An izakaya can best be described as a Japanese version of a pub serving tapas-style food to accompany drinks. They are usually casual, noisy places where local people head for fun, food and a laugh after work. Join them at one of these great izakayas in Osaka.
Uotami
Restaurant, Japanese
Minutes away from Osaka station, Uotami offers an all-you-can-drink menu where you are offered a range of beers, soft drinks, cocktails, sakes and spirits to drink for 90 minutes. Each person is required to order two dishes of food to accompany their drink. The restaurant serves dishes from yakitori to sashimi to ramen to choose from.
Nagahori
Restaurant, Japanese
Seated on a long, elegant bar made from ex-sake tanks, Nagahori treats you to a beautifully presented Japanese meal along with the finest sake. You have to book seating in advance, the first sitting begins at 5pm and the second at 8pm. You are then given the option of a set menu in which you’re given exquisitely presented, tasty dishes and a sake set. Don’t focus too much on the sake though or you’ll miss the glorious food, a touch above a lot of traditional izakaya options.
This pub, right by Namba station, doesn’t only offer the classic all-you-can-drink menu but also the all-you-can-eat menu. With over 50 types of drinks to try and over 50 types of food, you will walk out of Orentokokoi stuffed. The takoyaki and the chicken wings come recommended. This is a typical Japanese izakaya so you can expect it to be incredibly busy, noisy and full of people who’ve just finished working. It’s got an incredibly lively atmosphere so only go if you are in the mood to eat a lot, drink a lot and join in with the noise.
Izakaya Toyo-san
Restaurant
This izakaya is not your regular restaurant, but is actually known as a yatai. A yatai is a small mobile food stall in Japan selling ramen or other hot food. Toyo-san, the man who runs the restaurant has established his kitchen on the back of a pick-up trick. The drinks are all self-service and they are tallied up and added to your bill at the end. The hot pot, along with the sashimi, comes highly recommended. Toyo-san is incredibly friendly and welcoming and is happy to help recommend any food and drink choices.
Bochi Bochi
Restaurant, Japanese
Like most Japanese izakayas, Bochi Bochi also offers an all-you-can-drink course. For 3,000 yen, you get three hours to choose from a huge range of drinks, so that you can pace yourself. The restaurant is well-known for its the delicious kushikatsu and kushi-age, which are lightly fried skewers, from meat and vegetables, to cheese and mochi.
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Born and raised in a small town in Japan with an Indian and Spanish background, Prema is now in her final year of an English Literature degree at the University of Edinburgh. With her parents both being ex-magazine writers, Prema developed a passion for reading and writing at an early age. When not in front of a kindle, she'll be jet setting and exploring the world soaking in all the new languages and cultures.
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