Last Updated on April 13, 2026 by Sammie
Top Spots to Get Food in Osaka, by a Local
Before I set foot in Osaka, I made sure to ask my friend Tomo (he’s a badass aerial straps artist in our show) for an ultimate list of Osaka food. He grew up in Osaka and has an ongoing list of his favorite spots, and is graciously letting me share them with you.
Disclosure: I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links at no additional cost to you! The income goes to keeping this site updated and free for everyone!
I’m obsessed with food. I hate saying I’m a foodie because I feel like that sounds pretentious, but yes. Foodie, I am. I’ll try anything once, twice, three times (then it’s out). Sorry, uni, I still hate you, no matter how many people praise your existence. My dad always said that taste buds are wasted on the young. Simply because when we’re young, we can taste EVERYTHING, but only have the money to afford instant noodles. And by the time we’re old and capable of dining at those fancy pants Michelin-starred restaurants, all we want is a salt lick.
I refuse to let that be the case for me. So all my trips have an allocated budget for food. And for Osaka, the budget allotment was high.
I’m lucky to work in a circus theatre in Macau that has over 23 different countries represented. This makes planning travel incredible. You can get local recommendations or at least friend-of-a-friend local recommendations for pretty much anywhere you can think of. I’m talking tiny streets of a village in Belgium to the hillsides of Mongolia. And this time around, my friend Tomo, who grew up in Osaka, Japan (and goes back any chance he gets) was my local guide.
Looking for Things to do?
Needed to do something between all of the eating… BEHOLD! Osaka Castle.
Osaka, “The Kitchen of Japan”
If you’re planning a trip to Osaka, there’s a high likelihood that part of your research will be dedicated to Osaka food. Where to eat in Osaka? What to eat in Osaka? And what the heck is Dontonburi? Osaka is the capital of food in Japan, often referred to as “the nation’s kitchen”.
Don’t forget to visit Dotonburi for countless options for food in Osaka!
Take the city’s motto, for instance: ‘kuidaore’, meaning “eat yourself bankrupt.” Osaka food is no joke. This is the birthplace of some of the best street food I’ve had.
What Osaka Food to try?
*Any recommendations directly below are from me (a Chicago gal), not my local friend, Tomo. For the local’s list of best Osaka Food Spots, click here.
Takoyaki (octopus balls)
If you’re going to try octopus for the first time, you could do much worse than trying it at one of the many stalls in Dotonburi. An Osakan street food that is served in a little tray. Takoyaki are lightly fried bite-sized dough balls filled with chopped octopus on the inside. They are incredibly creamy on the inside and topped with takoyaki savory sauce, mayo, and dried seaweed.
TIP: I thought we could grab these as a little appetizer before going to dinner. But after eating the takoyaki, no one in my family had any space to get food afterwards. They are incredibly filling.
Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes)
One of my favorite dishes in Japan. Often considered a soul food in Osaka, and with good reason. It’s like eating a hug. Okonomiyaki is a pancake that’s cooked at your table by you. It’s cabbage-heavy and often also has yams in it to give it a fluffier texture. It’s really delicious. Plus, you can choose some other ingredients like pork belly, squid, or other seafood.
I was nervous the first time we went to a teppanyaki (griddle) restaurant, but trust me, the server was well aware we weren’t locals and made sure we didn’t screw anything up.
Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers)
One of my favorite dishes in Japan. Often considered a soul food in Osaka, and with good reason. It’s like eating a hug. Okonomiyaki is a pancake that’s cooked at your table by you. It’s cabbage-heavy and often also has yams in it to give it a fluffier texture. It’s really delicious. Plus, you can choose some other ingredients like pork belly, squid, or other seafood.
I was nervous the first time we went to a teppanyaki (griddle) restaurant, but trust me, the server was well aware we weren’t locals and made sure we didn’t screw anything up.
TIP: If you go to a restaurant for kushikatsi, it will be served with a communal dipping sauce. DO NOT DOUBLE DIP. It’s a big no-no here since they will share these sauces with other tables as well.
Tankatsu (breaded pork cutlet)-
I don’t know what it is about Japan and fried food, but I’m here for it. My sister really wanted to find a tankatsu restaurant to get a breaded pork cutlet, and I felt like that was one of the more boring options we could have chosen. However, I obliged. And I’m so happy I did because this was my favorite meal of the trip.
Some restaurants specialize in tankatsu. And it will undoubtedly be the best pork cutlet you will ever have. It’s juicy and tender and flavorful. The perfected pork cutlet is served with delicious sauces over a bed of fluffy rice. Sold yet? Get after it.
Best place to get Tankatsu in Osaka:
Kitsune Udon (Hot soup with udon noodles and a slightly sweetened piece of fried tofu)-
This is such an underrated dish in Osaka in my opinon. Udon noddles are thicker and wonderfully chewy. The broth is a dashi broth (light, delicate, and umami rich) which is perfect when it’s a bit colder or rainy outside. You can find this dish all over any traditional noodle shop all over Osaka.
Oden– (Japanese hot pot!)
While living in Macau, I get my fair share of hot pot (which I love) but I was excited to try Osaka’s version. The broth is a light savory, dashi soy based sauce which is used to cook all sorts of ingredients, from meats to vegetables, seafood skewers and every form of fish cake you can imagine. This is another Osaka street food, so it’s fairly easy to find.
What is Osaka’s Most Famous Dish?
I’ve asked my friend Tomoki what is the one dish everyone needs to try and he agreed with the rest of the internet, “you must try takoyaki!”. There you have it. You must try some octopus balls.
What is Dotonburi?
Dotonburi is undoubtedly the dining District of Osaka. It is what some people consider “lively,” and other people consider a tourist’s nightmare. My sister and I visited this district (because how can you not when in Osaka), but we couldn’t get ourselves to stay long. We got some octopus balls and booked it out of there. There were far too many people, and with the thousands of restaurants around the city, it felt unnecessary to come here for food. If you’re into people watching, however, this area is great.
Where to Get The Best Osaka Food
11 Spots From a Local
Best places to get Sushi in Osaka 🍣
Japanese Name: リバーサイド鮨和食 堀江燈花
📞 050-5456-2605
📍 大阪府大阪市西区南堀江1-5-26 キャナルテラス堀江 2F
Why eat here: Great river viewing with top-quality sushi at a decent price.
Japanese Name: 鮨 瀧本
📞 06-6341-8890
📍 大阪府大阪市北区堂島1-3-1 二葉ビル 3F
Why eat here: Reasonably priced sushi and great omakase.
Japanese Name: 雅しゅとうとう
📞 06-6348-0141
📍 大阪府大阪市北区堂島1-5-2 フェザービル 1F
Why eat here: Luxurious lunch option that is reasonably priced with an extensive sake list.
Japanese Name: 楽々
📞 06-6147-4144
📍 大阪府大阪市西区京町堀1-12-4
Why eat here: Known for kaiseki cuisine, which is a multi-course meal using fresh seasonal ingredients.
Interested in a day trip from Osaka?
Only a one-hour drive from Osaka is Kyoto
Best Places to get Meat in Osaka🥩
Japanese Name: 和牛 まつした 吟匠邸
📞 050-5869-0248
📍 大阪府大阪市北区曽根崎新地1-10-2 北新地PLACE 8F
Why eat here: To eat Japan’s top three wagyu beef varieties (Kobe Beef, Matsusaka Beef, and Omi Beef)
Japanese Name: 黒毛和牛タンとハラミ 焼肉ごりちゃん お初天神店
📞 050-5456-2105
📍 大阪府大阪市北区曾根崎2-14-7 グランデ曽根崎ビル 1F
Why eat here: Osaka’s number one-rated yakiniku restaurant (Japanese DIY BBQ)
Japanese Name: 焼肉トラジ ルクア大阪店
📞 050-5456-3368
📍 大阪府大阪市北区梅田3-1-3 ルクア大阪 B2F
Why eat here: Really good yakiniku restaurant directly connected to Umeda Station.
Name in Japanese: 鉄板 福山
📞 050-5868-8072
📍 大阪府大阪市都島区片町2-10-15 林ビル 1F
Why eat here: Great wagyu selection and a large menu of options.
Not getting enough matcha in your japan trip?
Name in Japanese: きたん 韻
📞 050-5890-1734
📍 大阪府大阪市中央区道頓堀1-7-12 1F
Why eat here: Small theatrical experience with only 10 seats at the counter in front of the chef.
Best Place to Get Yakitori in Osaka 🐓
Name is Japanese: 伊勢廣 京橋本店
📞 050-5868-7687
📍東京都中央区京橋1-4-9
Why eat here: Established in 1921, this place knows how to do yakitori.
Best Place to Get Tempura in Osaka🍤
Name is Japanese: 天ぷら 川原崎
📞 06-6450-6817
📍 大阪府大阪市北区西天満3-1-5
Why eat here: For the high-end fish and seafood varieties.
Osaka Food is no joke. I hope you enjoy eating your way through this incredible city, and if I missed something incredible, drop a comment below!
Enjoy.
If you enjoyed what you read, please feel free to share!
