18 Best Restaurants in Osaka for the Ultimate Japanese Food Tour

The best restaurants in Osaka serve up lavish Michelin star dishes right alongside fresh sushi that only costs pocket change. With upscale restaurants like Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten and cheap street food markets like Kuromon Ichiba, it’s easy to create a well-balanced Osaka food tour – with a little adventure on the side!

Top Upscale Restaurants in Osaka

1. Jinsei | sushi restaurant

Dine on succulent sea urchin, tuna and white fish sushi at this Shinsaibashi favorite with one Michelin star to its credit. Jinsei is so famous for its fresh sushi that gourmands from across the world travel to Osaka just to taste the chef’s impeccable flavors. Take a VIP seat at a hand-carved cypress wood counter to watch the master carve the finest quality seafood into mouth-watering morsels that make a five-star meal!

What can you expect to pay for fine dining at Jinsei in Osaka?

Average price per plate: 20,000 to 29,999 JPY (180 to 270 USD)

Address: 2-1-3, Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku Osaka

2. Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten | crab restaurant

Every foodie knows the giant red crab at Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten. The restaurant has been a Dotonbori tourist attraction since 1960 and is as famous for its moving signboard as it is for its distinct flavors and savory crab dishes. Dive into a plate of crab meat swimming in Kani Doraku’s famous white soy sauce (shiro shoyu soup stock) or order the Kani Kaiseki, which features crab in everything from appetizers to the main course!

What can you expect to pay for fine dining at Kani Doraku Dotonbori Honten in Osaka?

Average price per plate: lunch, 3,000 to 4,000 JPY; dinner, 6,000 to 8,000 JPY (27 to 36 USD; 54 to 72 USD)

Address: 1-6-18, Dotonbori, Chuo-ku

3. Honkogetsu | kaiseki restaurant

Specializing in kaiseki, a traditional Japanese multi-course dinner, Honkogetsu has been named one of the best restaurants in Osaka and offers one of the most elite (and expensive) dining experiences in the city. The upscale restaurant has earned two Michelin stars by using seasonal ingredients to create exquisite and unique flavors. Dishes at Honkogetsu are made to please the palate as much as the eye. Plates are artistically crafted according to seasonal themes and presented with edible garnishes that help balance the overall taste, texture and appearance of each house specialty.

What can you expect to pay for fine dining at Honkogetsu in Osaka?

Average price per plate: 20,000 to 22,000 JPY (180 to 200 USD)

Address: 1-7-11, Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi

4. Kashiwaya | kaiseki restaurant

Enjoy an intimate dining experience in a private room at Kashiwaya, one of only four restaurants in Osaka with the distinction of consistently receiving three Michelin stars. Meals at Kashiwaya are inspired by seasonal ingredients and range from refreshing fruit appetizers to comforting squid main dishes. To emphasize culture and the ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony, dishes are gracefully served to guests in the “sanctuary” of the restaurant, enveloped by a tranquil moss garden.

What can you expect to pay for fine dining at Kashiwaya in Osaka?

Average price per plate: lunch, 12,000 to 36,000 JPY; dinner, 20,000 to 36,000 JPY (110 to 329 USD; 183 to 329 USD)

Address: 2-5-18 Senriyamanishi, Suita

5. Fujiya 1935 | modern European restaurant

Experience contrasting textures, flavors and colors during a dining experience at Fujiya 1935, a two-star Michelin restaurant rated for its seasonal dishes and selection of Spanish and Italian fine wines. The upscale restaurant near Osaka Castle seats only 19 guests (six groups), creating an intimate setting that focuses on the food, rather than the décor. House specialties include chestnut bread with air bubbles, single hook-caught cod, amberjack chrysanthemum and wasabi pasta. Reservations are required five days in advance. Dress code is business casual or semi-formal. Guests wearing shorts, T-shirts or sandals are not allowed in the dining area.

What can you expect to pay for fine dining at Fujiya 1935 in Osaka?

Average price per plate: lunch, 9,000 JPY; dinner, 18,000 JPY (82 USD; 165 USD)

Address: 2-4-14 Yariyamachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka2-4-14 Yariyamachi, Chuo-ku

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Karaksa Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi I

OOKINI HOTELS Nipponbashi Apartment

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Osaka neighborhoods known for their street food

6. Kuromon Ichiba Market

Kuromon Ichiba Market originally gained its star reputation by supplying local restaurant owners and chefs with some of the finest seafood in Japan. The market became a sensation among tourists, however, when shop owners began setting up restaurants and cooking Japanese dishes on site. Now, more than 23,000 people visit the market daily to scour rows of cheap street food stalls and some of the best restaurants in Osaka which stretch nearly 2,000 feet (580 meters) through Nipponbashi.

7. Dotonbori

Food is king in Dotonbori, and the restaurants and street food stalls packed into this neon-lit strip proves it. Foodies recommend visiting Dotonbori after 5 p.m. That’s when shop vendors start opening and the aroma of traditional Japanese dishes and street food fills the area. Follow the strip for the entire 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) to sample steaming yakiniku (Japanese barbecue), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) and fresh octopus takoyaki hot off the grill!

8. Koreatown (Tsuruhashi)

This lesser-known district near Tsuruhashi Station is popular for its Japanese barbecue, Korean restaurants and rows of street food stalls located under the train station.

Okonomiyaki

Takoyaki

Kushikatsu (kushiage)

Best street food and price range for street food in Osaka

Okonomiyaki: this savory pancake means “grilled as you like it,” so the toppings are endless. Popular choices include seafood, green onion and bean sprouts, but honestly, anything goes when it comes to this Japanese snack.

Find the best restaurants in Osaka to try okonomiyaki in Dotonbori

Average price for okonomiyaki in Osaka: 700 JPY (6.50 USD)

Takoyaki: sink your teeth into a tender ball of goodness that is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The most popular takoyaki is filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion. Savor each individual morsel, topped with takoyaki (Worcestershire) sauce, mayonnaise and dried bonito (fish flakes).

Find the best restaurants in Osaka to try takoyaki in Dotonbori

Average price of takoyaki (8 to 10 balls) in Osaka: 450 to 600 JPY (4 to 5.50 USD)

Kushikatsu (kushiage): a great snack to grab on the go, kushikatsu (sometimes called kushiage) refers to deep-fried food on a stick. Kushikatsu is made with chicken, pork, seafood and vegetables. Each ingredient receives a coating of egg, panko and breadcrumbs before being loaded on a skewer and deep-fried to perfection.

Find the best restaurants in Osaka to try kushikatsu (kushiage) in Shinsekai

Average price: 80 to 200 JPY per skewer (1 to 2 USD)

Negiyaki

Ikayaki

Negiyaki: a healthy version of okonomiyaki, this savory pancake is made with a thin batter and topped with spring onion and soy sauce.

Find the best restaurants in Osaka to try negiyaki in Kansai

Average price of negiyaki in Osaka: 1,000 to 2,000 JPY (9 to 19 USD)

Ikayaki: served two ways, ikayaki can be a squid-flavored crepe or grilled squid on a stick. The grilled version is topped with soy sauce and can be served whole on a stick or cut into rings. The crepe version is a regional specialty of Osaka and is prepared with chopped squid, takoyaki (Worcestershire) sauce and sometimes egg.

Find the best restaurants in Osaka to try ikayaki in the Snack Park at Hanshin Department Store Umeda

Average price: 200 to 500 JPY (2 to 5 USD)

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Red Roof Inn & Suites Osaka Namba Nippombashi

PLEIA Hotel

Backpackers Hotel Toyo

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Best Casual Dining in Osaka

9. Sumiyakisyouten Yo | izakaya restaurant

Famous for its char-grilled flavors and overflowing sake cellars, Sumiyakisyouten Yo established its reputation on late-night comfort food. The Osaka izakaya (Japanese bar) restaurant is best loved for its chicken specialties. Favorites include jidori (free-range) and yakitori moriawase (mixed plate).

Price range for casual dining at Sumiyakisyouten Yo in Osaka: lunch, 780 JPY; dinner, 3,500 JPY (7 to 33 USD)

Address: 2-16-14, Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka-fu

10. Wagyu Matsushita | yakiniku restaurant

Sink your teeth into juicy slices of premium wagyu (Japanese beef) without destroying your holiday budget – or putting on a suit and tie – at Wagyu Matsushita. Enjoy the experience of grilling your own dinner at this authentic yakiniku restaurant known for its hand-cut portions of aged-to-perfection beef. Large groups can book a day in advance and sample nearly every cut on the menu by ordering one of the restaurant’s mixed courses. Try everything from steak tartare and salted tongue to marbled sirloin and meaty ribs.

Price range for casual dining at Wagyu Matsushita in Osaka: 4,500 to 15,000 JPY (42 to 140 USD)

Address: 1-5-9, 6F, REX Building, Sonezakishinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi

11. Osakana-ryori Asai | shabu-shabu restaurant

Creating dishes with local ingredients from nearby Kuromon Market, Osakana-ryori Asai (Osaka Cuisine Asai) features traditional Japanese shabu-shabu daily and seasonal specialty courses through advanced bookings. Choose a counter seat to watch chefs work their kitchen magic and explain each step along the way. Narratives are available in Japanese and English, and the menu at Osakana-ryori Asai showcases a pike eel hot pot course from July to October and a blowfish and crab hot pot during winter months.

Price range for casual dining at Osakana-ryori Asai in Osaka: 8,000 to 25,000 JPY (75 to 233 USD)

Address: 1-6-19 Higashishinsaibashi Chuo-ku

12. Yotaro Hoten | tempura restaurant

Crunch to your heart’s content on crispy portions of specialty tempura cooked in cotton seed oil, rather than traditional sesame oil, at Yotaro Hoten. By altering the recipe, the chefs at Yotaro Hoten produce a lighter-flavored tempura that has earned a faithful following as well as two Michelin stars. The chefs’ skills don’t end at deep-fried concoctions. Guests rave about Yotaro Hoten’s house specialty, taimeshi, which consists of a whole red snapper cooked over rice in a clay pot.

Price range for casual dining at Yotaro Hoten in Osaka: lunch – 3,000 to 9,000 JPY; dinner – 5,000 to 9,000 JPY (28 to 84 USD; 47 to 84 USD)

Address: 2-3-14 Koraibashi, Chuo-ku

13. Unagiya Unagi | unagi restaurant

Not to be confused with anago (saltwater eel), unagi is freshwater eel, and Unagiya Unagi is one of the best places to try it. First steamed and then grilled to perfection, the eel is served a variety of ways. Try eel with sweet dipping sauce or with a steaming bowl of Japanese rice.

Price range for casual dining at Unagiya Unagi in Osaka: lunch – 3,000 to 3,999 JPY; dinner – 8,000 to 9,999 JPY (28 to 37 JPY; 75 to 93 USD)

Address: 4-5-22, Nishi Nakajima, 1F, Dai-3 Shin-Osaka Building, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi

Check In to a hotel or apartment near Shin-Osaka Station

Hotel Quartz Shin-Osaka

HOTEL BENI WEST

Shin-Osaka Sunny Stone Hotel

Step Out to casual dining in Osaka

Cheap Restaurants in Osaka

14. Ajinoya | okonomiyaki restaurant

Anything goes when it comes to okonomiyaki, and at Ajinoya, toppings seem endless. Make it a group date and share Japanese pancakes stuffed with cabbage and smothered with toppings like green onion, bacon, bonito (dried fish) flakes and cheese. Ajinoya also is famous for its yakisoba dish made with buckwheat noodles and topped with a fried egg. As one of the best restaurants in Osaka, Ajinoya is recommended by Michelin Guide, so lines start early and can get quite long. Skip the wait by booking in advance. Reservations are available by calling the restaurant. If you haven’t perfected your Japanese yet, ask someone at the front desk of your hotel to make the reservation for you.

What can you expect to pay for a cheap meal at Ajinoya in Osaka?

Lunch – 1,000 to 1,999 JPY; dinner – 2,000 to 2,999 JPY (9 to 19 USD; 19 to 28 USD)

Address: 1-7-16, Nanba, Chuo District

15. Ramen Kikuhan | ramen restaurant

Slurp up a bowl of ramen flavored with the perfect balance of thick and creamy chicken and pork bone broth. Ramen Kikuhan sits in the Nakazakicho art district, and the menu at this out-of-the-way restaurant is just as creative as the area in which it’s located. Try comforting dishes served daily, or step out of the box for a seasonal special that might contain sesame paste and chili oil or a savory seafood broth.

What can you expect to pay for a cheap meal at Ramen Kikuhan in Osaka?

Lunch and dinner – 750 JPY (7 USD)

Address: 1-9-11, Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku Osaka-shi

16. Takoyaki Yamachan Honten | takoyaki restaurant

Grab a tray of takoyaki to-go from this street food stall recommended by Michelin Guide for its tangy octopus balls and homemade chicken soup. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, the takoyaki from Takoyaki Yamachan Honten is sold hot off the grill in sets of eight. Chefs recommend eating Takoyaki Yamachan’s takoyaki plain, but smothering each mouthful in tangy mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce also is popular.

What can you expect to pay for a cheap meal at Yamachan Takoyaki in Osaka?

Lunch and dinner – 500 to 1,000 JPY (4.70 to 9 USD)

Address: 1-2-34 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka

17. Kushikatsu Daruma | kushikatsu (kushiage) restaurant

Take your pick of crunchy sticks from one of eight Kushikatsu Daruma locations throughout Osaka. This go-to Japanese chain restaurant is considered one of the best restaurants in Osaka because each branch offers consistently good kushikatsu (deep-fried meat and vegetables served on skewers) at prices that fit into any holiday budget. Most shops are small and intimate with limited seating, but each location features more than 40 types of kushikatsu. Choose unique dipping sauces and add side dishes with set menus.

What can you expect to pay for a cheap meal at Kushikatsu Daruma in Osaka?

Lunch and dinner – less than 2,000 JPY per plate (19 USD)

18. Takama | soba restaurant

Specializing in soba noodle dishes, Takama earned one Michelin star by keeping dishes simple yet tasty. Only two types of soba are offered at this home-style restaurant – mori (made with marunuki flour) and inaka (made with whole buckwheat flour), and while that is all that one of the best restaurants in Osaka needs to draw a crowd, it also features dishes like boiled sweet fish, firefly squid and rolled omelets made with dashi (fish-flavored) soup stock.

What can you expect to pay for a cheap meal at Takama in Osaka?

Lunch and dinner – 1,000 to 4,000 JPY (9 to 19 USD)

Address: 7-12-14 Tenjinbashi Kita-ku

Check In to a hotel or apartment near Tenjimbashi-suji Shopping Street

Toyoko Inn Osaka Temmabashi Otemae

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Kokoro house

Step Out to a cheap restaurant in Osaka