Osaka, a popular tourist destination, is Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. About 7% of Japan's population and 10% of foreigners living in Japan are concentrated in Osaka.
One of Osaka's attractions is its unique food culture. Known as "the nation's kitchen" and "the city of kuidaore" (eat until you drop), Osaka offers plenty of delicious and affordable local specialties such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki. With renowned sake-producing areas nearby, such as Ikeda City in northern Osaka and Itami and Nada Cities in Hyogo Prefecture, it's no wonder that Osaka has many casual dishes that pair well with alcohol.
"Kushiage," which originated in Osaka, is one of the local favorites. Today, its popularity has spread throughout Japan and has become established as a popular Japanese cuisine. For this article, we've picked 10 kushiage restaurants that we recommend to foreign visitors for the Osaka best Kushiage 2024 experience. Please use this as a reference!
What is "Kushiage," the dish that originated in Osaka's Shinsekai?
Surrounded by nature, including the sea and mountains, Osaka has been blessed with various ingredients since ancient times. The fact that ingredients from distant places were easily accessible by boat through the calm Seto Inland Sea, which has few natural disasters, is one of the reasons why a unique food culture took root.
Osaka's soul food "kushiage" was born in the late 1920s in an area called "Shinsekai," which is also a popular tourist spot. It was reportedly devised as something that "can be eaten quickly and easily, filling the stomach at a low cost" for people working nearby.
Kushiage, which involves skewering meat, vegetables, and seafood, coating them in batter, and deep-frying them, is locally known as "kushikatsu" and is beloved by locals. While kushiage is typically eaten with sauce, restaurants have a unique rule of "no double-dipping" (a rule that prohibits dipping a partially eaten kushikatsu back into the shared sauce).
Top 3 Kushiage Restaurants in Shinsekai, the Birthplace of Kushiage
Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai Main Store
Source: Official website
Founded in 1929, "Kushikatsu Daruma" is a long-established kushiage restaurant in Shinsekai. The fine-textured batter that clings well to the sauce offers a crispy texture. A delightful point is that you can eat a lot without feeling heavy on your stomach because they fry in carefully selected beef tallow.
In addition to the original kushikatsu, Japanese Black Wagyu beef and Iberico pork are also popular. My recommendation is the main store-exclusive "marinated tuna." The deliciousness of the tuna infused with soy sauce flavor goes well with beer.
The "no double-dipping" rule, which has now become common sense, is said to have started at this store, reflecting the founder's wish for all customers to enjoy their meals comfortably.
The "Daruma" style is to dip the freshly fried kushikatsu boldly in the sauce. This is a recommended restaurant for those who want to taste the original Osaka-style kushikatsu.
Address: 2-3-9 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 11:00-22:30 (Last order 22:00)
Closed: Open all year round
Phone number: 06-6645-7056
Official website
Tengu
Source: Yahoo! News
"Tengu" is a locally popular kushiage restaurant located in the long-established shopping street of Shinsekai. The menu and prices are clearly displayed on the walls inside the store, making it easy for first-time visitors to order with confidence.
The thick, satisfying, and crunchy batter is characteristic of Tengu's kushiage. The chunky kushiage, which seems to preserve the shape of the ingredients, stimulates the appetite.
Along with the standard kushikatsu, this restaurant's signature dish is "doteyaki." Known as an Osaka local dish, "doteyaki" is typically beef tendon stewed in miso and mirin. Tengu's doteyaki is unique, featuring skewered beef offal grilled and eaten with a sweet white miso sauce.
This is a recommended restaurant for those who want to enjoy the simple and direct taste of the ingredients.
Address: 3-4-12 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 10:30-21:00
Closed: Mondays
Phone number: 06-6641-3577
Oumiya Main Store
Source: Hot Pepper Gourmet
"Oumiya Main Store," located near Ebisucho Station on the Osaka Metro, is a kushikatsu restaurant with an old-fashioned atmosphere. You can enjoy popular standard kushikatsu for 100 yen per skewer.
Oumiya's kushiage is characterized by its fluffy batter. While voluminous, it's light and enhances the umami of the meat and vegetables. With all-you-can-eat cabbage available at each table for breaks, you can enjoy as many skewers as you like.
They also offer kushiage with whole large asparagus, high-grade fish like conger eel and eel. The chicken karaage (fried chicken) skewer, popular among foreigners, is recommended to be eaten with salt. My favorite is to pair it with a highball made with black sesame shochu.
Please visit if you want to enjoy the typical Osaka working-class atmosphere!
Address: 2-3-18 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 12:00-21:00 (Last order 20:30)
Closed: Thursdays
Phone number: 06-6641-7412
4 Popular Kushiage Restaurants in Dotonbori, the Center of Osaka's Food Culture
Kushiage Comet
Source: Official website
If you want to enjoy visually appealing and stylish kushiage, head to "Kushiage Comet" near Shinsaibashi Station.
The kushiage made with domestic rice flour and rice oil, known for their beauty and health benefits, is recommended even for health-conscious individuals. The batter, mixed with fresh breadcrumbs, offers a crispy and light texture. Using a special fryer that cuts excess calories, it's popular among women and elderly people because "it doesn't burden the stomach despite being fried food" and "you can eat as much as you want."
You can also enjoy luxurious kushiage like Japanese Black Wagyu beef and dessert-like banana skewers. They also offer plenty of photogenic creative kushiage, such as salmon kushiage topped with plenty of salmon roe and beef katsu topped with sea urchin.
This is a recommended restaurant for those who want to enjoy kushiage in a stylish way.
Address: 2F, 2-5-20 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 17:00-0:00 (Last order 23:30)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone number: 06-6262-1325
Official website
Dotonbori Creo-ru
Source: Official website
"Dotonbori Creo-ru," located in Osaka's premier entertainment district, is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy various Osaka specialties at once. The first floor has a takeout space for takoyaki and table seats with teppanyaki plates, while the second floor is a spacious izakaya-style floor. In addition to Osaka specialties like kushiage, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and negiyaki, they also offer a wide range of izakaya menu items like karaage and edamame.
Besides standard kushiage with beef, pork, vegetables, and seafood, Western-style kushiage like Camembert cheese and asparagus wrapped in bacon are popular among foreigners. How about strawberry pudding or matcha soft-serve ice cream for dessert?
This restaurant is recommended for those who want to taste various Osaka specialties at once or enjoy a meal in a lively local atmosphere. Enjoy the festive mood!
Address: 1-6-4 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 10:00-23:00
Closed: Open all year round
Phone number: 06-6211-6431
Official website
Hozenji Yokocho Wasabi
Source: Official website
"Hozenji Yokocho Wasabi," located near Namba Station on the subway, is a kushiage restaurant that uses seasonal ingredients and organic vegetables abundantly. With the concept of "wanting guests to enjoy not only the taste but also visually and through smell," they pay attention to not only the ingredients but also the batter materials, oil quality, and oil quantity.
The menu consists only of chef's choice courses, where freshly fried kushiage is served one by one, and you stop when you're full. The stylish kushiage with plenty of originality pairs well with wine and whiskey.
With only 9 counter seats, it's best to make a reservation. Children under 12 are not allowed. This restaurant is recommended for those who want to enjoy a relaxed adult time.
Address: 1-1-17 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 17:30-19:30
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
Phone number: 06-6212-6666
Official website
Rokukakutei Kuromon Main Store
Source: Official website
"Rokukakutei" is a kushiage restaurant located in "Kuromon Ichiba," a shopping street bustling with tourists. Using seasonal ingredients sourced from Kuromon Ichiba, known as "Osaka's kitchen," they offer unique kushiage that's not bound by genres.
The menu consists only of chef's choice courses, including 20 kushiage skewers, a vegetable platter, homemade bread, homemade dessert, and coffee. Enjoy them in various ways with salt, soy sauce, or red wine sauce.
Another attraction of this restaurant is the carefully selected wines that the owner personally sources from around the world. From the select collection stored in a cellar maintained in the best condition, veteran sommeliers choose wines that pair well with the day's kushiage.
This is an excellent kushiage restaurant that wine lovers should definitely visit.
Address: 2F Takoso Building, 1-21-16 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 17:00-22:00
Closed: New Year's holidays and Wednesdays
Phone number: 06-6633-1302
Official website
Official Instagram
3 Must-Visit Exquisite Kushiage Restaurants in Osaka with Michelin Guide History!
kushiage 010
Source: Tabelog
"Kushiage Zero Ichi Zero" is a hidden gem near JR Kitashinchi Station. The interior, with counter seats and private rooms, features subdued lighting, allowing you to enjoy kushiage in a relaxed atmosphere.
The characteristic of this restaurant is its creative kushiage inspired by cuisines from various countries. You can savor unique kushiage that you can't find elsewhere, such as prosciutto with figs or black pork fillet stuffed with foie gras. Depending on the season, you might even be able to taste wild boar or pufferfish. The menu consists only of courses, but it's nice that you can choose the quantity, such as short or standard courses.
The mini burger using eel and the chef's special curry served at the end are also exquisite. If you want to try a different kind of kushiage full course, definitely give this place a visit!
Address: 4F Tanaka Building, 1-1-41 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 18:00-0:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone number: 06-6131-8878
Official website
Michelin Guide official website
Kushikatsu Bon
Source: Official website
"Kushikatsu Bon" is a high-end kushikatsu specialty restaurant with branches in Tokyo and Paris. With the concept of "not bound by common sense," you can enjoy kushiage made with plenty of seasonal high-end ingredients such as Chateaubriand, foie gras, sea urchin, and caviar.
My absolute favorite is the kushiage of kombu with roe topped with sea urchin and caviar. Pair it with chilled white wine for a blissful experience.
The charm is that you can choose courses according to your preferences, such as meat-heavy or fish-heavy. For those who want to eat to their heart's content, I recommend the course where you stop when you're full. The guideline is about 20 skewers for around 14,000 yen. The katsu sandwich that appears at the end is also exquisite and available for takeout.
This is recommended for those who want to enjoy an adult time unique to Kitashinchi, an area lined with high-end establishments.
Address: B1F Merry Center Building, 1-3-16 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 18:00-0:30 (Last entry 22:30)
Closed: Open all year round
Phone number: 06-6344-0400
Official website
Michelin Guide official website
Gojo-ya
Source: Tabelog
"Gojo-ya," located near Temmabashi Station on the subway, is a restaurant where you can taste unique creative kushikatsu that can only be eaten here. Prices start from around 1,500 yen for 10 skewers, making it reasonably enjoyable.
Although you can order à la carte, I recommend the chef's choice course for first-timers. After enjoying simple kushiage that brings out the flavors of ingredients like beef tenderloin and shrimp, creative kushiage using seasonal ingredients will appear. When I visited in August, exquisite menu items that made me feel the summer, such as eel with corn and peach with bitter gourd, were delicious.
There are also plenty of small dishes that go well with alcohol, such as homemade pickled celery and Japanese-style cream cheese. If you want to fully experience "cheap, delicious, fun, and stylish," please give this place a visit!
Address: Primiore, 2-1-11 Uchihirano, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 17:00-23:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone number: 06-6945-5045
Michelin Guide official website