• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pages of Travel

Travel Blog

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • WHO WE ARE
    • WORK WITH US
  • DESTINATIONS
  • TRAVEL TIPS
    • THE BEST TRAVEL GEAR
    • PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
    • PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
  • RESOURCES
  • SHOP
Home » Asia

What to Eat in Osaka: Dotonbori Street Food & Restaurants

Created On: March 13, 2019  |  Updated: March 19, 2025  |   1 Comment

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links from which we may make commission from. As always, we only recommend places and products we love! In addition, we try our best to keep our articles up-to-date with current prices, locations, and hours of operation however we always recommend double-checking when planning a trip as these items can change frequently.

Table of Contents show
1 What to Eat in Osaka: The Best Dotonbori Street Food & Restaurants
2 Osaka Food Specialties
2.1 Takoyaki in Osaka
2.2 Ramen in Osaka
2.3 Yakisoba in Osaka
2.4 Osaka-style Okonomiyaki
2.5 Yakiniku in Osaka
2.6 Kushikatsu in Osaka
2.7 Gyoza in Osaka
3 The Best Restaurants in Osaka
3.1 Sushi Hayata
3.2 Tsurutontan Soemoncho
3.3 Kushikatsu Daruma
3.4 Ichiran Dotonbori Honkan or Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori
3.5 Okonomiyaki Sakaba O
3.6 Matsuzakagyu Yakiniku M, Hozenji Yokocho
3.7 Kuromon Market
3.8 Kanidoraku
3.9 Kinnotorikara (Torikara Stick)
4 Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Osaka
5 Osaka Desserts
5.1 Crepe Ojisan Shinsaibashi
5.2 Rikuro Ojisan no Mise
5.3 Taiyaki

What to Eat in Osaka: The Best Dotonbori Street Food & Restaurants

Osaka is a food lover’s paradise! The second you get off the train after getting into the city you’ll instantly be greeted by the mouthwatering displays and savory smells of alluring food stalls. The main character for Osaka’s foodie scene is the Dotonbori street food, which we will cover in this post, but we will also cover what to eat in Osaka for first-timers or returning visitors!

Kushikatsu sign in Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan
Crowded streets of Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan
gyoza street sign in Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan

We’ve been to Osaka countless times and each time it gets better and better. We honestly NEVER tire of this city and feel comfortable aimlessly wandering around finding new places to add to our list of favorite Osaka restaurants and hidden attractions. The vibrant glowing nighttime, the beautiful canals, the endless options of things to do and see, and of course, all of the many things to eat in Osaka are just a few things that make us feel right at home here.

If you are looking for a complete Osaka itinerary, we’ve got you covered here. If you want some quick inspiration then hop over to our Instagram and take a peek at our Osaka photos and Osaka story archive for some “behind-the-scenes footage.” But for now, you’re probably wondering what to eat in Osaka so let’s move on so we can all start dreaming about takoyaki together!


Osaka Food Specialties

Dotonbori is the main hub for street food in Osaka and has some of the best restaurants in Osaka as well. Everyone who visits Japan should experience these unique dishes for several reasons like…

  1. You won’t find it to be the same anywhere else. Trust us, we’ve tried takoyaki in a few other places and while it was good, it wasn’t the same.
  2. You can sample a variety of Dotonbori street food and make a meal out of it for a low cost – perfect for those traveling to Osaka on a budget.

Now of course if you have specific dietary restrictions or are vegetarian or vegan, you’ll probably skip quite a few of these – but don’t worry, we’re going to cover other options for vegan food in Osaka too!


Takoyaki in Osaka

Takoyaki in Japan
Takoyaki

Let’s start with takoyaki – a specialty of Osaka street food. Takoyaki is a ball of fried dough that contains octopus, green onion, pickled ginger, and tempura scraps. After they are turned countless times in a special takoyaki grill to create a ball shape they’re plated inside a to-go container (usually with six inside but sometimes more). Then they’re covered in a special takoyaki sauce, and sometimes mayonnaise and bonito flakes.

Creo-Ru is one of the best spots to try takoyaki in Osaka, the queue is usually long, but it moves quickly. But if you are in a hurry or don’t want to wait in a long line, almost any takoyaki stand in Dotonbori is good.

After you buy your takoyaki don’t dig in right away – these puppies come out PIPING HOT and your tongue and taste buds will be scalded for weeks if you aren’t careful. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything haha!


Ramen in Osaka

Vegan ramen from Kyushu Jangara in Tokyo, Japan
Ramen

If you’re looking for the best ramen in Osaka the smells of Dotonbori’s ramen will immediately make you salivate. In Dotonbori you’ll see a bunch of ramen shops some with indoor seating, some with outdoor tables in a covered gazebo, and many with a vending machine where you’ll order your ramen from.

Two of the most well-known and best ramen shops in this area are Ichiran Dotonbori Honkan or Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori. Either way, a bowl of fresh ramen is a comfort food that you should try at least once!


Yakisoba in Osaka

yakisoba in Osaka, Japan
Yakisoba

In Japan, there are A LOT of noodle dishes, but each one is entirely different from one another, yakisoba included. Yakisoba is a dish made of fried buckwheat (soba) noodles, a special yakisoba sauce, meat (usually pork, sometimes chicken), and finely chopped vegetables usually including cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, and onion.

After it’s all fried together it is often garnished with pickled ginger. It’s a common street food that is widely available during summer festivals but can also be found as Dotonbori street food.


Osaka-style Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki in Japan
Okonomiyaki

One of the Dotonbori street food dishes that we love and often crave is okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake that has a ton of ingredients – in fact, the name roughly means “how you like it cooked.” Usually, it contains a mix of cabbage, egg, meat, and other veggies. Then it’s mixed up into a dough, cooked on a flat grill, and covered with okonomiyaki sauce, which is sweet and tangy, then mayonnaise and bonito flakes.

We’ve had this in all different cities in Japan and have been surprised by how this dish varies by region. You’ll find equally well-known okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, but the Kansai region (including Osaka) has made its way too! There are a few places that offer okonomiyaki as street food in Dotonbori but my suggestion would be to go to an okonomiyaki restaurant to get the full experience!


Yakiniku in Osaka

Kuroyaki yakiniku restaurant in Hiroshima

Yakiniku means “grilled meat” and it is essentially Japanese barbecue. Yakiniku is something you’ll find all over Japan but due to Osaka’s proximity to Kobe and other famous beef areas, there are a lot of terrific yakiniku restaurants in Osaka. When ordering yakiniku you’ll choose from a various selection of cuts of meat that are sliced thin. Some are marinated while others are not. They are then grilled over a barbecue grill on your table.

There are places where you can buy individual skewers of meat in Dotonbori already cooked, but there are also restaurants that specialize in prime cuts of meat such as Kobe, Wagyu, and Matsuzaka beef where you can cook it yourself – but it comes with a heftier price tag (more on this later!).


Kushikatsu in Osaka

Kushikatsu in Osaka, Japan
Kushikatsu skewers

Kushikatsu is a dish of deep-fried meat and vegetable skewers. This Osaka cheap eat is well-loved and there are also many restaurants where you can cook your own kushikatsu as well, some are even all-you-can-eat!

To cook your own kushikatsu, you will select your meats and veggies, batter them up, coat them in panko crumbs, and drop them delicately into the fryer! After a few minutes, it’s ready to be paired with a special dipping sauce and enjoyed. Just keep in mind the number one rule of kushikatsu etiquette, no double dipping in the sauce!

In Dotonbori you’ll find a few kushikatsu restaurants but if you want to visit the place where kushikatsu made its claim to fame head to the Shinsekai area where there are dozens of kushikatsu restaurants to choose from!


Gyoza in Osaka

Gyoza in Japan
Pan fried gyoza

Traditionally a Chinese dish, Japan’s version of these succulent little dumplings are found all around Japan, even in Konbini (convenience stores). Gyoza in Japan are lightly pan-fried and often filled with some sort of meat, cabbage, and other vegetables. They are a favorite snack of ours!

One place to get gyoza in Dotonbori is Gyozaoh! They even have vegetarian options or honestly, as soon as you see a giant plastic gyoza sign, you’ll know you’ve found a place. We’ve had yummy gyoza in a few other cities, but this option is great for a quick Osaka cheap eat.


The Best Restaurants in Osaka

Besides the Dotonbori street food, there are many incredible restaurants and markets to eat at in Osaka. Here are a few of our favorites (most have English menus too!).

Sushi Hayata

Sushi Hayata - Osaka, Japan
Sushi set from Sushi Hayata

We love sushi, and because of that, we’re pretty picky about it too. We’ve only been to Sushi Hayata once, but the experience was memorable. The fish was really fresh and we had great service. The restaurant itself is rather small with bar seating and only a couple of small tables, but the chefs get you in as fast as they can.

If you are adventurous or willing to try something new, we recommend ordering omakase which means “I’ll leave it up to you.” This allows the chef to pick the best quality pieces of fish for your sushi. Our omakase came with a variety of nigiri sushi including salmon, eel, fatty tuna, squid, and shrimp. If you want to be a little more selective that’s okay too – they have an a la carte menu you can choose from!

Location: 2 Chome-6-4 Fushimimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0044, Japan // MAP


Tsurutontan Soemoncho

Bowl of udon with egg from Tsurutontan in Tokyo, Japan
Udon bowl from Tsurutontan Soemoncho

We could go on about Tsurutontan Soemoncho for days. Just thinking about it honestly has me drooling. Tsurutontan Soemoncho has a few different locations in Japan, most being in Tokyo, but just because there isn’t just ONE doesn’t mean you should steer clear. They have some of the best and most diverse udon entrees you’ll find. Plus you can order a double or triple order of noodles for NO EXTRA COST. Every noodle lover’s dream, am I right?

If udon isn’t your thing they also have a few other entree options too like tempura and seasonal offerings. If you do decide to dine here pop in for dinner right after sunset. It’s located right on the Dotonbori canal which we believe has one of the best city sunsets in the world.

Location: 3-17 Souemoncho, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0084, Japan // MAP


Kushikatsu Daruma

Osaka Street Food - Kushi Katsu
Kushikatsu skewers

Chances are if you’re in Dotonbori or near Tsutenkaku Tower you’re gonna see a ton of kushikatsu restaurants. Kushikatsu Daruma is all over Osaka with locations in Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, Namba, and more. At this particular kushikatsu restaurant you will select the items you would like off of a menu then those items will be prepared for you.

If you prefer to go to a place where you can enjoy all-you-can-eat kushikatsu plus cook it yourself, we suggest the popular chain, Kushiya Monogatari. Another recent favorite of ours is Kushikatsu Ouji Dobutsuen-Mae. They had terrific variety and I found the batter to be exceptionally light and crispy. Make sure you start with some cabbage and cucumbers and order a bunch of kushikatsu!

  • Kushikatsu Daruma
    • Location: 1 Chome-6-4 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan // MAP
  • Kushiya Monogatari
    • Location: Japan, 〒556-0011 Osaka, Naniwa Ward, Nanbanaka, 2 Chome−10−70 なんばパークス 6F // MAP
  • Kushikatsu Ouji Dobutsuen-Mae
    • Location: 3 Chome-2-25 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002, Japan // MAP

Ichiran Dotonbori Honkan or Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori

Bowl of ramen with pork, seaweed, and egg.
Bowl of ramen

If you’re looking for some of the best ramen in Osaka these two are some of the most popular in Dotonbori (we briefly mentioned them above). Ichiran Dotonbori Honkan is a chain ramen shop but it is incredibly well-known for its creamy soup broth and extra thin ramen noodles. On the other hand, Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori is another popular ramen shop in Osaka, but it has a shoyu (soy sauce) based broth and more topping choices.

  • Ichiran Dontonbori Honkan
    • Location: 1 Chome-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan // MAP
  • Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori
    • Location: 1 Chome-7-26 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan // MAP

Okonomiyaki Sakaba O

Like I said before, while in Osaka you have to try Kansai-style okonomiyaki! My favorite okonomiyaki restaurant is Okonomiyaki Sakaba O which has a variety of okonomiyaki types to choose from as well as yakisoba! I love getting octopus and/or shrimp in my okonomiyaki but my second favorite is mentaiko!

Location: Japan, 〒542-0076 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nanba, 1 Chome−7−15 江戸安ビル B1F // MAP


Matsuzakagyu Yakiniku M, Hozenji Yokocho

Kuroyaki yakiniku restaurant in Hiroshima
Yakiniku – Steak

Remember that pricey yakiniku I was telling you about? Well, here we go! Matsuzakagyu Yakiniku M offers a unique culinary experience where you can choose your cuts of Matsuzaka beef and cook it yourself. It’s not cheap but if you want to try some of Japan’s finest steak, this is a meal worth savoring and splurging on. Logan stands by the fact that it was one of the best steak experiences he’s had (right after the Grade A Kobe steak he had in Kobe of course).

Location: Japan, 〒542-0076 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nanba, 1 Chome−5−24 だるまビル 2F // MAP


Kuromon Market

grilled dango from kuramon market in Osaka
strawberry daifuku from kuramon market in osaka
Grilled king crab piece on a plate with chopsticks

If you are familiar with the food markets in Japan you’ve probably heard of Nishiki Market in Kyoto. Kuromon Market in Osaka is very similar and while it does feel a bit touristy, you can try a selection of different fresh foods and sweets here for pretty cheap!

Anytime we stop by Kuramon Market we get some grilled king crab legs which can be as cheap as 100 yen a piece which is a crazy steal! We also recommend trying the maguro (tuna) sashimi, grilled eel, tofu donuts, and my favorite, strawberry daifuku.

Location: 2 Chome-4-1 Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0073, Japan // MAP


Kanidoraku

Crab hot pot from Kanidoraku - Japan
Crab hot pot from Kanidoraku - Japan
Crab hot pot from Kanidoraku in Japan

Kanidoraku is a crab hot pot restaurant with a few locations in Japan, most being in Osaka. You’ll know you’ve found Kanidoraku the second you see the large animatronic crab sign above the building! One of the unique features of this restaurant is the “modernized” traditional Japanese-style seating. When you enter you’ll be required to remove your shoes and walk along the tatami mats to your kotatsu table.

Of course, the best thing to order at Kanidoraku is a crab hot pot which comes with many crab legs, tofu, noodles, mushrooms, cabbage, and other vegetables. We have also ordered crab rice before which is delicious! One thing to know about Kanidoraku is that it’s popular so make sure you make a reservation before you go!

Location: 1 Chome-6-18 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan // MAP


Kinnotorikara (Torikara Stick)

Kinnotorikara (Torikara Stick) Chicken sticks in Osaka

While Kinnotorikara technically falls under our list of Dotonbori street foods we threw it in the restaurant category cause it’s not on the “main street” and because we keep going back for more (I’m not joking, we’ve eaten these little chicken pieces more times than I can count).

Kinnotorikara is super cheap (around 200 yen for a single order!), made right in front of you, and there are a TON of different sauces you can pour right on each piece. Pop over across the street for a drink from the vending machine and enjoy these piping hot pieces of fried chicken.

Location: 1 Chome-5-12 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0076, Japan // MAP


Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Osaka

While neither of us are strict vegans or vegetarians, I was a vegetarian for several years and typically still eat a lot of vegetarian or plant-based meals. One way you can find vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Osaka is by using the website Happy Cow. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of places in Osaka that have vegan or vegetarian options. There are also some vegetarian or vegan-friendly options at most konbini!

Here are a few vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Osaka:

  • Gyozaoh!: Gyoza and other small plates. They have a separate menu for vegetarians with some vegan options as well!
  • OKO – Fun Okonomiyaki Bar: If you are vegan or vegetarian and want to try okonomiyaki while in Osaka, this is the place! They also have many gluten-free options!
  • OKO – Takoyaki: The sister restaurant to OKO’s okonomiyaki, this one serves vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free takoyaki.
  • Paprika Shokudo Vegan: This vegan restaurant has Japanese comfort dishes like vegan karaage (fried chicken), donburi (rice bowls), and many other dishes.
  • Alohana: A small shop that serves only two main menu items, vegan ramen and vegan yakisoba.
  • Halal Ramen Naniwaya: Has halal ramen and vegetarian ramen options.

Osaka Desserts

If there’s one thing to know about Logan and I is that we LOVE sweets. I mean we seriously have an entire Instagram story archive on all the ice cream we ate while in Japan. Osaka has some great restaurants or food stalls that are solely dedicated to delicious Osaka desserts so if you’re looking to indulge we can help with that.

Crepe Ojisan Shinsaibashi

Crepe Ojisan - Osaka, Japan
Crepe Ojisan Shinsaibashi

Japanese crepes are unlike any others we’ve had, mostly because they are super hashtag extra. I’m not kidding, they put more sugar in them than a level of Candy Crush. But somehow even though they might have an entire slice of cheesecake, scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, and other toppings inside, you can still manage to eat the whole dang thing.

Crepe Ojisan Shinsaibashi is our favorite crepe stand in Osaka and is worth sharing with a pal, kid, or significant other but we definitely won’t judge you if you decide to eat the whole thing by yourself (we did).


Rikuro Ojisan no Mise

Rikuro Japanese Cheesecake
Japanese cheesecake from Rikuro Ojisan no Mise

Have you heard of Japanese cheesecake? Before you ask, nope it’s not anything like the New York-style cheesecake. If NY-style cheesecake and a sponge cake had a baby, it would be Japanese cheesecake. At least that’s the best way I can describe it.

It’s light and fluffy, and you’ll want to try one at Rikuro Ojisan no Mise.  If you go into it with the mindset that it’s not going to taste like the cheesecake you’re used to having, you’ll probably love it. You’ll end up buying the whole cheesecake but it’s only around 700 yen.


Taiyaki

Hand holding a fish shaped cake (taiyaki)

Taiyaki is a Japanese dessert cake that is shaped like a fish. It resembles the Tai (Japanese Red Seabream). The most common filling is red bean paste but we’ve also had it with sweet potato or custard. If you decided to get only one treat while in Osaka, let it be one of these!

Well now I’m hungry and I wish I could find some okonomiyaki here in the United States, but I think I’ll have to keep that craving until next time we’re in Osaka.

posted in: Asia, Food Guides, Japan, Kansai

Previous
Tours from San Francisco You’ll Love Even If Tours Aren’t Your Thing (Plus A Few Bonus Suggestions!)
Next
Delicious Desserts to try in Tokyo, Japan

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Kallsy and Logan - Authors of Pages of Travel.

We're Kallsy and Logan

We are passionate about travel and encouraging others like you to travel more while maximizing vacation days! We love finding a blend of new experiences in urban cities, small towns, and the great outdoors.

More About Us

Get More Travel Inspiration + Tips

When you subscribe to the newsletter!

The Best Things to Do in Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is where we currently live and call home! This small city boasts many unique things to do, a large influence in the arts, beautiful beaches, and amazing restaurants. In this post, we share our favorites so you can enjoy them too!

Read This Post

Recent Favorites

  • Blackened grouper with asparagus and fingerling potatoes from Duval's in Sarasota, Florida
    A Massive Guide to the Best Restaurants in Sarasota, Florida
  • Trevi Fountain in Rome
    3 Days in Rome, Italy – A Complete Itinerary
  • Omoide Yokochō alleyways in Tokyo, Japan
    A Complete 5-Day Tokyo Itinerary
  • View of the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas - things to do in Hot Springs
    The Best Things to Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas – A Weekend Itinerary
  • Secret Beach in Maui, Hawaii
    A Massive 7-Day Maui Itinerary & Maui Guide
  • View of Kinkaku-ji Temple (The Golden Temple) in Kyoto
    The Perfect 5-Day Kyoto Itinerary

Plan Your Next Trip

Traveling the world can be overwhelming, we get it! That’s why we’re here to help you get started on your own journey.

Browse Destinations
Japan. Visit Japan
backpack Travel Resources
Pages of Travel Logo.

About

  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Shop Our Favorites
  • Work With Us

Resources

  • How to Plan For A Trip
  • The Best Travel Apps
  • DIY Travel First Aid
  • Travel Credit Cards
  • TSA Precheck & Global Entry Info

Destinations

  • Japan Travel Guides
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • United States
  • South America

Travel Tips

  • Airplane Travel
  • Budget Travel
  • Packing Tips
  • Photography
  • Travel Gear
©2025, Pages of Travel. About Work With Us Privacy Policy Back To Top
Design by Pixel Me Designs
×

Get More Travel Inspiration + Tips

When you subscribe to the newsletter!