- TOP
- Search Criteria
- Where Osakans go for okonomiyaki
STORY
Eat like a local: where Osakans go for okonomiyaki
No trip to Osaka is complete without feasting on okonomiyaki. Often described as a "savory pancake," okonomiyaki consists of a basic batter into which a combination of vegetables (particularly cabbage), meat, seafood, or other toppings are added. Topped with a thick, sweet sauce, mayonnaise, aonori seaweed, and dried bonito flakes that dance in the heat of the hot-off-the-grill okonomiyaki, this is certain to be one of your most memorable meals in Osaka. But with countless restaurants offering this Osakan soul food, how do you know where to go? By following the locals, of course! Here are six okonomiyaki restaurants popular with Osakans.
Even late into the night, the lights glow warm and inviting on Hozenji Yokocho street in the Nanba area of Osaka. Those in the know will tell you that the place to go here when you're craving okonomiyaki is Yakizen. This super thick, fluffy okonomiyaki with crispy cabbage has developed quite a fan following with the locals. The thing to get here is the modern (pronounced mo-dan) yaki-- a variation of okonomiyaki made with yakisoba noodles. Delicious!
Address: 1-1-18 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Weekdays 12:00pm~3:00pm, 5:00pm~11:00pm (LO 9:45pm)
Weekends and holidays 12:00pm~11:00pm (LO 9:45pm)
Closed Wednesdays except on national holidays
Access: 4 min walk from Exit 14 of Subway Namba Station
Website (Japanese only): http://clusterplan.jp/yakizen.htm
Located in Tsuruhashi, the center of Osaka’s Korea Town, Omoni is said to be a popular spot for both Japanese and Korean actors when they want some good okonomiyaki. The cooks here are famous for packing so many ingredients into their okonomiyaki that it seems likely to fall apart when they flip the pancake over. The most popular item on the menu is the omoni-yaki made with generous amounts of pork, squid, shrimp, scallops, and egg.
Osaka Station Grand Front Location
Address: Grand Front Osaka South Bldg. 7F
4-20 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:00am~10:00pm
Access:
1 min from JR Osaka Station and Hankyu and Subway Umeda Stations.
Fukutaro is famous for two things: the unrivaled fluffiness of their okonomiyaki and the close attention they pay to selecting only the best ingredients for their meals. The must-have item on the menu here is the buta-tama. This thick okonomiyaki is made with pork (buta) spare ribs, the juices from which soak into the pancake batter. This gorgeous meal is crowned with a soft boiled egg (tama).
Address: 2-3-17 Sennichi-mae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Weekdays 5:00pm~12:30am
Weekends and holidays 12:00pm~midnight
Access:
5 min walk from Exit 1 of Subway Namba Station
Website: http://2951.jp/en/
For some world-class dining that won’t blow your budget, head to Mizuno in Dotonbori. This okonomiyaki restaurant appears in the Bib Gourmand section of the Michelin Guide 2016. (In case you’re not familiar, the Bib Gourmand section of the guide lists top-class restaurants where it costs the equivalent of 5,000 yen or less per person.) The pancake can barely contain all the toppings inside. A popular item on the menu here is the yama imo-yaki. Using only yama imo (mountain potato) in their batter, the outside fries up crispy while the inside stays soft. Wash it down with one of Japan’s all time favorite soft drinks: ramune!
Address: 1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:00am~9:30pm
Access:
5 min walk from Exit 15 of Subway Namba Station
5 min walk from Subway Nippombashi Station
10 min walk from Namba Station (Nankai Line)
13 min walk from JR Namba Station
Website: http://www.mizuno-osaka.com/index2.html
If you’re looking for some out-of-the-ordinary okonomiyaki, head to Yamamoto. Crisp green onions flavored with a specially-made soy-based sauce are paired with crispy beef tendon and cubes of konnyaku to make their popular dish sujinegi. This restaurant comes well-recommended by the locals.
Umeda Est Location
Address: E27 Est 1F
3-25 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:30am~10:00pm
Access: 5 min walk from the Midosuji Exit of JR Osaka Station
Website (Japanese only): http://www.negiyaki-yamamoto.com/
If you’re looking for something a little on the lighter side, try the okonomiyaki at Ajinoya. The cabbage-flour ratio of the batter swings in favor of cabbage, lightening up the meal. But what makes it truly delicious is the skill with which the chef puts it all together, frying it to an almost mysterious level of perfection. If you’re really hungry and can’t decide what toppings you want, go for the mix okonomiyaki. It comes with pork, octopus, shrimp, squid, and a blend of ground pork and beef.
Address: 1-7-16 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Mondays 6:00pm~11:00pm
Tuesdays thru Fridays 12:00pm~11:00pm
Weekends and holidays 11:30am~11:00pm
Closed every second Monday
Access: 1 min walk from Exit 15B of Subway Namba Station
Website (Japanese only): http://ajinoya-okonomiyaki.com/top/
Do you have a favorite place to get some okonomiyaki while in Osaka? Let us know in the comments!
Yakizen
Even late into the night, the lights glow warm and inviting on Hozenji Yokocho street in the Nanba area of Osaka. Those in the know will tell you that the place to go here when you're craving okonomiyaki is Yakizen. This super thick, fluffy okonomiyaki with crispy cabbage has developed quite a fan following with the locals. The thing to get here is the modern (pronounced mo-dan) yaki-- a variation of okonomiyaki made with yakisoba noodles. Delicious!
Information
Hozenji Yokocho Yakizen | 法善寺横丁 やき然Address: 1-1-18 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Weekdays 12:00pm~3:00pm, 5:00pm~11:00pm (LO 9:45pm)
Weekends and holidays 12:00pm~11:00pm (LO 9:45pm)
Closed Wednesdays except on national holidays
Access: 4 min walk from Exit 14 of Subway Namba Station
Website (Japanese only): http://clusterplan.jp/yakizen.htm
Omoni
Located in Tsuruhashi, the center of Osaka’s Korea Town, Omoni is said to be a popular spot for both Japanese and Korean actors when they want some good okonomiyaki. The cooks here are famous for packing so many ingredients into their okonomiyaki that it seems likely to fall apart when they flip the pancake over. The most popular item on the menu is the omoni-yaki made with generous amounts of pork, squid, shrimp, scallops, and egg.
Information
Tsuruhashi Okonomiyaki Omoni | 鶴橋 お好み焼き オモニOsaka Station Grand Front Location
Address: Grand Front Osaka South Bldg. 7F
4-20 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:00am~10:00pm
Access:
1 min from JR Osaka Station and Hankyu and Subway Umeda Stations.
Fukutaro
Fukutaro is famous for two things: the unrivaled fluffiness of their okonomiyaki and the close attention they pay to selecting only the best ingredients for their meals. The must-have item on the menu here is the buta-tama. This thick okonomiyaki is made with pork (buta) spare ribs, the juices from which soak into the pancake batter. This gorgeous meal is crowned with a soft boiled egg (tama).
Information
Negiyaki Okonomiyaki Fukutaro | ねぎ焼きお好み焼き 福太郎Address: 2-3-17 Sennichi-mae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Weekdays 5:00pm~12:30am
Weekends and holidays 12:00pm~midnight
Access:
5 min walk from Exit 1 of Subway Namba Station
Website: http://2951.jp/en/
Mizuno
For some world-class dining that won’t blow your budget, head to Mizuno in Dotonbori. This okonomiyaki restaurant appears in the Bib Gourmand section of the Michelin Guide 2016. (In case you’re not familiar, the Bib Gourmand section of the guide lists top-class restaurants where it costs the equivalent of 5,000 yen or less per person.) The pancake can barely contain all the toppings inside. A popular item on the menu here is the yama imo-yaki. Using only yama imo (mountain potato) in their batter, the outside fries up crispy while the inside stays soft. Wash it down with one of Japan’s all time favorite soft drinks: ramune!
Information
Dotonbori Okonomiyaki Mizuno | 道頓堀 お好み焼 美津のAddress: 1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:00am~9:30pm
Access:
5 min walk from Exit 15 of Subway Namba Station
5 min walk from Subway Nippombashi Station
10 min walk from Namba Station (Nankai Line)
13 min walk from JR Namba Station
Website: http://www.mizuno-osaka.com/index2.html
Yamamoto
If you’re looking for some out-of-the-ordinary okonomiyaki, head to Yamamoto. Crisp green onions flavored with a specially-made soy-based sauce are paired with crispy beef tendon and cubes of konnyaku to make their popular dish sujinegi. This restaurant comes well-recommended by the locals.
Information
Negiyaki Yamamoto | ねぎ焼 やまもとUmeda Est Location
Address: E27 Est 1F
3-25 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 11:30am~10:00pm
Access: 5 min walk from the Midosuji Exit of JR Osaka Station
Website (Japanese only): http://www.negiyaki-yamamoto.com/
Ajinoya
If you’re looking for something a little on the lighter side, try the okonomiyaki at Ajinoya. The cabbage-flour ratio of the batter swings in favor of cabbage, lightening up the meal. But what makes it truly delicious is the skill with which the chef puts it all together, frying it to an almost mysterious level of perfection. If you’re really hungry and can’t decide what toppings you want, go for the mix okonomiyaki. It comes with pork, octopus, shrimp, squid, and a blend of ground pork and beef.
Information
Ajinoya | 味乃家Address: 1-7-16 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours:
Mondays 6:00pm~11:00pm
Tuesdays thru Fridays 12:00pm~11:00pm
Weekends and holidays 11:30am~11:00pm
Closed every second Monday
Access: 1 min walk from Exit 15B of Subway Namba Station
Website (Japanese only): http://ajinoya-okonomiyaki.com/top/
Do you have a favorite place to get some okonomiyaki while in Osaka? Let us know in the comments!
Liked this story? Like DiGJAPAN!
on Facebook for daily updates!
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 06 30,2016 Author：Rachael Ragalye
NEW COMMENT | 0 COMMENTS
Open a DiGJAPAN!
account to comment.
Open a DiGJAPAN! Account