The last time we went to Japan, our decision to stay near Dotonbori in Osaka was the best decision we made – it meant we were never far from food. It only made sense to do the same thing this time around.
Dotonbori Street Food
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to try everything that was available. But the few things we tried were so good!
We loved this grill stand because of the variety of ‘food-on-sticks’ they had, and how much it filled us up. The different sticks were brushed with a soy-based sauce while grilling. We tried the following:
- Salmon belly – it had a nice umami taste but was too fatty for me, I would have preferred a leaner cut of salmon
- Chicken/yakitori – this had the sweet-savory taste of the usual yakitori you can get at Japanese restaurants, which is not a bad thing, but the serving was so tiny that it really wasn’t worth it
- Crabstick – I don’t know if this is already the ‘real thing’ but it definitely tasted more crab-like than the (fake) crabsticks we have back home
- Scallops – this was our favorite, even causing us to return on the other nights. The scallops were huge and complemented well by the smokiness of the grill and the sauce.
We got gyoza from another stall – another successful first for my picky-eater sister. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a savory balanced filling. The sauce was the usual gyoza sauce but with the slightest hint of spice. This stall also had the best price among all the gyoza places we saw, so be sure to look around first before buying anything.
Of course, I also had lots and lots and lots of takoyaki but my priority was always to eat so I don’t have any pictures haha! In general though, the octopus pieces were big and satisfying. Some were too gooey inside, some were cooked just right. All had the right balance of flavors for the sauces. During our first trip, we made the effort to line up at the takoyaki stand that was popular online but now I think that you really can’t go wrong with picking any of the stands in Dotonbori.
Dotonbori Sushi Restaurant
On our last night, we decided to look for a sushi restaurant because we’d realized that we hadn’t had sushi yet the whole trip. Crazy, right?? Whereas it was my go-to almost every meal during previous trips, this time we tried other kinds of Japanese food. (Now that I think of it, we didn’t even have tempura.)
We found a sushi restaurant with a long line outside… but we were so hungry, that we transferred to another nearby one with no line. At first I was worried that it wouldn’t taste good. But then I remembered that a less popular sushi restaurant in Japan might still be better than a popular one in the Philippines :)) The second place went to had clean interiors with a traditional design, and we even got a private room.
- Salmon sashimi – how can you go wrong with this Japanese staple? The slices were so thick and soft, but with a bite, and it tasted so unbelievably fresh. I was sad there were only 4 pieces haha
- Unagi sushi – the thick sweet-savory sauce was perfectly balanced and the eel was cooked really well. I really appreciated that I didn’t notice any bones or tinik, which would sometimes ruin my experience with unagi back home.
- Mixed sushi platter – what I looked forward to the most! Everything tasted fresh and was served at the right temperature. I think my favorite would have to be the scallop, because of the superb flavor and interesting texture, and also because it was my first time to have it in sushi form. But really, it was a tight competition. The crab legs amazed me – how did they get it out in one piece?? The fish roe was a wonderful burst of umami flavor and it didn’t feel like it needed anything else to go with it, as I usually feel with fish roe. Even the egg/tamago sushi tasted good, and I usually find it too sweet – here, the sweetness was balanced really well.
Overall, I really enjoyed our sushi dinner and if this is the less popular one, I can’t even imagine how good the one with the long line could be!
BONUS: Other Osaka Things
After our visit to Osaka Castle, we had tonkatsu at a restaurant somewhere in between the Castle and the Osakajokoen train station. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the price but I know I was shocked at how low it was for a 140g serving. It was crispy and juicy, and the pork was very tender. Definitely a steal. It was also interesting to note that the salad dressing used was a tangy citrus-y vinaigrette, very different from the sesame-based dressing usually used in the Philippines. This held true for all the katsu places we ate in.
I tried this special holiday cheese tart by Bake at a Starbucks café. Its maple, walnut, and cacao flavors blended so well with the creamy cheese filling that I had to get a second one the next day. I wish the Philippines branch would serve this holiday version too because it was amazing.
My sister got this soufflé pancake at a bakery near Umeda station. I’m not fond of sweet things for breakfast but I have to admit that this super soft and fluffy pancake was really good. I would still prefer it for dessert though, or at least paired with a savory breakfast item haha
Lastly, if you’re into strawberries-and-cream-flavored things, this Japan-exclusive Merry Strawberry Cake Frappuccino hits the spot. The tartness of the strawberry and the sweetness of the cream, together with the surprise texture of the shortbread/spongecake layer, made for a yummy refreshing not-too-sweet drink.
My Top 3 from Osaka:
– Scallops on a stick
– Unagi sushi
– Holiday cheese tart by Bake
Check out for the rest of my Japan 2019 series! After all, the best part of traveling is the food ❤️
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