A Food & Drink Guide to Osaka, Japan

where to eat in the Japanese food capital

Jul 21, 2024

Hello, foodie friends! Happy weekend! Welcome to my final Japanese travel guide of the year: A Food & Drink Guide to Osaka! I am both sad that this my my final Japan travel guide of the year, and also super excited to finally share this with you guys because omg - I think I saved the best for last! We ate SO MUCH fantastic food in Osaka, and you better believe that I have tons of recommendations listed below for your perusal. Shall we get into it?

But first, a quick PSA! This is the companion piece to my more generalized guide to the city: Four Days in Osaka, Japan. If you’re looking for a list of must-see cultural attractions in Osaka, that is the post you’re looking for. If you’re looking for some fantastic food & drink recommendations, then you’ve come to the right place!

Read on and enjoy!

where we had coffee

colombo cornershop // a quirky little coffee-shop-slash-secondhand-book-store! In truth, we discovered this by chance while visiting a neighbouring shrine, but it’s so cute! We stopped by for the shortest perusal – just really to grab a takeaway coffee for Husband – and the vibe was lovely! Very chilled, with cute little tables outside if it’s sunny etc. Would recommend. Added bonus: this is literally a 1-minute walk away from Namba Jinja Shrine! Address: 〒541-0058 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Minamikyuhojimachi, 4 Chome−3−9 丸盛ビル 1F

STREAMER COFFEE COMPANY // a great coffee place! We stopped in for a late afternoon caffeine hit after a long day of tourist-ing, and our americanos really hit the spot! Strong, flavourful, and they came in a nice American-style diner mug. The space itself is nice, with a definite hipster vibe, long communal tables with benches and stools; it seems like the kind of place that’d let you work away undisturbed on your laptop. Would recommend. Address: 1 Chome-10-19 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0086

Saturdays NYC // another really solid coffee option! If the place above is hipster, this place is ULTRA hipster. Huge windows, a kind of warehouse vibe, a long communal high table in the middle, with couches down one end and smaller tables along the windows. We both had a hot batch coffee – which was great, easy drinking + flavourful – and sat for a while, people watching to our hearts content! Would recommend. Address: 4 Chome-13-22 Minamisenba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0081

Doutor Coffee // a very popular coffee chain in Japan! We nabbed two takeaway hot coffees – essentially, americanos – from the Doutor across the road from our hotel and they were strong and cheap. I don’t remember anything particularly wonderful about them – but that’s better than remembering something terrible, surely? Always handy to have a good chain coffee brand in your back pocket! Address: 〒541-0056 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kyutaromachi, 3 Chome−5−17 リバティ御堂筋本町

HOSHINO COFFEE // another chain. We stopped into the one just off Ebisu Bridge and oh my lord, it was so busy! After a small wait to get in, we both ordered the ‘american blend’ and found it rather enjoyable & easy to drink. The only downside we found was that the bathroom was in horrific order, but if you can look past that… Address: 〒542-0071 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Dotonbori, 1 Chome−6−15 コムラード·ドウトンビル１階

where we ate

pastries

Boulangerie & Cafe Goût // a fantastic boulangerie! We initially ordered just a plain croissant and hot coffee each – but no more than two bites later, we agreed we needed to feast! No shame, I went back up to the counter with a kouign amann for each of us and a pain au chocolat to share; everything was DELICIOUS. So buttery, flaky, flavourful and cheap – it worked out at around only around €1.75 per pastry! Added bonus: Osaka Castle is only a 19-minute walk away! Nothing fuels a day of tourist-ing like a whole load of butter 😉 A must-visit. Address: 〒540-0026 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Uchihonmachi, 1 Chome−1−10 リンサンビル 1F

BPC donuts // a delicious doughnut spot! We stopped by three out of our four days in Osaka and can confirm: the glazed doughnut here is a thing of beauty! Light, not-too-sweet, and wondrously fresh + squishy. They have a whole host of different flavours on their menu – pistachio cream, chocolate, etc. – but we find it hard to resist the classic glaze option, especially when we know how delicious it is. Pro tip: BPC is a 1-minute walk to both Elk, below, and STREAMER COFFEE, above. Snacking has never been so convenient! Would recommend. Address: 〒542-0086 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nishishinsaibashi, 1 Chome−15−15, Nonogaki Building, 1階

10 Yen Bread // the viral cheese-pull snack from Osaka! I knew we had to try these after seeing them on Insta’ and omg, they’re so good!! A hot, freshly made, buttery waffle, pumped full of stringy molten cheese? Yes! Please! We sampled this delicacy at two spots in the city, and, while both were fab, the one that was made-to-order was extra hot and crispy. Mmm, molten cheese. Address: 1 Chome-2-2 Namba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-007 or ~~Address~~~~: 7-13 Souemoncho, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0084~~ *JULY 2024 UPDATE: sadly, this second location is now closed!

breakfast

Elk // similar to Benizuru in Asakusa, Elk is known for one thing: pancakes! We both opted for honey & whipped cream pancakes and a hot coffee each, and my! lord! The pancakes were even more ridiculously huge than the ones at Benizuru! They were super fluffy, light, flavourful, and delicious! Added bonus: the luxuriously creamy Hokkaido-milk cream that came with the pancakes was total drool-worthy *chef’s kiss* levels of deliciousness! I didn’t leave a scrap of food behind – I couldn’t bear the thought of the cream going to waste! – and omg, I have never been so full in my life. Be warned: if you’re in a rush, Elk mightn’t be the right place for you; the waiters and chefs are one and the same, so the service was a little slow, but this didn’t bother us. Would recommend. Address: 〒542-0086 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nishishinsaibashi, 1 Chome−10−28 Mビル１階

CAFE TALES // such a gorgeous little cafe! We stumbled across it one morning on our way into town and stopped in on a whim. Spoiler alert: we enjoyed it so much we went back again the next day! Together, we sampled their Basque cheesecake, their sweet French toast, and their cappuccino & hand drip coffees; everything was fantastic! The Basque cheesecake was as delicious as always, the coffees were delightfully punchy-yet-smooth, but the French toast was nothing short of divine. Perfectly caramelized on the outside, gooey on the inside, and topped with fresh fruits and a little Hokkaido-milk cream – it might just beat CLAMP COFFEE SARASA in Kyoto for best French toast of the trip! Added bonus: the cafe itself is so cute! A must-visit. Address: 〒541-0056 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kyutaromachi, 2 Chome−5−19, Maruchu 3rd.Bldg., 1階

lunch

Franken Ramen // such a great lunch spot! So good, in fact, that we visited twice! You order from a (modernized, English-friendly) vending machine outside, then you go inside, give the ticket to a waiter, and they bring you to a table and get you set up with cutlery and the drinks you ordered etc. Their meat egg-fried rice bowl is honestly superb, and their Chinese ramen noodle bowl is hands down the best ramen we had in Japan! The only downside is that it’s a little sparse decor-wise, but one can look past that for food this delicious! Added bonus: if you order a rice bowl and a ramen, you get a small discount! We actually didn’t know this and ordered the two & paid separately completely unawares, but the staff were so lovely that they gave us a refund! Would recommend. Address: 3 Chome-5-3 Kitakyuhojimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0057

Okonomiyaki Mizuno // the place for okonomiyaki! We queued for about 25-minutes to get through the door, but seeing as it’s been listed in the Michelin Guide for the last 8-years, this didn’t surprise us. Seated at the bar, we ordered two variations to share: one traditional okonomiyaki with pork belly & sirloin, and one negiyaki – an okonomiyaki made with a green onion base instead of a cabbage one! – with pork and kimchi. Although both were delicious, I preferred the former, which came doused in Japanese Worcestershire sauce & mayo, while Husband preferred the negiyaki‘s lightness. Added bonus: the chef mixes & grills the food up right in front of your very eyes; it’s a meal and a show rolled into one! Pro tip: this is in the middle of the Dōtonbori district, so it’s close to everything! A must-visit. Address: 1 Chome-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071

Pizzeria da Tigre // one of our only non-Japanese meals of the trip! In our defense, the chef spent over a year training and perfecting the art of pizza making in the home of pizza: Naples! He, apparently, is so devoted to creating authentic Italian pizzas in this little nook of Osaka, that he actually had the wood-burning oven imported over from Italy! Devotion or what?! Now, I don’t know if it’s the oven or his chef skills, but the pizzas we devoured – a margherita and a diavola between us – were amazing! The base was thin enough to rival Da Michele’s, it was chewy and charred in all the right places, the sauce was wonderful, and our whole experience was deliciously moreish! Be warned: this is a cash only eatery! Would recommend. Address: 1 Chome-18-13 Shinmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0013

dinner

Itadaki Honmachi // a fantastic yakiniku spot! We were actually looking for another restaurant nearby, but were ultimately lured in here by a. the delicious aroma wafting out the door and b. how popular it was with locals – we were the only tourists for miles! In the know after our yakiniku experience in Kyoto, we knew what to order: cuts of wagyu shoulder, tenderloin, super skirt + the daily special, and sides of bean sprouts, garlic rice and white rice. And, naturally, a couple glasses of Sapporo beer 😉 Everything was amazing! The food was absolutely delicious, the staff were lovely, the ambiance was *chef’s kiss*, and did I already mention how great the food was?! It was our favourite meal of the trip! Pro tip: always follow your nose! A must-visit. Address: 2 Chome-6-13 Kitakyuhojimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0057

Sunny Day Dumpling // the happiest little dumpling restaurant to ever exist! Initially lured through the door with the promise of a happy hour drink, we had no intention of eating here… until we sat, looked at the menu, and promptly ordered a selection of plates between us: large pan fried dumplings, red pickled ginger pan fried dumplings, ½ portion of chicken karaage, and spicy potatoes. Everything was so mouthwateringly delicious that we simply had to return the very next night! On our second night we sampled some of what we’d loved the night before, as well as: Mexican salsa gyoza, rice, and karaage with sweet vinegar sauce. Let me tell you, we essentially licked our plates clean! SO tasty! Pro tip: between 5-7pm you can get large 1-ltr glasses of SORACHI 1984 or Sapporo beer for just ¥500! A must-visit. Address: 〒541-0048 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Kawaramachi, 2 Chome−6−16 千晃ビル 1階

Tonkatsu Wako // exceptionally crispy tonkatsu! Located in the basement of a train station - which is really very normal in Japan, but I realize it sounds funny if you’ve never been! - we stopped here on our way out one evening. The tonkatsu plate we ordered came with miso soup, radish, grated cabbage, unlimited(!) rice and tonkatsu sauce. The whole plate was delicious, and the tonkatsu was so! crispy! And yes, obviously we had to take advantage of the unlimited rice refills ;) Address: Osaka, Chuo Ward, Minamisenba, 2 Chome, 長堀地下街

ice cream

Excelsior Caffé // home to the best ice-cream in the world: the Cremia soft serve!! It was literally THE best ice-cream either of us have ever had e-v-e-r! When researching this post, I read one fan online refer to it as “god tier level” and, honestly, I can’t think of a more accurate description! When the luxuriously creamy Hokkaido-milk is whipped into the silkiest smoothest ice-cream, the result is beyond magical; it has a fat content of 12.5% and is absolutely drool-worthy. We stopped by twice - once for takeout and once to sit in - and both visits were absolutely fantastic. Pro tip: Cremia soft-serve is available all over Japan, so don’t stress if you can’t make it here! Added bonus: this is a 30-second walk away from the Ebisu Bridge! An definite must-visit! Address: 2 Chome-3-23 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085

where we had cocktails

INC & SONS // the best cocktail bar ever! We discovered it on our second night, and genuinely lamented missing out for that first night! Every cocktail we tasted was fantastic — and there were many. Espresso Martini, Sanctuary, Whiskey Sour, Magic and Movement, and, the pièce de résistance, a wagyu-fat-washed bourbon Old Fashioned. Each was delicious, but the latter was utterly delectable liquid gold! The bar itself is also so cool! High ceilings, low romantic lighting, exceptionally chic staff, and music being played off vinyl records in a hip music corner. Naturally, we also sampled some snacks: their teriyaki chicken sandwich, mini chorizo pizza, and sweet & spicy nuts; everything was divine! Added bonus: this was literally a 2-minute walk from our hotel! Pro tip: they have a sister-bar in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, INC Cocktails. A definite must-visit. Address: 〒541-0047 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Awajimachi, 2 Chome−3−12 CBM BLD. B1F, 中央 CBMビル

Bar Agréable // the first bar we visited in Osaka, and if we hadn’t discovered the above, we’d have happily come back every night! We sampled their Whiskey Sour and Old Fashioned cocktails, and both were so good that we didn’t bother trying anything else! The space itself is also very nice: dark wood, hundreds of whiskey bottles lining the walls, friendly bartenders, and a really nice atmosphere. We actually got talking to the owner – thanks, Google translate! – about all things Ireland and whiskey; he was lovely! Be warned: this is a smoking friendly bar! One man sitting next to us whipped out a proper Sherlock Holmes pipe and started puffing away beside us; it was so cool! Pro tip: this is only a 9-minute walk from Itadaki Honmachi, above, so it’s the ideal spot for a nightcap! Address: 〒542-0083 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Higashishinsaibashi, 1 Chome−12−6 吉田ビル１F

And there we have it: A Food & Drink Guide to Osaka, Japan! I hope you loved it, and I hope you found some good recommendations to take away with you. If you have any thoughts, comments, recommendations or opinions - hit me up using the comment box below! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new guide format over here on Substack!

Until next time,

Vicki xo

PS, Oslo guide coming asap!

*Date of trip: 28th January - 1st February, 2024*

Four Days in Osaka, Japan
A Food & Drink Guide to Kyoto, Japan
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