Check out this post for a guide of food to try in Osaka and Kyoto! This guide will cover yummy spots in areas including Dotonbori and Namba (Osaka) as well as Higashiyami District and Kyoto Station (Kyoto).
Like the Tokyo guide, this is not an exhaustive list, but I hope it is helpful to find some yummy eats and destinations to explore. Google Maps links have been provided for easy reference. Enjoy!
- Check out the Tokyo Food Guide HERE
Juicy and delicious gyozas in Osaka’s Dotonbori area.
Crispy, chewy, and warm freshly made taiyaki in Nishiki Market.
An unexpected yet delightful find near Kyoto’s Higashiyama District featuring beautiful European-Japanese fusion dishes.
Creamy tonkotsu broth with a ring of chashu paired with crispy yet juicy (and huge!) karage.
OSAKA FOOD
Osaka Ohsho
If you’re looking for yummy food in Osaka, you can’t go wrong with Osaka Ohsho in heart of the Dotonbori area (Map Link). We explored the area during sunset, and the streets were bustling and there was food galore. Dotonbori is a must-go to if you are in Osaka!
Osaka Ohsho is actually a chain, and the signature item features juicy and crispy (Chinese) gyozas. While they have a sit down restaurant, the wait was over 30 minutes. We ordered at the counter and got our food right away.
We ate at a bench nearby and then had to go back to get more! I highly recommend making a stop here. They aren’t too filling if you share, and then you can still get more food somewhere else in the area too.
Notable Mentions: 551 Horai and Takoyaki Wanaka Namba
Not our favorites, but still yummy Osaka food and worth trying!
551 Horai
551 Horai (Map Link) is a takeaway chain known for their Chinese roots, dim sum items, and most popularly – Butaman (pork bun).
- There are many locations, but we went to the one in Namba, sharing a corner with Takoyaki Wanaka Namba
- We tried a few items, and all were yummy!
- As a family from Houston who frequently eats dim sum, the butaman (pork buns) and shu mai were very different than we were used to. The meat was soft, juicy, and a little sweet.
- Although different than what we were used to, they are worth giving a try if you see a location!
Takoyaki Wanaka Namba
Takoyaki Wanaka Namba (Map Link) is an Osaka favorite and recommended by many guides and influencers. Once you order, the takoyaki (octopus balls) are fresh and piping hot, ready to enjoy.
- There are several branches across Osaka, but we ordered from the stall while exploring the Namba area.
- The line was… intimidatingly long. However, it moved quick and we waited for around 20 minutes.
- The takoyaki was super yummy. It was a little crisp on the outside, but the inside was softer than others we had tried.
- Overall a good snack or breakfast and would recommend stopping by if the line isn’t too long!
KYOTO FOOD
Naruto Taiyaki Hompo
Taiyaki was one our list of food to try in Japan, but we never saw any tasty-looking enough to stop until Nishiki Market.
Naruto Taiyaki Hompo (Map Link) is a chain, and their taiyaki at the Nishiki Market location (fish shaped pastry) was sooo delicious. I’m still dreaming about it.
Custard was unavailable due to an egg shortage, but we got both the red bean and sweet potato. They were fresh and piping hot, with a crispy outer pastry and a delicious filling that wasn’t too overpowering. I don’t usually love red bean fillings, but I couldn’t stop eating either of these. I was too excited to get a good picture, and we even went back for more a couple hours later!
Restaurant Muni
Restaurant Muni (Map Link) was an unexpected Kyoto find and hidden gem. After looking to eat omurice at 3 different restaurants, we ended up at Restaurant Muni!
Restaurant Muni is a European/French influenced Japanese restaurant, and there is only one chef who does all of the cooking.
We arrived when it was empty around 6PM, but the restaurant quickly filled up. We placed our order, and the chef began cooking right away. We started with hot towels and complimentary potato soup, followed by main dishes that were served as they were finished cooking (vs. all at once).
The chef cooks one table’s order all at once, so understandably, the tables after us had to wait a bit. However, our food came out super quickly and we loved everything!
We got the fried shrimp, duck (some of the best I’ve ever had), omurice, curry and rice, and more. It was an awesome experience watching the chef cook, and the ambience was great. We were able to be seated with our whole family of 5 without reservations, and the server and chef were a little shy but very friendly.
For the quality of food and upscale vibe, our whole meal for 5 people was also less expensive than expected – our total for our family of 5 was less than $80 USD.
I definitely recommend stopping at Restaurant Muni if you’re in Kyoto!
Takayasu (Ichijoji Ramen Street)
In the northern part of Kyoto, Ichijoji is famous for the seemingly countless ramen shops lining the streets. We stopped in at Takayasu (Map Link) and highly recommend taking a trip to the area!
At Takayasu, we arrived at 3PM, so we had no wait. The restaurant still had a decent crowd, and from other people’s experience, you’ll definitely want to arrive early to beat the lunch time crowds.
Unfortunately, we were not given English menus, so we did some guessing while ordering. We got tonkontsu ramen, and it arrived with a yummy creamy broth and huge ring of chashu. I was a little tired of ramen, so we ordered lots of karage as well. We later learned that they were known for the karage, and I am not surprised!
For only 550 Yen, the karage came with 4 chicken thighs that were crispy on the outside while juicy and moist on the inside. The batter had a hint of curry powder, and it might have been some of my favorite karage I’ve ever had. You can order on its own, as part of a set with ramen, or even to-go! We also loved the side dish on the table – we think it was some kind of leafy greens or chives in chili oil. It was a great addition to the karage and ramen soup.
Notable Mention: Katsukura in Kyoto Station
Katsukura was found by wandering the Kyoto Station area. The restaurant is upstairs and part of Porta Dining.
For a party of 5, we waited about 15 minutes to get seated around 8PM. The restaurant was spacious, with some large tables to accommodate for bigger families or groups like us.
The staff was super friendly, and our food was delicious! We got a variety of katsudon, and my favorite was the box that came with an egg on top. For some dishes, you even get to mix your own sesame paste at the table!
The surrounding area was also super neat, with a cool light up feature along the stairs going up the station. We really enjoyed our dinner and walk around the area.
I hope these recommendations for Osaka and Kyoto food help you plan your trip. Safe travels and have fun eating!!
