Osaka is well known as the “kitchen of Japan” and our meals in the city did not disappoint. It was honestly really hard to narrow down my absolute favorite meals, since we had so many great ones. But if you visit Osaka, I highly, highly recommend that you give these 7 food spots a try. It’ll be worth it!

Yakiniku M Fukushima Honten
I had been to Yakiniku M before on my last trip to Osaka, so I knew they would be a solid choice for X’s birthday dinner. A few weeks before our reservation, they messaged me on WhatsApp to confirm – and also offer to help get a cake for the birthday boy. Not only did they help me get a cake from a nearby bakery, they also drew him a little chocolate bellsprout for his birthday. Service on the day was fantastic and the food was A+. We did their most premium course and it was honestly a steal. This was another crowd favorite meal of the trip. I believe they have several branches around Osaka and honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Oretachino Curry Ramen Koji Lab
The curry here was hands down the best curry that I’ve ever had. It’s a small, unassuming spot with just counter seats, but it was one of the best meals we had during our two week trip. In fact, we all agreed that it is definitely in the top three meals of the entire trip. It was just so flavorful and had such an interesting spice profile. It’s not a glamorous spot, but if you only eat at one spot from this post, it should be this one.

Osaka Tonkatsu Umeda Sando
I first discovered the sandos here on Instagram and I knew I had to put it on our calendar. I’m a sucker for katsu sandos and they did not disappoint. It’s literally a hole in the wall – a man behind a counter in the side of an office building – but it is worth it. The tonkatsu was so juicy! We got a regular one and a cheese one to share and I think the cheese one is the best.

Yakiniku KITAN Minamisenba
Yakiniku KITAN Minamisenba specializes in grilled meat, but they do lunch sets from 11am – 3pm daily. I had the Aged Beef Tongue with Salted Leek Rice Lunch Box. X had the Seared Japanese Black Wagyu Lunch Box. Both lunch boxes came with some pickled cucumbers, rice, and soup. Both were extremely well cooked. The salted leek rice was so delicious and the seared wagyu was so juicy and buttery.

Tsukemen Suzume
After an initial dud in Tokyo, I was on the hunt for tsukemen. I was not leaving the country until I had some bomb dipping noods. Tsukemen Suzume was a last minute find and it was a great one. The broth was just the right consistency and very flavorful. Very umami. The noodles were cooked to perfection and it was honestly such a huge portion. It is cash-only though, so be sure to bring your yen with you.

Kaiten Sushi Onodera
It’s not conveyor belt sushi, but if you’re looking for high quality kaiten sushi, this spot is the one for you. After a long day shopping, this is the perfect spot to kick back and order some sushi via an iPad. I had the most delicious salmon and uni here – and at a fraction of the cost of what it would be back home. It is pricier than other kaiten sushi spots, but it’s worth it for the quality and the service that you get here.

Kuromon Ichiba Market
I know this is one of the biggest tourist spots in Osaka, but it’s honestly worth making the visit in the early morning to see the market and try some seafood. At almost any stall you walk by, you’ll see some of the fattest tuna. Just walk into any one and you won’t be disappointed. You can also get some delicious sweets, like dango or taiyaki. The market does get incredibly crowded at the morning gets on, so I do recommend coming on the earlier side if you want to beat the crowds.