13 Osaka Food Picks for Lazy Eaters: Ramen, Takoyaki & Cheesecake

Text & Photos /Mazzy Bunny

I’ve been to Osaka many times because areas like Namba and Shinsaibashi are great for shopping and easy dining, with many shops open until midnight or even 24 hours. So I’ve gotten used to staying around Shinsaibashi every time I visit Osaka. Here’s a quick summary of 13 food spots from my trips for your reference.

Famous Osaka foods besides okonomiyaki include takoyaki and ramen… These are must-try foods when visiting Osaka. The Namba and Shinsaibashi area is packed with eats—you can find almost anything here. If you’re not sure what to eat, just come here.

First up, takoyaki. There are many takoyaki shops in Dotonbori. The old shop “Honke Takoyaki,” which has been around since 1972, has moved locations. The new spot is still a small stall, but there are seats at the back. I really like it and make it a point to visit every time I’m here. Takoyaki in Osaka and Kyoto is the best, hands down.

Dotonbori, Osaka – Honke Takoyaki
1-5-10 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Open: 11:00–23:00

Another takoyaki spot, “Kureo 0?”, is also quite special. It’s located near the intersection and is especially lively in the evening. They serve regional specialties like kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) and more… Their business is doing well too. If it’s your first time in Osaka, this is a good place to try a bit of everything.

Kureo 0?
1-6-4 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City; 3-min walk from Namba Station Exit 14
Business Hours: 11:00–23:30 (Last Order: 23:00)
Closed: Never

Next is ramen. To be honest, Japanese ramen is a bit salty for me, but the more I eat it, the more flavorful it seems. I still have to have it every time I go to Japan.

Besides Kyushu and Hokkaido, Kansai ramen also holds a very important place in Japan. Osaka is full of ramen shops, and most of the ones in Dotonbori are open 24 hours. Each shop has its own flavor and specialty, so it depends on personal taste—you can try them all. The most popular Ippudo is great for most people because you can choose the richness of the broth.

There are two Ippudo branches in Dotonbori. The one by the river is easy to spot, while the newly opened “Ippudo Yatai / Dotonbori Yataikan” in April 2015 is the largest Ippudo ramen spot in Japan, spanning five floors. Though the ramen tastes the same, there are more seats here, so you probably won’t have to wait as long. Go check it out.

Ippudo Dotonbori (by the river)
7-18-1F, Souemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Seats: 43
Business Hours: 24 hours, open year-round

Ippudo Yatai Dotonbori Yataikan (opened in April 2015)
1-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Seats:
(Concentration Counter): 60 seats
(Yatai): 112 seats
Business Hours: 24 hours, open year-round

Another favorite of mine is Kaneyoshi, which is a bit more tucked away. It’s known as Osaka’s best soy sauce ramen. I find it richly flavored and unique, with great noodle texture. It was also shortlisted for the Hong Kong New Holidays Asia’s Must-Eat Awards.

Kaneyoshi Dotonbori
1-4-17, Dotonbori 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Business Hours:
Weekdays 11:00 AM – 8:00 AM the next day
Friday to Sunday 24 hours
Open year-round (irregular holidays)

This is one of the famous "Big Four" ramen shops originating from Osaka and is a well-known ramen chain. Many traditional Japanese ramen shop elements, such as the wooden menu signs, give it an authentic vibe. The interior is quite spacious, so it doesn't feel crowded even when busy. As usual, you first buy a ticket for the ramen you want at the entrance, then hand it to the staff inside. I personally think sitting at the counter gives a more atmospheric experience.

Also, the Big Four offers super spicy ramen—but that’s not what I had. It must be insanely spicy, who could eat that?

I chose soy sauce ramen because I don’t like the heavy tonkotsu broth commonly found in Japan—it can get too rich and greasy. I usually go for soy sauce flavor. The ramen here is just okay, about average compared to typical Japanese ramen. It’s also quite salty, but the noodles are really delicious. Fans of Japanese ramen should find it acceptable.

La0?FuFu's Ramen Dotonbori Branch
1-7-25, Dotonbori 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Business Hours: 24 hours, open year-round

Next to the Big Four is the Golden Dragon Ramen Shop. There are many branches around Namba alone, none of which are very big—some even only have standing room—but they’re all packed, even late into the night. Prices are cheap, making it popular among local office workers. I tried it once and found it pretty average, but feel free to check it out.

Golden Dragon Ramen Dotonbori Branch
1-7-26, Dotonbori 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Business Hours: 24 hours, open year-round

Next, located near Amerikamura in Shinsaibashi, there’s a ramen shop called “Kappa Honpo Ramen.” Recommended by the hotel where we were staying nearby, this shop serves black broth ramen. Although the color looks dramatically black, it’s actually amazing, amazing, and amazing.

The broth is rich but not overly salty, and the noodles are springy and firm. My dad wanted to come back again the next day after trying it. It’s a chain, and you can check their official site for other branches. Highly recommended.

Kappa Honpo Ramen Amerikamura Branch
Nishi-Shinsaibashi 1-15-9, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 AM

Ha, let me also briefly mention the instant ramen you can get at FamilyMart convenience stores. Though it's just microwave-and-hot-water style, it’s still tasty—somewhat reminiscent of Taiwanese dan dan noodles. Both the broth and noodle texture are decent, and it works well as a late-night snack or breakfast.

One night, after visiting Kyoto’s Gion district, I returned to Osaka after 11 PM. Still hungry, I headed to Dotonbori to find food. I picked a place I’d been eyeing for days: “Yakiniku Iroriya Dotonbori Branch,” which offers both yakiniku and Kansai-style hot pot. The flavors were excellent. Even though it’s à la carte, the prices are reasonable. I only ended up taking photos of the interior, but I did snap a shot of the neighboring shop—if you’re curious, take a look. It’s not hard to find.

Yakiniku Iroriya Dotonbori Branch
1-6-4, Dotonbori 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 24 hours, open year-round

Yakiniku Iroriya Dotonbori Branch, Google Street View screenshot

In the Namba and Shinsaibashi area, there are also several renowned old-school Western-style restaurants. I’ve previously written about Meiji-ken, which opened in 1926. The interior is retro, and one unique offering is their egg fried rice paired with tempura skewers. Their teppanyaki-style hamburger steak is also good. The egg fried rice itself is decent, but it uses the traditional style with tomato stir-fry over an egg omelet, and the egg isn’t particularly soft or runny.

Meiji-ken Western Restaurant
5-32, Shinsaibashi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Sat, Sun & holidays: AM 11:00～PM 10:00
Last order PM 9:45
※No smoking in all seats until PM 3:00.
Wednesdays (if Wednesday is a holiday, closed on the following day)

And when it comes to Western-style restaurants, the most popular is probably Jiyoken next to Namba Station. Opened in 1910 (Meiji 43), it’s a pretty historic old shop and there’s always a long line — you definitely need to be prepared to queue. But the owner is super cute.

The signature curry rice is served mixed with a raw egg, which makes the originally spicy curry become rich and smooth. It made me crave it all day and I wanted to go back again. The other set meals are also good — everyone should give them a try.

Jiyoken Namba Main Store
3-1-34 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business hours: 11:30–21:00
Closed: Mondays (check the official website for details)
Number of seats: 38

Dotonbori also has lots of sushi restaurants. The most famous is probably the original one, but since I always have to queue, I’ve never eaten there.

Previously, I brought my sushi-loving dad to Dotonbori and we chose “Daiki Suisan Kaiten Sushi,” which doesn’t require a queue and has lots of customers too. It’s a chain store, with plenty of seating and a comfortable space. In terms of Japanese prices, I think it’s quite affordable, and the food is pretty tasty. Sushi lovers might want to check it out.

Daiki Suisan Kaiten Sushi Dotonbori Store
1-7-24 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka
1F Dotonbori Building, Shikairou
Business hours:
Weekdays 22:30
Sat, Sun & holidays 22:45

Official website restaurant exterior photo (I forgot to take one myself, probably too hungry. XDDD)

Finally, let me share the super popular dessert cake PABLO from Shinsaibashi shopping street. The cheesecake is really delicious, but also really sweet.<，之前去买到洋梨红茶好美味啊，虽然很甜，可是有机会还是推荐大家吃吃看。

q<きたてチ0?亥骏毳溶门店PABLO 心e?诺昙/span>
8-1 Shinsaibashi 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Shinsaibashi 8-chome (nearby location description)
(About 6 minutes on foot from Exit ? of Midosuji Line “Shinsaibashi” Station, near Daimaru Department Store)
Business hours: 10:00～23:00
Closed/irregular holidays

I believe many friends who come to Osaka will also hang out around Namba and Shinsaibashi, because it’s so much fun to explore and there’s so much delicious food. I’ve simply summarized and shared my own food experiences here, but I didn’t include places like Starbucks or izakayas. There’s just too much great food here — you might as well compare a few places and pick what you like best.

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