Where the phrase comes from
Osaka grew as a merchant city rather than a political capital, and its food culture is often traced back to that history — a city that built status and rivalry around what and where you ate rather than court ceremony. Kuidaore Taro, a grinning mechanical drummer doll that has stood outside a Dotonbori restaurant building since the 1950s, has become an informal mascot for the whole idea.
Izakaya basics
An izakaya is a casual after-work pub serving small plates alongside beer, sake and highballs, and it's the default format for a night out eating in Osaka. Most charge a small seating fee (otoshi) that comes with a small starter dish — this is standard practice, not a scam, even if it catches first-time visitors off guard.
A few practical habits
Tipping isn't expected anywhere in Japan, including izakaya. Many smaller restaurants and stalls are cash-only or cash-preferred, and ordering by pointing at a plastic food model or a photo menu is completely normal and not considered rude.
If a restaurant looks packed with a short line of Japanese locals rather than tourists, that's usually a stronger recommendation than a five-star rating on any app.