- TOP
- Search Criteria
- Kuromon Market: Osaka’s Foodie Paradise
STORY
Kuromon Market: Osaka’s Foodie Paradise
Osaka is home to one of Japan’s most vibrant food cultures. There’s even a saying that goes while people from Kyoto will squander their fortune on clothes, people from Osaka will blow it on food and drink (kyo no kidaore, osaka no kuidaore). One of the best ways to get in on the gourmet goodness is with a stroll through Kuromon Market. A street lined with small stores selling small portions, it’s the perfect place to enjoy Japan’s tabe-aruki (eating as you walk) culture. Here’s a look at some of the deliciousness waiting for you.
Kobe-ya
First up on our list is for our meat lovers. Choose 100g of any mouthwatering cut of Japanese black beef lining the shelves of the butcher Kobe-ya, and they will grill it to perfection for you on the spot.
Dressed in the store’s signature sauce, this beef is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Information
Niku Wa Kobe-ya | 肉は神戸屋
Address: 2-2-16 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Butcher hours: 8:00am~6:00pm
Take-out grilled beef hours:
Weekdays 4:00pm~midnight
Weekends: 12:00pm~midnight
No grilled beef on Mondays
Ishibashi Shokuhin
Next up is a classic Japanese hot pot called oden. Ingredients like grilled tofu, chikuwa (tubular fish cakes), hard boiled eggs, beef tendon, daikon radish, potatoes, and blocks of konnyaku are left to simmer for hours in a golden broth to soak up all the umami goodness. If this is your first time trying this oden, you’re in good hands; Ishibashi Shokuhin has a history of more than 42 years of serving this classic dish. They also have a selection of home-style side dishes available.
With oden, you usually order what you want piece by piece. If you’re not sure what to get, go for the beef tendon, a piece of the daikon radish (a personal favorite of mine), and an aburage (fried tofu skin).
Information
Ishibashi Shokuhin | 石橋食品
Address: 2-2-20 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~6:30pm
Closed Mondays and national holidays
Kuromon Nabeji
An apple a day keeps the doctor away... but if you’re going to be in Japan during strawberry season, go for the berries. At Kuromon Nabeji, you can feast upon strawberries that come in three different colors: red, beige, and white! Each variety has a slightly different flavor, so it’s a treat for the pallet as much as it is for the eyes.
There’s plenty of other types of fruit available year-round at Kuromon Nabeji. The price tags on some of the fruit here might be a little steep, but you can be certain that every piece will be delicious.
Information
Kuromon Nabeji | 黒門なべじ
Address: 1-21-34 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 7:00am~7:00pm
Closed August 15 and the New Years Holidays
Website (Japanese only): http://www.nabeji.co.jp/
Kuromon Furusato No Kaori
The most popular item at Kuromon Furusato No Kaori, a store specializing in soy products, is their soy milk. Using only domestically raised soybeans, the milk is smooth, creamy, and brimming with fresh flavor.
They also have soy milk donuts that are adorably tiny.
Information
Kuromon Furusato No Kaori | 黒門ふる里の香り
Address: 2-3-3 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~6:30pm
Nisshindo
There’s almost nothing that doesn’t taste good as tempura. Try the beni shoga (pickled ginger) tempura which is a specialty of the Kansai region, or a big piece of anago (saltwater eel). Of course, there’s also standard favorites like tori-ten (tempura-fried chicken) and croquettes.
Information
Nisshindo | 日進堂
Address: 2-2-15 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~7:00pm
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka
Takoyaki, small balls of battered and fried octopus, are a staple of Osaka’s b-level cuisine, but they’re not always the most convenient thing to eat on the go. So when you need some more portable takoyaki, head to veteran takoyaki shop Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka and pick up a takosen: takoyaki sandwiched between two crispy rice crackers made with small dried shrimp called ebisen.
Information
Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka (Kuromon Ichiba Store) | たこ焼道楽わなか 黒門市場店
Address: 1-21-2 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~7:00pm
Closed Wednesdays
Website: http://takoyaki-wanaka.com/en/
Daiwa Kaen
In addition to packaged gifts of fruit, Daiwa Kaen also sell divine sweets and cakes made from fresh, first-class fruit.
Daiwa Kaen’s most popular item is the unique Kuromon Roll. This cake gets its black color not from chocolate but rather a high-grade charcoal made from the ubame oak. Blended into the cream center you’ll find a decadent layer of anko, chestnut, and black beans from Hokkaido.
You can also pick up a freshly blended smoothie to go.
Information
Daiwa Kaen | 大和果園
Address: 1-22-20 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~6:00pm
Closed Sundays
Website (Japanese only): http://www.daiwa-kaen.co.jp/
Yoshiya
If you want to pick up some Japanese snacks as souvenirs, head to Yoshiya, the snack department store. Their selection ranges from new and popular items to favorites from yesteryear.
Information
Okashi No Depato Yoshiya (Kuromon Ichiba Store) | お菓子のデパート よしや 黒門市場店
Address: 1-21-9 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours: 9:00am~8:00pm
Closed Jan. 1~3
Do you have any favorite places to stop when walking around Kuromon Market? Let us know in the comments! For more information about Kuromon Market as well as a full list of all the stores, click here.
Liked this story? Like DiGJAPAN!
on Facebook for daily updates!
THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 07 22,2016 Author：Rachael Ragalye
NEW COMMENT | 0 COMMENTS
Open a DiGJAPAN!
account to comment.
Open a DiGJAPAN! Account