Where to Eat in Osaka Guide & Map of the Best Restaurants

The vibrant metropolis of Osaka is technically just a thirty-minute train ride from Kyoto, but it couldn’t be more different. Osaka is a sprawling urban center, ranking as the third largest city in Japan, with towering skyscrapers, historic castles, and a population of nearly nineteen million people. Like many destinations across Japan, Osaka has a rich culinary heritage. It’s the birthplace of numerous renowned street foods, including okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes) and takoyaki (seafood-stuffed pancake balls).

Our time in this bustling city was limited to just a few days, and we feel as though we barely scratched the surface of all it has to offer. We hope to return again soon to keep exploring. In this foodie map, we have gathered all our Osaka favorites. You’ll find everything from street food to specialty coffee cafés to world-class cocktail bars. Navigate the map easily either by scrolling through the list on the right or by clicking the points on the map. Places are listed in a geographical order.

Chef Toyoji Chikumoto, the chef made popular by Netflix Street Food, is famous for using a flamethrower to cook his signature tuna dishes. Expect a long line; we arrived five minutes before Toyo opened for lunch and had to wait almost two hours. We ordered the tuna set, which includes a crab and scallop salad and a plate of fresh tuna, sea urchin, and trout roe. We also enjoyed maki (rolls) with fatty tuna, and, of course, the signature smoky, flame-broiled tuna cheeks. Grilled unagi (eel) is also prepared expertly here. Izakaya Toyo is more about the show than the food, but the fish is fresh and the fun vibe is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. Toyo-san is a true entertainer, a hilarious and happy guy, doing pull-ups in between his flamethrowing, and constantly putting on a show for the roaring crowd. Note: Izakaya Toyo is cash only.

Ramen Chonmage Osaka Tenroku became popular for being one of the few ramen shops with a female chef. The shop offers three types of ramen (shio, shoyu, and miso). During our visit, we tried both the shoyu ramen with wontons, as well as the miso ramen topped with a seasoned egg. One of the most popular dishes here is the deceptively simple egg fried rice; photos truly don’t capture its deliciousness – it's surprisingly addictive! We also couldn't get enough of their super crispy and juicy karaage (Japanese fried chicken). Note: Ramen Chonmage Osaka Tenroku is cash only.

Featured on Netflix Street Food and recommended in the Michelin Guide, Takoyaki Umaiya is the second oldest takoyaki shop in Japan. This famous food stall first opened in 1953, and their takoyaki recipe hasn't changed since. The pancake batter here is flavored with bonito dashi, giving it a slight seafood note, and the dough balls are filled with chewy pieces of octopus. It’s fun to watch them cook this dish, carefully flipping the balls in the pan to make sure they’re not overcooked or undercooked – a similar preparation to Danish æbelskiver. The balls are made-to-order and simply glazed with takoyaki sauce. They are available for dine-in or take-away. Takoyaki is a must-try street food dish when in Osaka. Note: Takoyaki Umaiya is cash only.

Our favorite meal in Osaka was at Yakitori Taimatsu. This is the sister restaurant to Ichimatsu, located in the same neighborhood. The chef, who honed his skills at Ichimatsu for a decade, now leads the kitchen at Taimatsu. While both restaurants specialize in yakitori skewers, Taimatsu offers a unique selection of side dishes. This is the best yakitori we’ve ever had. We loved all the skewers, especially the juicy chicken skin, the chicken thigh with green onions, the chicken shoulder, and the tsukune (meatball). In addition to beer and sake, they have some good value Champagnes, as well as a few Japanese natural wines. Thanks to the chef, we discovered one of our all-time favorite Japanese wines here. We highly recommend a visit! Note: Taimatsu offers online reservations.

Our home base during our trip to Osaka was the centrally located Zentis Hotel. We were drawn to its minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired interior design, characterized by clean, neutral colors accented with sunny yellow tones. The hotel offers all essential amenities, including a fitness center, well-designed lounges and common areas, and a restaurant and bar. The rooms are outfitted with comfortable beds, cute pajamas and slippers for guests to borrow during their stay, as well as an in-room water boiler and drip coffee bags. The bathroom featured a shower with excellent water pressure and, of course, a Japanese toilet. One thoughtful touch we particularly appreciated was the laundry room, equipped with washing machines available for guests' use. This is an especially convenient feature for travelers on extended trips.

Su is a haven for natural wine lovers in Osaka. The first floor holds a wine shop (Il Soffione), while a staircase brings you up a level to an intimate wine bar. The artsy, all-white space primarily features bar seating, though a few tables are also available. There’s no drink menu here – all the wines are served by the glass. If you're feeling nibbly, there are also some small plates available. We highly recommend the French fries, which have a gooey interior and crispy exterior, and are served with a garlic aioli.

Kaigen Café is a relaxed, old-school style eatery located near Utsubo Park, specializing in kakigori (shaved ice). Unlike the more elaborate, multi-layered styles of kakigori found elsewhere in Japan today, this shop offers a simple yet refreshing version of the dessert. During our visit, we sampled two flavors featuring fresh fruit. One consisted of a mound of finely shaved ice drenched in bright orange mango syrup, topped with whipped cream, mango pieces, and a drizzle of condensed milk. Another vibrant red variety featured strawberry and raspberry syrups, also with cream and condensed milk.

Aoma is one of our favorite specialty coffee shops in Osaka. The beans are roasted in house, in the lighter style that we love. Aoma is committed to sustainable sourcing of their coffee beans and prides itself on maintaining responsible relationships with coffee farmers. During our visit, we sampled a couple of their pour-over coffees: a washed Rwandan with notes of mandarin, apricot, and brown sugar, and a natural Brazilian with notes of caramel and orange. We loved the simple design of the shop, with concrete floors and natural wood accents, and both indoor seating at the bar and outdoor seating on a bench.

Canelé du Japon is a small chain serving miniature canelés from a few storefronts in Osaka. They are inspired by the classic French dessert, but incorporate unique Japanese flavors into their sweet treats. We ordered the assorted box with eight flavors, including hoji tea, sweet bean, kokuto nuts, and matcha, as well as a classic Bordeaux canelé flavored with rum and vanilla. Our favorite flavors were the seasonal varieties: honey and cheese and sakura (cherry blossom). The pastries were excellent, with a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey center. The shops were as charming as the decadent bites, with eye-catching branding and adorable packaging. Note: Canelé du Japon is cash only.

The best coffee we had in Osaka was at LiLo Coffee Roasters. This tiny storefront had a huge selection (15-20 varieties!) of pour-over coffees including lots of fun and funky natural processed coffees. We tried a fully washed long fermentation geisha from Guatemala with notes of peach, jasmine, and lychee, and a natural Ethiopian with notes of strawberry, cranberry, and orange blossom. The coffee was exceptional, and we loved the detailed tasting cards which included how the flavor notes changed as the temperature of the coffee dropped. Note: LiLo Coffee Roasters is cash only.

Climb to the fifth floor of a nondescript building in Shinsaibashi and enter through the looking glass into the cocktail wonderland that is Bar Nayuta. (We mean that literally – you’ll find the tiny door to this speakeasy concealed by a mirror.) As is common in many Japanese bars, there is no menu here. We described our flavor preferences to the bartender and they came up with creative cocktails to match our palates. One favorite was a calamansi gin fizz, while another combined strawberry, yuzu, gin, and elderflower. We also enjoyed a couple variations on more classic drinks, like a yuzu daiquiri and a spicy mezcal margarita. Bar Nayuta has a cool vibe and amazing cocktails – these were our favorite drinks in Osaka.

Rikuro-Ojisan No Mise (translated: Uncle Rikuro’s Shop) is an Osaka-based cheesecake chain with a handful of locations around the city, including one at the main train station. This dessert hotspot is very popular with locals and tourists, and new cheesecakes are baked fresh every ten minutes to keep up with the demand. (Listen for the bell to hear when a fresh batch is ready, and look for Uncle Rikuro’s face stamped on top of each cheesecake.) The cake is served warm and has become famous for its jiggly appearance. The texture is airy, soft, and pillowy, and the flavor is light, not too sweet, and eggy like a soufflé. The cheesecake is studded with a few sweet raisins at the bottom. This dessert was so good, we devoured the whole thing in one sitting!

Naruto Taiyaki Honpo, a popular dessert chain, is one of the best spots for taiyaki in Osaka. Taiyaki means “grilled sea bream,” but there’s no seafood inside this fish-shaped pancake. At this street food stall, the pastries are cooked in individual molds over the fire, first filled with batter and then with a sweet filling. Some traditional fillings are red bean paste, sweet potato, chocolate, and custard (our favorite!). Eat it while the filling is warm and the outside is crispy! Note: Naruto Taiyaki Honpo is cash only.

Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake, is a famous dish that originated in Osaka. One of the best spots to try it is at Fukutaro, which has a few locations, but the original is in Namba. Fukutaro doesn’t accept reservations, so show up early, put your name on a list, and expect to wait. Ask for a seat at the counter for the best view of the action – the workers are like machines, preparing the food incredibly fast on the griddles in front of you. We tried the classic okonomiyaki with cabbage and bacon, which is generously doused with okonomiyaki sauce, drizzled with mayonnaise, and dusted with seaweed powder. We also tried the negiyaki, another variation of savory pancake made with fried leeks.