Must-try foods in Osaka! 6 traditional, long-established and new gourmet options

The taste of Osaka! "Tsuruya" is a long-established okonomiyaki restaurant where professional okonomiyaki chefs make their dishes.

Speaking of Osaka, "konamon" (flour-based foods) is an indispensable part of the city. We highly recommend you visit "Tsuruya," a popular restaurant that has been in business for over 70 years. The restaurant is on the second floor of a building, and as you climb the stairs to the entrance, you will gradually hear the lively voices of the people around you, and you will get excited...!

During dinner time, the restaurant is full to capacity and bustling. It's easy to see why it's loved by local customers. With over 70 different dishes on the menu, it's no wonder it's such a long-established restaurant.

Okonomiyaki and yakisoba are professionally cooked by a professional chef on a hot plate in the back. The operation of efficiently carrying the cooked dishes to the dining area is also excellent.

The specialty "Mix Yaki (1,250 yen including tax)" is the quintessential Osaka okonomiyaki, filled with pork, seafood, and vegetables. The authentic way to eat it is with plenty of okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. The fluffy dough and hand-cut, crispy cabbage bring out the flavor of the ingredients, making it delicious!

The most popular dish among women is the "Okonomiyaki Yamakake Mix (1,450 yen including tax)." Instead of sauce, the okonomiyaki is topped with melted yam. The light soy sauce flavor will have you munching away in no time. Topped with a raw egg, it has a mellow flavor and looks great!

The combination of ice-cold beer and okonomiyaki is a classic and delicious one. You can feel Osaka with your whole body!

For the final course, try the "Iwashita's New Ginger Salt Yakisoba (1,300 yen including tax)." It's very filling, with crispy cabbage, pork, seafood and other ingredients cut into large pieces. The pickled ginger also adds a refreshing accent.

A lively shop with energetic staff and delicious okonomiyaki. I'm grateful to this long-established shop for giving me energy!

The taste of Osaka: Okonomiyaki Tsuruya

"Spice&Smoke Pichica.": A new restaurant where you can enjoy the aroma of spicy curry and smoked food

Osaka is known as a pioneer of the spice trend. Spice & Smoke Pichica. opened there in April 2022. The owner, Mr. Tsujishita, a former firefighter, became obsessed with the world of spices and opened this new store on his own.

This shop is located a 5-minute walk from JR Osaka Station, one street away. The cute illustration of Ganesha, the Indian god of commerce, is the landmark! The god is watching over you in various places, such as on the coasters in the store.

The restaurant has a homey atmosphere with seven counter seats and three table seats, and behind the counter are rows of alcohol bottles. It has two faces: a "spice curry specialty store" during the day, and a "bar where you can enjoy smoked food with spiced beer or whiskey" at night.

The only curry served at lunchtime is the "Three-Spice Curry (1,000 yen including tax)". The three curry sauces change with the seasons, so you can enjoy different combinations every time you visit. The rice used is healthy basmati rice, which has a low GI, so you can eat it without feeling guilty.

The curries on this day were three types: "Chicken Corn Curry" with chunks of meat, "Black Dal Curry" with a nutty texture and plenty of fluffy beans, and "Green Curry" full of the concentrated flavor of spinach.
Pomegranate beer, made by combining pomegranate with beer, is sweet and sour and refreshing. Its bright pink color and refreshing taste are perfect for summer, and it goes great with spicy curry.

The drinks to enjoy at the bar in the evening include craft beer, Islay malt, and other drinks with an emphasis on aroma.
The "Smoked Food Assortment (790 yen including tax)" on this day was three kinds of smoked foods: egg, chicken breast, and cheese. The drink that went with it was "Ardbeg," which has a strong smoky flavor and a strong aroma. The smoky aroma that lingers in your nose is very pleasant...!

There is also a rare drink called "UNICUM," a traditional Hungarian herbal liquor that was created over 200 years ago. It is made using natural herbs and has a unique bitterness.

"Spice Shochu Cardamom TAKE7" was born by combining cardamom, known as the "Queen of Spices," with shochu. As the name suggests, it is a new type of drink that was developed after seven trial runs. The sweet and spicy aroma of cardamom and the refreshing aftertaste will change your image of shochu.

This restaurant offers a variety of spices and aromas. Which would you prefer: curry for lunch or smoked food for dinner?

spice&smoke pichca.