Osaka Food Guide: TOP 30 Best Foods

Osaka, Japan

Jul 16, 2026 by Matt van Vuuren

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We’re kicking off this Osaka food adventure in the legendary Shinsekai district together with the Osaka Food Tour and my good friend Yuri, who you may remember from my canned food bar review at Mr. Kanso. Shinsekai feels like stepping into a neon-fueled fever dream, packed with retro signs, bizarre decorations, old-school arcades, shooting games, cheap restaurants, and the glowing Tsutenkaku Tower watching over it all.

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Best Places in Osaka

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  1. Takoyaki (たこ焼き)

  Crispy-outside, molten-inside octopus balls dripping in savory sauce and mayo—Osaka's ultimate street food obsession.

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  2. Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)

  Osaka's beloved savory pancake, packed with cabbage, pork, and drizzled in tangy sauce plus a mayo swirl.

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  3. Karaage (唐揚げ)

  Japan's beloved fried chicken—juicy, garlicky bites fried crisp and golden, impossible to stop eating.

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  4. Daikon no Tsukemono (大根の漬物)

  Crunchy pickled daikon radish, tangy, salty and refreshing—the perfect palate cleanser between every bite.

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  5. Nagaimo (長芋)

  Slippery, mild Japanese mountain yam served raw or grated—a strange, slimy texture that's oddly addictive.

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  6. Yakitori (焼き鳥)

  Smoky charcoal-grilled chicken skewers glazed in sweet soy sauce—classic izakaya bar food done exactly right.

Let’s start with Osaka’s most iconic street food: takoyaki. These piping-hot octopus balls have a soft, creamy center wrapped around chunks of octopus and covered with sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, and seaweed. At Takoyaki Ichiban, you can even try a garlic-loaded version for a serious taste-bud explosion. Another must-try is okonomiyaki, Osaka’s signature savory pancake packed with cabbage, pork, seafood, and plenty of sauce. My friends and I absolutely love this dish.

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  7. Basashi (馬刺し)

  Silky raw horse meat sashimi, a bold Kumamoto delicacy that's surprisingly tender, mild, and delicious.

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  8. Tonpeiyaki (とん平焼き)

  Osaka's pork-and-egg omelet smothered in sweet okonomiyaki sauce and creamy mayo—comfort food perfection.

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  9. Eihire (エイヒレ)

  Chewy dried stingray fin, grilled over flame and torn into strips—the ultimate salty Japanese beer snack.

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  10. Kushikatsu (串カツ)

  Skewered, breaded, deep-fried everything imaginable—dip once in the communal sauce, no double dipping allowed!

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  11. Tebasaki Pepper (手羽先ペッパー)

  Sticky, peppery fried chicken wings glazed in a spicy-sweet sauce—guaranteed to leave your hands messy.

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  12. Avocado Furai (アボカドフライ)

  Creamy avocado breaded and deep-fried until golden crisp—an unexpectedly perfect crunchy little treat.

Buta Bara Yaki (豚バラ焼き) [Grilled Pork Belly]

Next, head into Janjan-Yokocho, a nostalgic backstreet filled with retro arcades, cheap beer, traditional games, old-school gamblers, and countless kushikatsu restaurants. These crispy deep-fried skewers can contain meat, seafood, cheese, or vegetables and are dipped into a shared sauce container. Just remember: no double dipping! This area is also perfect for juicy karaage, pepper chicken wings, deep-fried avocado, and crispy shrimp covered in rich, sweet mayo sauce.

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  13. Ebi Mayo (エビマヨ)

  Crispy fried shrimp coated in a rich, creamy mayo sauce—sweet, savory, and dangerously moreish every time.

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  14. Kitsune Udon (きつねうどん)

  Thick chewy noodles swimming in warm dashi broth, topped with sweet fried tofu—simple comfort in a bowl.

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  15. Kakiage (かき揚げ)

  Crispy mixed vegetable and seafood fritters, deep-fried into golden clusters of pure crunchy satisfaction.

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  16. Onigiri spice (おにぎりスパイス）

  Spiced-up rice balls wrapped in crispy nori—a fiery, bold twist on Japan's classic portable rice snack.

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  17. Okura (オクラ)

  Grilled or boiled okra, sliced open to reveal its gooey, slightly sticky green interior—strangely satisfying.

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  18. Nikujaga (肉じゃが)

  Homestyle beef and potato stew simmered slowly in sweet soy broth—Japan's ultimate cozy comfort dish.

Osaka’s izakayas are where you can order a bunch of smaller dishes and just go wild. Try yakitori chicken skewers, pickled daikon, crunchy nagaimo mountain yam, and basashi raw horse sashimi with onion, garlic, and ginger. Tonpeiyaki is another Osaka favorite, made with pork and cabbage wrapped inside a soft omelet. My absolute favorite snack is eihire, grilled dried stingray fin served with mayo. It is basically salty, smoky, chewy chips.

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  19. Oden (おでん)

  Assorted fish cakes, eggs, and daikon simmered gently in soothing dashi broth—a beloved winter street food staple.

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  20. Chashu (チャーシュー)

  Melt-in-your-mouth braised pork belly slices, glazed in sweet soy—ramen's most prized and craved topping.

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  21. Age Mochi Aisu (揚げもちアイス)

  Crispy fried mochi wrapped snugly around cold ice cream—a wild, delightful hot-and-cold dessert mashup.

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  22. Shogayaki (生姜焼き)

  Thin pork slices sautéed in a punchy ginger-soy glaze—simple, fast, and absolutely packed with flavor.

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  23. Shime Saba (しめ鯖)

  Vinegar-cured mackerel with a firm bite and tangy edge—a classic sushi-counter favorite worth trying.

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  24. Nikudofu (肉豆腐)

  Silky tofu and tender beef simmered together in a sweet soy broth—hearty, humble, and deeply comforting.

Shinsekai in Osaka

Perhaps the best dish in Shinsekai is kitsune udon, a comforting bowl of thick noodles in a light dashi broth topped with sweet fried tofu. I have to keep this restaurant a secret, but you can find it on my Osaka Master Map or by joining the Osaka Food Tour. Nearby, we also tried kakiage tempura, spice-seasoned onigiri, chilled okra, nikujaga, ginger pork, pickled mackerel, braised chashu, and deep-fried mochi ice cream.

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  25. Yasai Nimono (野菜煮物)

  Simmered seasonal vegetables soaked in a delicate dashi broth—wholesome, gentle, and quietly delicious.

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  26. Tsukudani (佃煮)

  Seaweed or seafood simmered slowly in soy and sugar into a sticky, intensely savory Japanese condiment.

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  27. Yakisoba (焼きそば)

  Stir-fried noodles tossed with veggies and pork in a smoky-sweet sauce—Japanese festival food at its best.

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  28. Maguro Yukke (まぐろユッケ)

  Raw tuna tossed Korean-style with sesame oil, chili, and egg yolk—rich, spicy, silky, and totally addictive.

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  29. Karubi (カルビ)

  Marinated grilled short rib, caramelized at the edges and smoky—the true star of any Japanese BBQ table.

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  30. Nigiri Sushi (握り寿司)

  Hand-pressed vinegared rice topped with fresh raw fish—Japan's most iconic, elegant single bite of all.

At Naritaya, you can try traditional Osaka oden with daikon, tofu, eggs, and fish cakes slowly simmered in a deeply flavored broth. For an even bigger feast, visit Kushikatsu Izakaya Daiyoshi. Order the nikudofu beef and tofu stew, yakisoba, tuna yukke, Korean-style karubi beef, nigiri sushi, grilled pork belly, and agedashi tofu. This is my favorite way to eat in Japan: order a table full of dishes, share everything, and keep the drinks coming.

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  31. Buta Bara Yaki (豚バラ焼き)

  Grilled pork belly slices, crisped at the edges and packed with rich, savory, smoky flavor throughout.

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  32. Agedashi Dofu (揚げ出し豆腐)

  Lightly fried tofu bathed in savory dashi broth—crisp on the outside, silky and soft within every bite.

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  33. Tonkatsu (とんかつ)

  Golden, crunchy breaded pork cutlet served with tangy sauce—Japan's ultimate deep-fried comfort classic.

Most unique hotel in Dotonbori, Osaka

Food is not the only reason to visit Shinsekai. Tsutenkaku, meaning “Tower Reaching Heaven,” is the district’s 108-meter retro landmark with panoramic views across Osaka and some epic glass-floor photo spots. Afterwards, head to Tonkatsu Daiki, a small Michelin-rated restaurant serving ridiculously good deep-fried pork cutlets. We tried the pork fillet, a fattier tonkatsu, and an extremely rich Japanese curry topped with a crispy cutlet. I was in absolute tonkatsu heaven.

The easiest way to experience Osaka’s food scene is to arrive hungry and join the Osaka Food Tour, which visits five excellent food spots around Shinsekai. You’ll get to try many of the dishes featured in this guide without having to search for every hidden restaurant yourself. Book through my link to save at least 10%, download my Osaka Master Map for even more local discoveries, and watch my Osaka Backstreets Tour for something much crazier, including me eating an entire tarantula.

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