn’t immediately consider. You might surprise yourself with your top picks after sampling all of your choices.
Where to eat Kushikatsu in Osaka: Ganso Kushikatsu Daruma is the king of Kushikatsu restaurants in Osaka. And they have only one rule: no double dipping.
A popular Japanese food in Osaka, Kushikatsu is a combination of fried meats and vegetables.
6. Ramen—Famous Japanese Food
Ramen is popular all over Japan. In fact, as a world-renowned Japanese food, it’s one of the foods people are most excited to try while visiting—especially if it’s their first time in Japan. And every place makes its ramen just a little bit different. You’ll have no problem finding this famous food in Osaka; you’ll have thousands of restaurants to choose from.
Ichiran is a popular chain throughout Japan. It’s a must while visiting Osaka. Ichiran dishes out authentic Tonkotsu ramen. It’s a rich, delicious broth often served with an egg and slices of pork belly in addition to noodles. Posting your bowl of ramen soup on Instagram is almost a requirement while visiting Osaka. And with so many great choices of ramen in Osaka, your bowl will surely taste as good as it looks!
In fact, you should try some different styles of Osaka ramen while you’re visiting. Tonkotsu is the name of the broth. Other broth styles include Shoyu (a soy sauce flavor) and Shio (a light broth).
Where to eat ramen in Osaka: Ichiran Dotonbori
The famous Japanese food, Ramen, at the Osaka restaurant Ichiran Dotonbori.
7. Melonpan—Osaka Dessert
Of course, any good food list needs dessert. And an Osaka food guide is no different. The name of this Japanese sweet treat is a little misleading. There’s actually no melon flavoring whatsoever. It gets its name from the shape: Melonpan is shaped like a rock melon. It’s a flaky pastry on the outside and an ice cream filling on the inside.
Be on the lookout for a special version of this Osaka dessert: Melonpan with green tea ice cream. It pretty much doesn’t get any better than that.
Where to eat Melonpan in Osaka: A food truck in Dotonbori called the World’s Second Best Freshly Baked Melon Pan Ice Cream. Quite the name, right?
The Osaka dessert, Melonpan
Osaka Food Tours & Must-dos
In addition to eating the must-try foods in Osaka, there are also a few additional awesome Osaka food experiences you must have on your foodie trip to Japan.
Kuromon Ichiba Market
No guide to food in Osaka would be complete without the best food market in Osaka, Kuromon Ichiba Market. As previously mentioned, this is where you’ll find the best Takoyaki in Osaka, but there’s so much more Osaka famous food here!
With a name meaning “Osaka’s Kitchen,” it’s no wonder that this is the perfect place to sample all of the famous Osaka street food that is both a huge part of Osaka cuisine and Japanese food culture. You can spend hours exploring the colorful, fascinating food stalls, sampling some of the best food in Osaka at a very affordable price.
Kuromon Ichiba Market is a popular place for Osaka street food.
Osaka 7-Eleven
This one probably sounds strange and super out of place. Why would an Osaka food guide feature 7-Eleven? Well, that’s because 7-Eleven is incredibly popular with Japanese people throughout the entire country. It’s not like the average 7-Eleven we have back in the United States; it’s filled with unique Japanese foods and drinks. Local people and tourists go there for full meals. Yep, you read that right: The Osaka 7-Eleven is a great place for full meals.
A few things to be on the lookout for: onigiri (rice balls with meat filling), egg sandwiches, soba noodles, flavored potato chips, mochi, and pancakes (pre-filled with syrup and butter). No matter what options you go with, it’s all in the experience. Stroll the aisles and choose some new things. You won’t regret it!
Osaka 7-Eleven, where you can shop for unique Japanese foods and cheap eats in Osaka
Osaka Food Tours
If you want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, I highly recommend an Osaka food tour. I have personally used a company called Magical Trips for multiple Japanese food tours, and I can’t recommend them enough.
The English-speaking guides ensure that there are no language barriers. The guides are also all locals, so in addition to providing you with a memorable Osaka food tour, they can help suggest additional activities for your trip.
The groups are small. And you will definitely get filled up on all the foods you’ll get to enjoy. The Osaka food tour I recommend is the Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai. Dotonbori is a super popular foodie area, and your local guide will steer you to some of the best food to eat in Osaka, including specialties rarely available anywhere else in Japan.
If your journey in Japan should happen to take you to Kyoto, try the Kyoto Night Foodie Tour. There may or may not be matcha beer and matcha sake involved.
Drinking matcha beer on an Osaka food tour
Why Foodies Love the Food of Osaka
Osaka is filled with some of the most unique and mouthwatering food in the world. As a result, Osaka is becoming a foodie destination for the variety of culinary experiences it offers.
On the same day, you can enjoy some Osaka cheap eats at Kuromon Market and dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Or, you can savor a hot bowl of Osaka ramen while seated at your own private cubby after having feasted earlier on Takoyaki bought freshly made from a vendor on a street corner.
As a major part of the local food culture, indulging in Osaka street food is worth a visit to this city that takes great pride in its reputation as Japan’s kitchen. Much of Osaka food rivals Tokyo food in popularity. Indeed, some of the Osaka specialty foods have become popular not only across Japan but far beyond.
There are amazing Osaka food experiences for every personality, budget, and taste. They make the kind of impressions that, when you return home, you start wondering about when you can go back.
Your Thoughts on Food in Osaka
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! What do you think about this Osaka foodie guide? Are you planning on visiting Osaka? Which Osaka foods are you most looking forward to eating? If you have already been to Osaka, what are the best things that you had?
Brittany, author of BEST Food in Osaka: Osaka Restaurants to Osaka Food Tours
About the Author
Brittany Stretchbery works full-time for an airline while traveling with her husband and two young kids. At Family on Standby, she encourages parents to break from the routines and embrace travel with kids. You can find more of her work on her blog, Family on Standby, and follow her family’s travel adventures on videos on YouTube and posts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Click it to Pin BEST Food in Osaka: Osaka Restaurants to Osaka Food Tours
Pin for Osaka foodie Guide.
Pin for Osaka food guide.