FOOD & DRINK

Osaka Food & Drink

Takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu were invented on these streets. Here's how to eat like it's your job.

E 15 guides in this department
E-01

Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki

Everything to know about takoyaki and Osaka-style okonomiyaki — where each dish came from, how they're made, and how to order them like a local.

E-02

Kuromon Ichiba Market

A guide to Kuromon Ichiba Market near Nippombashi — Osaka's famous covered food market, what to eat there, and how to visit without overpaying.

E-03

Kuidaore: Osaka's Eating Culture

What kuidaore means, why Osaka built its identity around food, and a practical guide to izakaya etiquette and eating out in the city.

E-04

Kushikatsu in Shinsekai

A guide to kushikatsu, Shinsekai's signature deep-fried skewer dish — what to order, how it's served, and the district's famous shared-sauce etiquette.

E-05

Depachika: Basement Food Halls

A guide to depachika, the basement food halls under Osaka's major department stores — what to expect and how to make a meal out of one.

E-06

Ramen in Osaka

Osaka's ramen scene — how it differs from Hakata or Sapporo styles, and how to find a good bowl in a city better known for takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

E-07

Conveyor Belt Sushi

The history of kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi), invented in Osaka in 1958, and how to eat at one today.

E-08

Osaka's Cafe Culture

A guide to Osaka's cafe and sweets scene — retro kissaten coffee shops, traditional wagashi, and the trendy fruit sando sandwich.

E-09

Vegetarian & Vegan Food in Osaka

Eating vegetarian or vegan in Osaka — the challenges of a fish-stock-heavy food culture, useful phrases, and where to find dedicated options.

E-10

Konbini Food

Why Japanese convenience stores are worth a stop in Osaka — onigiri, sandwiches, hot food counters, and what to try at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart.

E-11

Tachinomi: Standing Bars

A guide to tachinomi, Osaka's standing-only bars — cheap drinks, quick small plates, and how they differ from a seated izakaya.

E-12

Sake, Highballs and Yamazaki Whisky

Osaka's drinking culture beyond beer — sake, the highball's popularity, and the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's oldest whisky distillery, just outside the city.

E-13

Fugu: Pufferfish in Osaka

A guide to eating fugu (pufferfish) in Osaka — why it requires a licensed chef, what a meal looks like, and Osaka's history as a major fugu market.

E-14

Yakiniku and Korean Food in Tsuruhashi

A guide to eating in Tsuruhashi, Osaka's Koreatown — yakiniku grilled meat, kimchi, and Korean street food.

E-15

Matcha in Osaka

A guide to matcha in Osaka — matcha lattes, matcha soft serve, wagashi sweets, and how the city's cafes compare to Uji and Kyoto.

New food guides are added every week. See the update log →