10 Best Local Restaurants in Osaka

Taikou Sushi Osaka is famous for serving authentic yet affordable sushi in downtown Osaka. This is the real deal, with sushi chefs preparing bite-sized portions of vinegared rice and raw fish right in front of you. Prices start from around ¥150 for 3 pieces of sushi on a plate. There’s also a set menu with assorted nigiri sushi and red miso soup (akadashi).

Taikousushi is a hugely popular place among the locals. It has a flagship restaurant and a branch in Janjan Yokocho Alley, a shopping street near Tsutenkaku Tower. 

In Osaka, you’ll find frenzied competition between restaurants that have their own special takes on ramen. Dotombori Kamukura Lucua Osaka is one of the few restaurants where you can enjoy ramen made by a “soup sommelier” who’s passed rigorous somm tests. 

Locals have been enjoying ramen at this restaurant since 1086. Its vegetable-based soup and noodles are made using a unique method, while the pork, vegetables and rice are of high quality. Make sure you try the ramen with soft-boiled egg and roasted pork slice (chashu). 

Kushikatsu Daruma, founded in 1920, is one of the oldest deep-fried skewer (kushikatsu) restaurants in Osaka. It has a very loyal clientele thanks not only to its history, but also its food quality. There are several outlets in Osaka, Hyogo, Tokyo and even overseas. Customers often rave about its secret sauce and breadcrumb coating. 

Kushikatsu is available in meat, vegetables and seafood. A popular choice here is ganso kushikatsu (skewered beef), but ordering a set menu is a good way of sampling its signature dishes. 

Ajinoya has been around since 1965, with 4 generations of the same family delivering traditional Japanese savoury pancake (okonomiyaki). A standout dish at this restaurant is the mixed okonomiyaki, which contains pork, squid, octopus, shrimps, minced meat and oysters (only available in wintertime). You can also choose from a wide variety, including okonomiyaki with tomato or cheese. The okonomiyaki is cooked on an iron grill right in front of you, so that you can enjoy it piping hot. 

Sobadokoro Maruei specialises in soba and rice bowls, with its popularity stemming from the special soup stock in its noodle dishes. Must-tries include the deep-fried pork cutlet rice bowl (katsudon) and pork cutlet curry rice bowl (katsukaredon). These are so popular that they're often sold out, so make sure you get in line early. 

Sobadokoro Maruei's katsudon comes with a pair of pork cutlets and an egg on top of rice, as well as a savoury soup. It's so good that you'll probably see many returning customers if you visit the restaurant more than once. 

Grill Miyako is a western-style restaurant with a retro style that's typical of Japan’s Showa period. Although there’s always a line of people outside the restaurant, its staff takes your order while you’re waiting to reduce waiting time. 

Most people go for the steak lunch set, which comes with a thick cut of beef, fried shrimps and fried egg. This is a hearty dish that offers excellent value for money. There are also dishes specifically designed for children, making Grill Miyako one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Osaka.

Hokkyokusei is a long-running restaurant that specialises in omurice (omelette rice), a hugely popular dish in the Kansai area. You should definitely try the standard chicken omurice (ketchup-flavoured chicken fried rice wrapped with a fluffy omelette), topped with a generous helping of tomato sauce. 

You can really tell that Hokkyokusei has been serving it for almost a century. You’ll find several branches in different parts of Osaka, many of which are small concessions in department stores, so you don’t have to go too far out of your way to enjoy this famous dish.

Jiyuken was established in 1910 as the first western-style restaurant in Osaka. Its famous Jiyuken curry consists of rice mixed with curry and topped with an egg. The key is a secret sauce that has been handed down from generation to generation. There’s even a printed guide in the restaurant that explains the right way to eat this special curry dish. 

You can also find a wide range of westernised Japanese cuisine on the menu, including omurice (omelette rice). Located in Nanba, Jiyuken is around 250 metres south of Hōzenji Temple.

Manmasa is a Japanese BBQ (yakiniku) restaurant that's within a 15-minute walk from the JR/Subway Tsuruhashi Station. Although it’s a bit out of the way, the restaurant is always full and quite difficult to get a reservation. However, it's worth the effort for the reasonable prices and quality of meat on offer. 

A must-try is the omakase (chef’s choice) course, which starts with a small appetiser and raw dishes like fresh liver and seasoned steak tartare (yukhoe). These are followed by the chef’s recommendations of the day. The beef tongue with salt is particularly popular – you get a thick slice of juicy beef tongue with plenty of garlic on top. 

Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae is one of the best places in Osaka to enjoy grilled octopus balls (takoyaki). While it used to be a sushi/dessert shop, it became much more popular after selling takoyaki at its entrance. 

Takoyaki Wanaka Sennichimae has several outlets throughout Osaka and Kyoto. These shops are always packed out, and it’s not hard to see why – the freshly made takoyaki comes with a choice of speciality sauces (kettle-cooked salt, soy sauce, thick sauce, and Wanaka sauce). Choose the ooiri option to enjoy 4 different flavours of takoyaki in a reasonably priced set.