Joanna James
Osaka, better known as the 'kitchen of Japan', sits along the Pacific Ocean. Hence, the city enjoys a rich heritage as a farming and fishing community. Read on to learn about the best native dishes of Osaka and take your taste buds on a journey of discovery.
Better known as the 'soul food of Osaka', due to the popularity of the dish, these lovely savoury pancakes are perfect for vegetarians, although at times they can contain fish sauce. They are filled with cabbage and a range of other flavoursome ingredients to tantalise the taste buds. Okonomi means anything you like, which is exactly what you get in your pancake. The batter is poured into the pan and flipped like a traditional pancake before being doused in okonomiyaki sauce, which is a combination of mayonnaise, honey, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and ketchup. It is served topped with seaweed and bonito flakes. You may want to try the variety known as ika yaki, which is grilled squid with pancakes. Here's a tip. To enhance your foodie journey in Osaka, book accommodation in the popular Namba shopping district. Some of the best Osaka apartments for rent are located in this neighbourhood. Choose from popular hotels similar to Citadines Namba Osaka and enjoy browsing the best restaurants in Osaka.
Takoyaki are delicious balls of dough that are crispy outside and soft in the centre. They are filled with steamed octopus, onions and ginger. There are lots of takoyaki stands located across the city. But the best, and easy to access from your Osaka hotel, is Kukuru. It has a giant octopus on its name board! The little dough balls are served with traditional Japanese mayo and topped with bonito and seaweed flakes.
Another popular street food in Osaka, kushiyaki is a bamboo skewer of chicken, vegetables and even ice cream that is cooked on an open grill. Since the delicious snack is popular amongst workers heading home, there are kushiyaki stalls at train stations. You eat the skewers dipped in sauce.
The perfect pairing to a good cup of coffee, the soufflé pancakes or konamono are light and fluffy. Toppings will vary and can get quite creative too. And if you are an Instagrammer. this is the dish to order to create some vibrancy in your posts. You will find your neighbourhood coffee shop serves delicious variations of soufflé pancakes.
Here's your chance to enjoy a barbeque at the table. Yakiniku are thin slices of meat grilled on a charcoal fire. The meat is accompanied by a serving of cold soba noodles and fresh kimchi. As you would have guessed, the dish has its roots in Korean cuisine. And it is widely sold in Korea Town or the Tsuruhashi district of Osaka. Yakiniku is a fine example of the popularity that communal dishes have gained in Japan.
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