Osaka is Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo, home to about 7% of the country's population and 10% of its foreign residents.
Developed as a center for the distribution and commerce of goods from all over Japan, Osaka has built its own unique food culture as the "nation's kitchen" and a city known for "kuidaore" (eating until you drop).
In addition to affordable and delicious gourmet foods like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu, the surrounding area is home to many high-quality and famous sake-producing regions such as Nada, Itami, and Ikeda.
In particular, "kushiage" (deep-fried skewers), which originated in Osaka's downtown area of Shinsekai, has now spread nationwide and become one of Japan's representative dishes. Among these, "Kushikatsu Bon" has gained such high acclaim for its outstanding quality that it's listed in the Michelin Guide and is known as one of the world's top restaurants.
In this article, we'll introduce the charms of Osaka's famous restaurant, Kushikatsu Bon.
Kushikatsu Bon: A Michelin-listed Exquisite Kushiage Restaurant in Kitashinchi
Kushikatsu Bon is a high-end kushiage specialty restaurant located in Osaka's Kitashinchi area. Established in 2004, this restaurant has elevated Osaka's casual food, kushikatsu, into a first-class cuisine using carefully selected premium ingredients.
Having earned a Michelin star for 8 consecutive years, Kushikatsu Bon values the original taste of ingredients while constantly challenging new flavors. It's truly a sophisticated restaurant where you can enjoy the ultimate Osaka gourmet experience.
What is Kitashinchi?
Osaka has two main commercial districts called Kita and Minami. The Kita area of Osaka, centered around Osaka Station and Osaka Umeda Station, is concentrated with commercial facilities and tourist spots, serving as the gateway to Osaka.
Kitashinchi, located in the Kita area, is known as the representative high-end entertainment district of Kita, comparable to Tokyo's Ginza as a high-end dining area. Many restaurants here value high-quality hospitality and private spaces, and the area is often used as a place for business information exchange.
What is Kushiage?
Kushiage refers to bite-sized pieces of beef, vegetables, seafood, and various other ingredients skewered, battered, and deep-fried.
Kushiage was born in the 1920s in Osaka's downtown area of Shinsekai. At that time, there were many day laborers around Shinsekai, so kushiage was devised as an inexpensive, filling food that could be eaten quickly.
In kushiage shops in Shinsekai, it's common to dip freshly fried kushiage directly into a container of sauce. Because the sauce container is shared with other customers, there's a rule of "no double-dipping."
Currently, due to the impact of COVID-19, more shops are switching to individual sauces for hygiene reasons.
At Kushikatsu Bon, You Can Enjoy Premium Kushiage to Your Heart's Content
At Kushikatsu Bon, you can enjoy premium kushiage made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, each skewer fried with meticulous care. It's a far cry from the casual kushikatsu born in Shinsekai, so refined that it could be considered a different cuisine altogether.
In the omakase course, skewers are served one after another until you say stop, allowing you to savor kushiage to your heart's content. If you particularly like certain ingredients, you can order them again.
The freshly fried kushiage is coated with a thin batter, resulting in a light and crisp texture that's easy on the stomach. The seasonal ingredients, perfectly cooked by the skilled chefs, bring out the maximum umami of each ingredient.
Now, let's introduce some must-try menu items at Kushikatsu Bon.
5 Recommended Menu Items You Must Try at Kushikatsu Bon
A5 Grade Kuroge Wagyu Filet Mignon Chateaubriand
Source: Tabelog
One dish you must try at Kushikatsu Bon is the kushikatsu made with A5 grade Kuroge Wagyu Chateaubriand, Japan's highest grade of beef.
Chateaubriand, a rare cut that yields less than 1 kg per cow, is known for its soft and juicy texture. When you put it in your mouth, it melts away surprisingly lightly. With each bite, the elegant meat juices spread, harmonizing with the pleasant texture of the flavorful batter.
Thanks to the chef's perfect cooking, you can enjoy the true umami of wagyu without any greasiness. You'll surely want to order seconds of this delicious dish.
Seasonal Game Meat and Truffle
Source: Tabelog
The combination of seasonal game meat and truffle is another must-try dish at Kushikatsu Bon.
By lavishly topping game meats like Ezo deer, bear, wild boar, or duck, which have strong flavors, with sliced truffle, a delicate aroma is added, creating a deep taste. When you put it in your mouth, a juicy and rich umami spreads throughout.
The cooking method that brings out the best in each type of meat is a testament to the chef's skill. It's a luxurious skewer that allows you to enjoy the rich flavors of each season. When you visit Kushikatsu Bon, be sure to enjoy a blissful moment with the seasonal game meat and truffle.
Natural Kuruma Prawn & Snow Crab
Source: Tabelog
The natural kuruma prawn and snow crab skewers are absolute must-tries at Kushikatsu Bon.
The kuruma prawns are taken from the tank just before serving, ensuring peak freshness. Thanks to perfect cooking, you can enjoy the crispy texture of the batter and the sweet, springy texture of the prawn. Enjoying it simply with lemon and salt brings out its umami.
The snow crab skewer is an impressive dish with an entire large leg deep-fried. You can fully savor its juiciness and the sweetness unique to crab.
Both ingredients are so fresh they could be eaten raw, and frying them further concentrates their umami for a deeper taste. Enjoy the delicate flavors of these fresh kushiage skewers.
Seasonal Domestic Vegetables
Source: Tabelog
At Kushikatsu Bon, the kushikatsu made with seasonal domestic vegetables is also recommended. The vegetables are carefully selected according to the season, allowing you to fully taste the natural flavors of the vegetables themselves.
A characteristic of Bon's vegetable skewers is that frying brings out even more of the sweetness and umami of the ingredients. With a crispy texture on the outside and the vegetables' juiciness retained on the inside, you'll be surprised by the powerful deliciousness of the vegetables themselves.
It's a luxurious skewer that allows you to savor the deep flavors of seasonal vegetables.
Finishing Rice: Seasonal Takikomi Gohan
Source:Tabelog
When you come to Kushikatsu Bon, be sure to try the seasonal takikomi gohan (seasoned rice) as a finishing dish.
In Japan, there's a culture of eating carbohydrates like rice as a "shime" (finale) to finish a meal. This takikomi gohan is served as the shime for kushikatsu.
The seasonal takikomi gohan is a dish that fully allows you to taste the blessings of Japan's nature, using plenty of fresh seasonal ingredients.
The umami of the ingredients permeates the rice, and the rich aroma and flavor that spreads in your mouth the moment you take a bite is exceptional. You'll feel thoroughly satisfied in both body and mind.
Kushikatsu Bon Also Has a "Hanare" (Annex)
Source: Official website
Kushikatsu Bon's "Hanare" is located in the building next to the main store.
The menu is the same as the main store, but it features 14 counter seats arranged around the kitchen. You can enjoy your meal in a cozy, comfortable space.
The proximity to the chefs allows you to closely observe the kushikatsu being fried right before your eyes, and you can also enjoy conversations with the chefs, which is part of its charm.
Basic Information and Access to Kushikatsu Bon
<Main Store>
Business Hours: 18:00 - 24:30 (Last entry 22:30 due to course system)
Closed: None
Address: Merry Center Building B1, 1-3-16 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Phone: 06-6344-0400
Official Website: http://www.kitchen-dan.jp/
<Hanare>
Business Hours: 18:00 - 22:00 (Last entry 20:00 due to course system)
Closed: None
Address: 1-3-14 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, 3F
Phone: Contact the main store (Main store phone: 06-6344-0400)
Official Website: http://www.kitchen-dan.jp/
5 Popular Michelin Restaurants in Kitashinchi, a Treasure Trove of Japanese Restaurants
kushiage 010 [Kushiage]
Source: Official website
"kushiage 010" is a hidden Michelin restaurant in Kitashinchi, known for its creative kushiage full of ingenuity.
While using seasonal ingredients, you can enjoy unique kushiage that incorporates cuisines from various countries, such as samgyeopsal-style or mini hamburger skewers. The presentation is also beautifully crafted, making it enjoyable to look at as well.
There's a rich selection of natural wines and shochu that pair well with kushiage, as well as original cocktails like "Kumamoto tomato basil" and "organic elderflower." You can enjoy a special time in a sophisticated space.
Business Hours: 17:00 - 22:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: Tanaka Building 4F, 1-1-41 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Phone: 050-5488-0228
Kitashinchi Okurano [Japanese Cuisine]
Source: Official website
"Kitashinchi Okurano" is a Michelin restaurant known for its kaiseki cuisine that evokes the changing of the seasons.
Kaiseki cuisine is based on the tea ceremony spirit of "cherishing a once-in-a-lifetime encounter and providing the best hospitality possible at that moment."
With skilled techniques, they bring out the best flavors of seasonal ingredients, pursuing delicate and refined tastes to draw out the most delicious moment of each ingredient. They also pay attention to beautiful plating and dish selection to make the meal visually appealing.
Kaiseki cuisine, which expresses the beauty and transience of nature through food, can be said to embody the Japanese spirit. Please try to experience the Japanese spirit while enjoying kaiseki cuisine.
They also offer a wide selection of wines and sake that pair well with kaiseki cuisine.
Business Hours: 11:30 - 15:00 / 17:30 - 22:30
Closed: None
Address: North Shinchi FOODEAR Building 3F, 1-3-23 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Phone: 06-6341-3535
Official Website: https://okurano.net/
Kashiwaya Kitashinchi Store [Japanese Cuisine]
Source: Official website
"Kashiwaya Kitashinchi Store" is a Michelin restaurant known for its omakase course that values the changing of seasons.
The dishes created according to seasonal themes are characterized by delicate flavors that fully bring out the ingredients. The Kashiwaya specialty Unryuyaki, which appears in the course, is a creative dish that incorporates French culinary techniques. The fluffy texture similar to a soufflé harmonizes perfectly with Japanese flavors, making it exquisite.
A sommelier is always present to pair drinks with each dish. You can enjoy your meal slowly while feeling the Japanese essence imbued in the cuisine.
Business Hours: 18:00 - (Exit by 20:15) / 20:45 - (Exit by 23:00)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: 1-7-4 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Phone: 080-6103-0979
Official Website: https://jp-kashiwaya.com/kitashinchi/
Kitashinchi Shien [Japanese Cuisine]
Source: Website
"Shien" in Kitashinchi is a Michelin restaurant that offers jidori (free-range chicken) in a Japanese cuisine course style.
The "Jitokko" brand chicken used is characterized by its meat quality that releases more umami with each bite.
Among the dishes, the "Tori no Tataki" (seared chicken) that appears in the course is highly recommended. By searing the skin surface, the skin becomes crispy while the inside remains moist, resulting in exceptional texture and taste.
The cooking method and seasoning are designed to maximize the appeal of each part of the chicken, and they can adjust the ingredients and flavors according to individual preferences.
You can feel the owner's attention to detail in each dish. You'll surely spend a wonderful time experiencing Japanese hospitality.
Business Hours: 18:00 - 24:00 (Last order 23:00)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: Espace Kitashinchi 21 2F, 1-7-19 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Phone: 06-6341-0611
YUNiCO [Italian]
Source: Official website
"YUNiCO" is a Michelin restaurant in Kitashinchi that offers delicate and creative Italian cuisine incorporating Japanese elements. The omakase course, which uses luxurious seasonal ingredients and brings out deep umami from simple ingredients, is artistic in every dish.
The homemade hand-made pasta served in the course uses the most delicious ingredients of the season in abundance and is truly exquisite. Its chewy texture is characteristic, and it pairs perfectly with the sauce.
You can clearly taste the umami of the ingredients in every dish, and each bite will spread amazement.
Business Hours: Mon-Fri 17:30 - 23:00 (Last order 21:00)
Sat 12:00 - 15:00 (Last entry 13:00) / 17:30 - 23:00 (Last order 21:00)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: IM Thousand Building 4F, 1-5-17 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Phone: 06-6225-8007
Official Website: https://www.y-unico.jp/
Kushikatsu Bon Also Has a Store in Tokyo's "Ginza"
Osaka's famous restaurant "Kushikatsu Bon" also has a store in Ginza, Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Ginza is a high-end area where luxury brand shops and long-established stores gather.
The Ginza store spreads out in a modern and calm space, truly a kushikatsu specialty store for adults. The 14 counter seats where you can enjoy freshly fried kushikatsu right in front of you are the best seats.
Like the Osaka main store, you can enjoy kushikatsu made with carefully selected high-grade ingredients such as A5 rank Kuroge Wagyu beef and tuna supplied by high-end sushi restaurants.
Business Hours: Wed-Sun 12:00 - 14:00 (Last order 13:00)
Daily 17:30 - 23:00 (Last order 21:00)
Closed: Lunch only on Mondays and Tuesdays
ddress: Ginza Takamoto Building 3F, 8-2-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 050-5462-2522
Official Website: https://kushikatu-bon.foodre.jp/#access