BIOTOP CORNER STAND

Over at Horie Tachibana (Orange Street), Corner Stand earns the title of the prettiest cafe. It is like a lush floral wonderland, with little mysteries hiding beyond those cascading vines. Never mind that they serve a funky menu of coffee and pizzas, because for all that we remember, its visually-arresting aesthetics and decor is feast for the eyes and fills our souls with glee.

1/2/4F, Meburo16kan, Minamihorie, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6531 8225
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Yotsubashi/Shinsaibashi

BROOKLYN PARLOR

This was quite a hidden find for us. We stumbled upon Brooklyn Parlor when we were exploring the neighbourhood where we put up at, and boy what a delightful surprise it was for us!

Brooklyn Parlor is a charming and gorgeous space that combines cafe, bar, library, music and dance space all into one. You can either come here for a meal – the food menu has relatively affordable options like hamburgers, pastas and salads – or get a drink with desserts for afternoon tea.

Besides Osaka, Brooklyn Parlor also has branches in Tokyo, Hakata, and Sapporo.

ORE Shinsaibashi Building B1F
2-2-3 Nishi-Shinsaibashi
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6212 7881
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Namba/Shinsaibashi

CREO-RU

Most people are probably familiar with Takoyaki, since it is now widely available in many cities around the globe. However, not everyone knows that takoyaki actually originated from Osaka. There are many stalls around Osaka selling this popular street food, but try Creo-ru – one of the most famous takoyaki places.

Creo-Ru is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

1-6-4 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

DARUMA KUSHIKATSU

Daruma is a popular chain that is known for kushikatsu – deep-fried meat/vegetable skewers that are coated with light batter and deep-fried to something even lovelier than golden brown - in Osaka and every branch is always packed with loyal patrons – locals and tourists alike. Nothing too fanciful about the place. An average set here is ¥1,800 for 12 sticks and a side.

Daruma Kushikatsu is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

1-6-4 Dotonbori
Chuoku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6213 8101
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

DOTONBORI KONAMON MUSEUM

Another place that we would recommend for takoyaki is Dotonbori Konamon Museum which is also located on Dotonbori. It is easily recognisable by its huge octopus signboard.

Dotonbori Konamon Museum is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

Chuwa Daiichi Building
1-6-12, Dotombori, Chuo-ku
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

ENDO SUSHI

If you find yourself at the Osaka Central Fish Market, you must not deny yourself of what would be a very memorable sushi meal. It took us a while to locate Endo Sushi, but the search for the best otoro sushi ended at this tiny sushi parlour. We never thought fatty tuna belly could send us to heaven like that, and Endo Sushi’s rendition changed our lives forever. First-timers can opt for the Omakase Set – ¥1,050 for five pieces of sushi – which includes one of that very divine otoro sushi. But if you are not a fan, you will love the anago (conger eel) sushi.

Endo Sushi is listed in our guide on 20 Reasons to Love Osaka.

1-1-86 Noda Fukushima-ku
Tel: +81 6 6469 7108
Mon to Sat: 5am – 2pm
Nearest Station: Noda

GRANKNOT COFFEE

Another coffee place in Osaka that we like is Granknot Coffee. The passionate baristas here take their coffee seriously and it is the perfect kind of coffee bar which one can retreat to after exploring Orange Street.

1-23-4 Kitahorie
Tel: +81 6 6531 6020
Nearest Station: Nishiohashi

HANAMARUKEN RAMEN

Ramen lovers in the know will find their way to Hanamaruken. This much-loved Osaka ramen chain is easily one of the best in the city. Its signature Happiness Ramen bowl – tonkotsu ramen with slow-braised pork rib – truly lived up the hype.

1-2-1 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6213 0131
Daily: 24hours
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

HOUZENJI SAN PEI

For an authentic okonomiyaki, head to Houzenji San Pei. Located on Hozenji Yokocho, an elusive lane near the Hozen-ji which has numerous restaurants and eateries, Houzenji San Pei is where locals go to for their okonomiyaki fix.

Houzenji San Pei is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

1-7-10 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6211 0399
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

ICHIBA ZUSHI

A hole-in-the-wall sushi joint in Namba, Ichiba Zushi serves pocket-friendly sushi (¥180 - ¥400) in its tiny but atmospheric space.

2-7-3 Shinsaibashi, Chuo-Ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 7 6221 1882
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

ICHIRAN RAMEN

No trip to Japan will be complete without having our favourite ramen from Ichiran. An unbelievably rich and thick bowl of tonkotsu ramen – we would fly to Japan just for this.

7-18 Souemoncho
Chuo Ward, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6212 1805
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

KIO RAMEN

Kio is a ramen chain that has many outlets across Osaka. The noodle and soup broth were decent and nothing to shout about, but the huge savoury pieces of chashu were so fragrant and richly-flavoured that they took our breath away.

KIGAWA

Like how Kyoto has its kaiseki, Osaka takes pride in their cutting and cooking, hence making up the word ‘kappo’. But unlike kaiseki, kappo is a lot more casual, and it emphasises on cutting and cooking. The relationship between the chefs and the patrons is build on interaction from the close proximity.

Kigawa – an institution for naniwa-kappo – is where many of the city’s best chefs trained. Stepping in to Kigawa is a fascinating journey on its own. Elusively hidden in a back alley near the Hozen-ji, Kigawa looks just like one of those ancient houses that are better known as machiya.

To learn more about kappo, read our guide on Osaka’s art of dining.

1-7-7 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6211 3030
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

KIMUKATSU

We’ve tried Kimukatsu in Tokyo before, so when we found out that it has a branch in Osaka, we tracked it down immediately.

Kimukatsu’s tonkatsu is more like a pork mille-feuille that is made up of many thin layers of pork. In addition to the original tonkatsu, they also have other flavours like cheese, black pepper, green onion, garlic, sour plum and yuzu pepper. A tonkatsu set is ¥1,930. Alternatively, you can opt for the Kimukatsu Value Combo – choose any two tonkatsu flavours at ¥2,500 (for 1 pax), or three flavours at ¥3,980 (for 2 pax).

1-9-19 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6212 1129
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Sat, Sat & Holiday: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Namba

KINRYU RAMEN

Ask anyone who has been to Osaka and they will mention Kinryu Ramen – the ramen shop with the iconic golden dragon statue.

It serves a decent bowl of ramen, but neither the noodle nor the soup broth was particularly memorable enough that we would go back for it. We should believe its affordable price tag attributes to its popularity.

1-1-18 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6211 3999
Daily: 24 hours
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

KUROMON SANPEI

Primarily a wholesaler, the folks behind Kuromon Ichiba supplies fresh seafood as their core business. But fast forward a few years and they started Kuromon Ichiba, a small retail-cum-eatery for the mass market. Conveniently located in Kuromon Market, drop by for a bowl of ocean goodness with a freshness so sweet, it lingers in your mouth. A bowl of kaisen-don costs only ¥1,200!

2-4-1, Nipponbashi
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6635 1938
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Nipponbashi

MAISON DE GIGI

MAISON de gigi is our go-to spot when we want a break in between shopping. The cafe specialises in waffles which come in flavours like Apple & Cinnamon, Mix Berry, Chocolate Banana and Strawberry. There is also a takeaway kisok where you can grab a waffle and have it on-the-go.

2-2-17 Shinsaibashisuji,
Cyuou-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6210 5944
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Shinsaibashi

MATSUSAKA BEEF YAKINIKU M

Most people are probably familiar with Kobe beef, but have you heard of Matsusaka beef? Also known as Japanese Black, Black-haired Wagyu or Kuroge Washu, Matsusaka beef from the Mie Prefecture is, in fact, a grade higher than Kobe beef. It has one of the highest fat-to-meat ratio, and it literally melts in your mouth, with an unbeatable creamy texture and a sweet aftertaste.

Yakiniku M is a beef paradise, and it carries the prized Matsusaka Beef. You will be in for a meaty feast, and the service is excellent with the staff always checking on you and helping with the BBQ-ing. Reservations are recommended.

1-1-19, Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6211 2917
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

MIZUNO OKONOMIYAKI

An institution in Osaka, Mizuno is famous for okonomiyaki – a savoury Japanese pancake that originated from Osaka. It dishes out a variety of pancakes to hungry patrons throughout the day. Among all the options on the menu, the best-seller is the yam flour Okonomiyaki with scallops and roast pork.

Mizuno is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

1-4-15 Dotonbori
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6212 6360
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Namba/Nipponbashi

TIMELESS COMFORT CAFE

Timeless Comfort Cafe at Orange Street combines the concept of a lifestyle store and a cafe. It has a simple menu that offers items such as hamburgers, pancakes and pancakes.

1-19-26 Minamihorie Nishi-ku Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6533 8620
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Yotsubashi/Shinsaibashi

URBAN RESEARCH CAFE

Also nestled within the quaint Horie Tachibana is a cafe that is perfect for people-watching over drip coffees and pretty parfaits. Predominantly furnished with wooden elements, Urban Research Cafe is a multi-story space that has a dine-in area and retail racks. Over at the cafe side, sit by the window and enjoy a peaceful afternoon with a magazine in hand.

1-23-6 Minamihorie Nishi-ku Osaka
Nearest Station: Yotsubashi/Shinsaibashi

YAEKATSU

If we lived in Osaka, we’d be having kushikatsu every other day. Anything on a stick – deep-fried – is right up our alley. Order a dozen sticks and down everything with a cold beer and we guarantee that you will be the happiest person on Earth.

In Shinsekai – the old town of Osaka – there are at least sixty eateries that specialise in kushikatsu. But we are pretty much blind to all of them because Yaekatsu is super popular and is the best bet.

Yaekatsu is listed in our guide on Osaka’s Top 3 Must-Eat Street Food.

3-4-13 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Tel: +81 6 6643 6332
Fri to Wed (Closed on Thu): 10.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Dobutsuenmae

For more recommendations, read our guide on 20 reasons to love Osaka.