The 10 Best Restaurants In Midosuji Osaka

Midosuji is one of the major boulevards in Osaka. Running from Umeda to Namba, linking the city’s two main business and commercial districts, it spans many neighborhoods and has its own subway line. Travelers exploring this thoroughfare are bound to work up an appetite, so make sure you stop at one of these great restaurants along the way.

1. Mizuno Okonomiyaki お好み焼「美津の」

Restaurant, Japanese

Opening in 1945, just after World War II, Mizuno is the oldest okonomiyaki restaurant in Osaka. Ingredients delivered from historic Kuromon Market make up many of the toppings. Don’t miss their Yamaimo-yaki (yam okonomiyaki), which has been their most popular dish for decades. Mizuno uses yam instead of flour to create this delicacy, making the texture of the dough very soft. The natural sweetness of yam goes well with the thick pork and vegetables in the pancakes, creating the unique flavor of Mizuno’s famous dish.

2. Yoshibei

Restaurant, Japanese

A tiny store located in Umeda, Yoshibei specializes in tonkatsu, or deep-fried pork cutlets, and katsudon.The latter is a steaming bowl of rice topped with tonkatsu and smooth scrambled egg. You can add an onsen tamago – a runny, slow-cooked egg whose name literally means ‘spa-boiled’ – to your rice for extra sauce and flavor. The exterior of the pork is fried to a perfect crispiness, while the meat is fresh and juicy. Most of the seats are along a counter, giving the store an intimate and extremely local atmosphere.

3. Hokkyokusei

Restaurant, Japanese

Hokkyokusei specializes in a Japanese comfort food, omurice – a large omelette stuffed with rice and tomato sauce drizzled over the top. Legend has it that Hokkyokusei, which opened in 1922, is the first omurice restaurant in the region; today, the traditional décor of wooden furniture and shoji paper screens adds ambiance to this tale. Choose from an assortment of fillings, from ham to mushrooms to crab fried rice. They even offer omurice classes for those interested in making their own.

5. Ganko

Restaurant, Sushi, Japanese

If looking to try authentic sushi at a much more affordable price, Ganko is one of the best choices. Located centrally at Osaka Station City, directly connected to Osaka Station, this is a kaiten, or ‘sushi train,’ restaurant. Simply grab the dish you want off the conveyor belt that runs through the store. Customers are charged per plate, making the dining experience both economical and fun. Featuring fresh ingredients, delicious sushi, and adventurous culinary exploits with unfamiliar-looking dishes, Ganko is sure to be an enjoyable experience.

6. Takohachi (Dotonbori Honten)

Restaurant, Japanese

Takoyaki, or octopus balls, is one of the most popular street foods in Japan. Like okonomiyaki, it originated in Osaka. What better way to try both of them together than at a restaurant in Dotonbori, the local street food mecca? Watch chefs make the famous snack on the ground floor of Takohachi then head to the teppanyaki (grill) seats on the upper floors, where you can cook and eat okonomiyaki.

7. Critters Burger (クリッターズバーガー)

Diner, American

Longing for something a little closer to home? Critters Burger in Shinsaibashi offers authentic American burgers sure to satisfy your cravings. There are some unusual offerings for those who aren’t tired of new culinary experiences yet. Try the ever-popular wasabi avocado burger or the pineapple cheeseburger, served with delicious, thick potato wedges. Their English menu, authentic food, and warm service makes them a firm favorite with the local expat community.

8. Aozora Blue

Pub, Japanese

This izakaya, or Japanese pub, specializes in udon – thick, slightly sweet wheat flour noodles usually soaked in broth. At Aozora Blue, you can choose between the classic udon in soup or served dry with sauce. Order a side of tempura – battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables – to go along with your udon. As an izakaya, Aozora Blue has a great selection of liquors, including sake and shochu, as well as beer and wine.

9. Wagyu Matsushita

Restaurant, Japanese

Though it literally means ‘Japanese cattle,’ wagyu generally refers to premium Japanese beef. It’s known for its distinctive marbling, rich flavor, and tender texture. Matsushita offers wagyu from the finest sources in Japan, which you can grill yourself at your table. Seated in a traditional setting, on cushions around a low table, you can enjoy the pure taste of beef.

10. Kuromonya Ramen

Market, Restaurant, Ramen

From Kinryu to Ichiran, there is no shortage of ramen in Osaka. Kuromonya may be one of the lesser-known shops in the city, but its local flavor and rich broth puts it on par with the likes of more famous ones. Situated right outside of Kuromon Market, this shop is a foodie’s paradise, especially because of the tasty house-made broth and noodles. The special Kuromon Ramen, one of the most popular choices, is made with a secret recipe.

Elizabeth Lee also contributed to the piece.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.