Osaka is Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. About 7% of Japan's total population is concentrated in Osaka, and approximately 10% of foreigners living in Japan reside in Osaka.
Osaka is a city that has developed its unique food culture, offering numerous affordable and delicious dishes such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. It's often called the "city where people eat until they drop" because there are so many must-try dishes that visitors might eat until they collapse.
Moreover, with many famous sake-producing regions nearby such as Nada, Itami, and Ikeda, Osaka is a city where you can enjoy both food and drink.
One of the specialties that originated in Osaka is "okonomiyaki." As Osaka is the birthplace of this local gourmet dish, the city is filled with high-quality okonomiyaki restaurants.
In this article, we'll introduce some of the best okonomiyaki restaurants in Osaka that you should definitely visit to experience Osaka best Okonomi-yaki 2024.
What is Okonomiyaki, the Specialty of Osaka, the Home of Flour-based Foods?
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese dish originating from Osaka, made by mixing vegetables, meat, and seafood into a batter of wheat flour dissolved in dashi (soup stock) and cooking it on an iron griddle. The name "okonomiyaki" means "grilled as you like it" in Japanese, referring to the fact that each person can mix their favorite ingredients into the flour batter.
As a result, there are many varieties of okonomiyaki, including those with pork, beef, shrimp, kimchi, cheese, and more.
From here on, we'll introduce restaurants that offer various types of okonomiyaki, from those that focus on simple yet flavorful okonomiyaki to those that challenge the conventional notion of okonomiyaki with innovative ideas.
Two Authentic Okonomiyaki Restaurants with Michelin Recognition to Enjoy the Real Deal
Jibundoki
Source:MICHELIN
Jibundoki is a restaurant known for its delicious okonomiyaki and teppanyaki dishes.
My recommendation is the classic "Buta-tama" (pork and egg) okonomiyaki. The combination of crispy pork, thick grilled batter, and soft eggs reminiscent of a Spanish omelet is so good that you might find yourself eating endlessly once you start.
Moreover, it's packed with crunchy cabbage, providing a satisfying texture and volume.
All the dishes, including those other than okonomiyaki, are beautifully presented, making them visually appealing as well.
Jibundoki is so popular that reviews often mention the difficulty of getting a reservation, so booking in advance is essential. It might be booked up to a month in advance, so I recommend securing a reservation first and then planning your trip around it!
<Store Information>
- Address: 1F Lions Mansion Midouhonmachi, 4-5-11 Minami-kyuhojimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 17:00-23:00 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
- Closed: Monday, Sunday, Holidays
- Phone: 06-6253-1661
- Official Website: None
Tanpopo
Source:Tabelog
Tanpopo is a unique okonomiyaki restaurant that makes its batter with yam and egg instead of using dashi, which is often considered crucial for the taste of okonomiyaki. At Tanpopo, the umami from the ingredients serves as the dashi, resulting in an okonomiyaki that allows you to fully enjoy the flavors of the ingredients.
There are four types of okonomiyaki: pork, squid, octopus, and shrimp. This time, I tried the shrimp okonomiyaki, and the chewy texture of the batter made with yam and egg was unlike any other okonomiyaki I've had.
The deep flavor packed with seafood essence was delicious.
They also help you choose wine to pair with your meal, so why not enjoy a wine and okonomiyaki pairing as your second stop of the evening?
<Store Information>
- Address: 6F Eiraku Building, 1-10-16 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 18:00-22:00
- Closed: Sundays and Holidays
- Phone: 06-6344-2888
- Official Website: https://www.tanpopo-kitashinchi.com/
Three Okonomiyaki Restaurants Selected for the 2024 Tabelog 100 Best Restaurants! Where You Can Casually Enjoy Authentic Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch
Source:Tabelog
Okonomiyaki Kiji, located in a corner of a retro dining district, is a unique okonomiyaki restaurant that uses shiso (perilla) in its dishes.
I recommend the Mix okonomiyaki, which is packed with octopus, squid, chikuwa (fish cake), konnyaku, shrimp, and pork. The shiso, also known as Japanese herb, adds a refreshing aftertaste to the rich sauce and mayonnaise.
My favorite is the Modan-yaki, where fried noodles are placed on top of the okonomiyaki and grilled together. The fluffy batter infused with dashi and the umami of the cabbage blend perfectly with the sweet and savory sauce, making it incredibly delicious.
Plus, with the addition of noodles, it's quite filling! It was perfect for lunch after a day of sightseeing.
Kiji, with its ambiance that embodies the image of a long-standing okonomiyaki shop, is a beloved local establishment.
<Store Information>
- Address: 2F Shin Umeda Shokudogai, 9-20 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 11:30 - 21:30
- Closed: Sundays
- Phone: 06-6361-5804
- Official Website: https://shinume.com/shop/%e3%81%8d%e3%81%98/
Fukutaro Main Store
Source:co-Trip
Fukutaro is an okonomiyaki restaurant known for its negiyaki, which is cooked with plenty of chopped green onions mixed in.
Negiyaki is eaten with dashi soy sauce or lemon soy sauce, making it a lighter option compared to regular okonomiyaki sauce. This makes negiyaki one of the most popular types of okonomiyaki.
While negiyaki can include various ingredients like mochi or cheese, I found the pork negiyaki particularly delicious, with its crispy pork texture complementing the homemade soy sauce perfectly.
They also offer a variety of side dishes like avocado tofu and yam-yaki. These side dishes are so popular that some regular customers visit specifically for them, not just for the okonomiyaki.
At Fukutaro, be sure to try both the side dishes and the negiyaki.
<Store Information>
- Address: 2-3-17 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: Weekdays 17:00-0:30, Weekends and Holidays 12:00-0:00
- Closed: New Year's period
- Phone: 06-6634-2951
- Official Website: https://www.2951.jp/
Okonomiyaki Omoni Main Store
Source:Tabelog
Okonomiyaki Omoni is a famous okonomiyaki restaurant located just past the Korean Town in Osaka's Tsuruhashi area. The distinctive features of Okonomiyaki Omoni Main Store are its fruity, sweet sauce and the wide variety of okonomiyaki options.
With 35 types of okonomiyaki and over 30 toppings to choose from, you might find okonomiyaki with ingredients you've never tried before.
The soft, thick batter made with lots of sweet cabbage and sauce reminded me of the nostalgic taste of okonomiyaki my mother used to make when I was young. The classic yet heartwarming deliciousness that makes you want to eat another one even when you're full is the appealing point of Omoni.
Therefore, it's recommended for those who want to eat their fill or try unusual menu items.
<Store Information>
- Address: 3-3-2 Momodani, Ikuno-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 11:30 - 22:00 (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Closed: Monday, Tuesday
- Phone: 06-6717-0094
Three Locally Loved Okonomiyaki Restaurants Popular Among Tourists
Okonomiyaki Chitose
Source:Tripadvisor
Okonomiyaki Chitose, where English-speaking staff provide service, is a unique okonomiyaki restaurant that includes pineapple in their batter.
I couldn't imagine how the combination of savory okonomiyaki and sweet pineapple would taste, but the refreshing flavor was delicious. Before I knew it, I had finished eating, completely absorbed in the taste.
Besides okonomiyaki, they also offer many teppanyaki menu items like negiyaki and yakisoba. If you're unsure what to order, ask the staff for recommendations.
My recommendation is the squid and shrimp okonomiyaki, which includes both meat and seafood. With ingredients grilled on the iron plate and a thick, substantial batter, I was able to enjoy authentic okonomiyaki.
They also have menu items using soy meat, so vegetarians can easily enjoy okonomiyaki too.
<Store Information>
- Address: 1-11-10 Taishi, Nishinari-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 11:30 - 14:30, 16:30 - 19:30
- Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday
- Phone: 06-6631-6002
- Official Website: https://www.bunjin.com/chitose/index.html
Kyochabana Minamisenba Branch
Source:MBS
Kyochabana is known for its okonomiyaki that's almost like Italian cuisine. They serve okonomiyaki with a sauce made from whole tomatoes. Kyochabana has even been recognized by the government for its excellent approach to ingredients.
Their okonomiyaki, made with bonito dashi batter, cheese, soft-boiled egg, and a whole fresh tomato on top, is unique. You can enjoy a fusion of okonomiyaki and Italian cuisine.
Eating okonomiyaki with the chunky texture of tomatoes and a rich sauce feels almost like eating a new style of salad. It's especially recommended for those who like tangy flavors and vegetables.
They also have a wide selection of wines, so it's highly recommended for those who want to eat okonomiyaki in a stylish and unique restaurant.
<Store Information>
- Address: 2-6-5 Bakuro-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 17:00-23:00
- Closed: None
- Phone: 050-5269-9708
- Official Website: https://kyochabana-minamisenba.com/
Ajinoya
Source: Official website
Ajinoya is a restaurant where you can eat okonomiyaki rich in dashi flavor.
The simple appearance of plenty of cabbage, sauce that complements the sweetness of the cabbage, and bonito flakes on top of the okonomiyaki stimulates your appetite with the aroma of dashi.
The menu is available in four languages including English, Chinese, and Korean, so you can order without worry.
I ordered the "2-color mix" where you can choose two types of ingredients. The "dashi," which I thought was just for dissolving flour, played a starring role with its strong flavor, making even the edges without sauce delicious. Also, the sweet and fruity sauce went well with the generous amount of cabbage, and the texture was exquisite.
If you want to eat okonomiyaki that looks simple and traditional but is meticulously crafted and absolutely delicious, please give it a try.
<Store Information>
- Address: 1-7-16 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
- Opening Hours: 11:00-22:00
- Closed: Monday
- Phone: 050-1809-4021
- Official Website: http://ajinoya-okonomiyaki.com/top/