Honto Sushi Kaiba (本等鮨海馬)

Horie is an up-and-coming area located conveniently close to some of Osaka’s more famous entertainment districts, like Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. Horie is home to a vibrant international community and is less touristy than its famed neighbors. It boasts a huge variety of food, with a fantastic mix of Japanese restaurants and cuisine from all around the world. Here’s our guide to the best this district has to offer.
Sauce Boss is a new venue quickly making a name for itself in Horie. Its main mission is providing chicken wings in over 15 different flavors, from classic buffalo to creamy curry, Korean kick to honey garlic. Boss is also passionate about stocking craft beers from around the world. There are always four rotating crafts on tap, as well as a fridge stocked full of local and international selections. Sauce Boss also serves amazing chicken sandwich lunch specials every afternoon.
Craft Burger stands out as one of the best burger joints in south Osaka, if not the whole city. It’s not easy to find a burger place in Japan that serves American style burgers that are filling and delicious, but this place pulls it off. Craft Burger also serves sandwiches that cater to those with dietary restrictions, featuring menu items like salmon and tofu burgers. The sides are also tasty and diverse, and there’s a good selection of craft beer as well.
Saboten (the Japanese word for ‘cactus’) is a lively Mexican restaurant. Owned by a fun-loving man from Mexico who can speak Spanish, Japanese, and English, the food is diverse, delicious, and authentic. Saboten especially comes alive on Taco Tuesdays – once a week tacos are only 200 yen (about 2 USD), as are tequila shots, which the owner loves to bring to your table himself if he’s not too busy working his magic in the kitchen.
Elizabeth Lee also contributed to this post.