Eating in Japan has got to be my favorite thing to do when I’m there. You can pretty much walk into any restaurant or stall and have a delicious and memorable meal. On a recent trip to Osaka, I indulged in some incredible Japanese dishes that I cannot recommend enough. Known in Japan as the Nation’s Kitchen, Osaka is a haven for food lovers, offering an exciting variety of culinary delights.
If you’ve never been to Japan, their restaurants usually specialize in one dish, perfecting it to the highest level. So whether you’re craving sushi, sukiyaki, or onigiri, here are the five best places I tried during my trip to Osaka:
1. Omakase (Sushi Course) from Sushi Hoshiyama
If you’re going to have sushi in Japan, might as well go big. Sushi Hoshiyama, a one-star Michelin restaurant, offers a roughly 20-course omakase sushi experience that will blow you away. Omakase means leaving it up to the chef to serve you whatever they want during the meal.
At my dinner at Sushi Hoshiyama, I was treated to the finest pieces of raw fish and cooked seafood atop warm, flavorful rice. My favorites included the different cuts of stunning tuna, the sweet uni (sea urchin), and a melt-in-your-mouth anago (eel). The restaurant also boasts a beautiful view of the river, which you can enjoy while watching your chef work their magic right in front of you.