Yuina’s favorites—Osaka’s Famous Crispy Skewered Delights: Kushikatsu in the Heart of Umeda, Namba, and Shin-Imamiya!

Konnichiwa! I’m Yuina Deguchi from the idol group NMB48.
Kushikatsu is one of Osaka’s most famous foods. They are skewered meats and vegetables that are fried and served on a stick. And they are delicious!
But when people think kushikatsu, many people imagine older men eating fried skewers while downing mugs of beer… But there are actually kushikatsu restaurants in a variety of styles. Some are perfect for grabbing a quick bite while sightseeing!
I have three different styles of kushikatsu that I want to share with you: first, a standing style restaurant that has a casual atmosphere and is comfortable for solo travelers, then a place that serves healthy kushikatsu made with rice flour that are light on the stomach, and finally, a restaurant that creates unique and imaginative kushikatsu that border on the line of luxury.

●Grab Your Skewers from the Counter at Kushikatsu Matsuba, Lucua Osaka Location

Even though I live in the Kansai region, I have never really gone out to eat kushikatsu… For some reason, I feel uncomfortable going into kushikatsu restaurants alone as a girl. That’s why I was really looking forward to writing this article♪
Matsuba’s main restaurant is located in Shin-Umeda Shokudo-gai in Umeda. The LUCUA Osaka location is bright and cute and has a casual atmosphere so it’s easy to come here alone. This restaurant is perfect for those who are trying Kushikatsu for the first time!

Matsuba’s signature style is that they line up deep-fried kushikatsu right on the counter! Just looking at the piles of kushikatsu makes me excited to eat.

Because it’s already fried, you can eat without waiting for your order to be prepared. It is great for busy businesspeople and tourists who want a quick meal. Of course, the restaurant staff will fry the food to order, or re-fry food from the trays if you ask. Feel free to ask the staff if you need something!
First, let’s try the young chicken, which is one of the most popular things on the restaurant’s signature menu! The chicken bones are used like skewers. They’re easy to hold and eat!

The chicken is coated in curry powder before being fried, so it’s slightly spicy and has a lot of flavor without needing any sauce. The moment I took a bite, I could taste the juicy meat flavors. Yum!
There are two types of shrimp: regular shrimp and giant shrimp. The giant shrimp are about three times the size of the regular shrimp! The giant shrimp was originally on the limited-time menu, but it was so popular that they put it on the regular menu in 2024. You can see how thick and juicy the shrimp is just by looking at it. That’s why it’s so popular ☆

Do not double dip in the sauce!! This is the basic kushikatsu etiquette and a fundamental part of Osaka culture. Please remember this when eating kushikatsu!

I like to dip it all the way to the bottom of the kushikatsu. If you feel like you did’t get enough sauce, you can add more sauce from the red container with a spout, or use some of the free cabbage to scoop more sauce!

Mozzarella cheese, which is a ladies’ favorite, tastes better with salt than sauce! Look, it’s so stretchy!

●Healthy and Lite Rice Flour Kushikatsu from Kushikatsu Sakura, Nankai Namba Location

Kushikatsu Sakura is located in Namba Nankai-dori Shopping Arcade, right next to Namba Station. Inside the restaurant, there are autographs from countless celebrities on the walls! They even have autographs from members of NMB48. I gave them my autograph too, so please look for it when you visit.

Sakura uses rice flour for the batter, so their kushikatsu is a little healthier! It’s gluten-free and low in calories, so the restaurant is especially popular among women. It won’t make your stomach feel heavy, so you can eat it quickly too!

The 100-piece set (20,400 yen) includes two of each type of kushikatsu on the menu and is the most popular item. Most people order this set in a group of 3 to 8 people. And if you have leftovers, you can take them home. Instead of this massive set, I chose some of the things on the menu that caught my attention.

I was surprised when I tried the mozzarella cheese they recommended! When you bite into it, it makes a really nice “crisp” and “crunch” sound. Excess oil is removed using centrifugal force, a method in which the skewer is pinched between the thumb and forefinger and rotated rapidly, This results in a light and crispy texture. I learned about this for the first time today!

Come to think of it, Kushikatsu Matsuba recommended a mozzarella cheese kushikatsu to me earlier. If we really get into it, this may be the pinnacle of kushikatsu deliciousness…
The number 3 item in Sakura’s popularity ranking is a kushikatsu called kimura-kun! It’s pork topped with kimchi and rayu chili oil. It’s amazing and going on my list of all-time kushikatsu favorites♪
When I tried it, I thought the kimchi and chili oil were a perfect compliment to the juicy pork. I like the name too! It’s a little difficult to fit in your mouth, so you have to open wide and take a giant bite.

The pickled red ginger kushikatsu, which is unique to Kansai, was also good. If you are new here yourself or have friends visiting Osaka, this is something you’ve got to try!
They also have a wide selection of dessert skewers. Baumkuchen, a German log cake, remains moist after frying and has a sweet aroma, making it extremely delicious! The smiley face mark is cute too.

Sauce is an essential part of kushikatsu the kushikatsu experience. Sakura’s sauce is a well-balanced blend of domestic fruits and vegetables. It’s made at the oldest sauce shop in Osaka that has been around since the early twentieth century! They also sell bottles of sauce, so be sure to buy some as a souvenir to take home.

●Kushikatsu Course-Dining in a Relaxed Atmosphere at Enjiro Kushiage

Next I want to show you a little-known restaurant that opened in June 2024! There are many kushikatsu restaurants in the nearby Shinsekai that are cheap, but Enjiro is actually a high-end kushiage restaurant. They are proud of their motto: “Satisfied when you look at it, satisfied when you eat it.” And they only serve items that are delicious to the eyes and the tastebuds.

When you enter the restaurant, you might be surprised. It doesn’t look like your standard kushikatsu joint. The space is so refined-looking. The manager, who used to be a Chinese cuisine chef at a hotel, comes up with new dishes every day, and does innovative things like flavoring kushikatsu with Chinese sauce.

Enjiro also offers kushikatsu by the stick, but most people opt for the 10 skewer course, an assortment of 3 types of seafood, 2 types of meat, and 5 vegetables or other items. Because Enjiro has such a creative chef, it’s especially fun because you never know what you’ll be served. I think I’ll order either the Enjiro Omakase Course, which leaves everything up to the chef. In this style of dining the chef serves kushikatsu one at a time, until you say stop.
I got to try some of the most popular items on the menu.

First I was served an appetizer, which was an assortment of three starters that change daily. When I visited, it was pickled cucumbers in soy sauce, cherry tomatoes flavored with apricot liquor, and pickled carrots. Everything was exquisitely seasoned so I had high expectations from the start.

Then, I was served a small salad of vegetable sticks, and the lemon, sauce, and salt that go with the kushikatsu. This salt was so delicious! It’s a unique blend of kelp tea, kelp salt, and roasted sesame seeds. The umami flavor from the kelp spreads fills your mouth and it’s very addictive. Apparently, many customers want to buy the salt and take it home. If it had been for sale, I definitely would have bought some to take home. I’m just one of a long line of people who want to buy something that isn’t for sale yet.
The biggest surprise I got was this asparagus! It was so big! It was absolutely delicious with a hint of black pepper.I recommend adding lemon halfway through so you can get a different flavor.

Each kushikatsu is carefully fried like this.
You can feel the love the chef has for kushikatsu★
The shop’s most popular item is the tuna in sweet and sour yu-lin sauce. You enjoy this one as it is without adding any additional flavorings or sauces♪

Here’s the pecoros, a tiny onion, cooked in consommé soup and finished with onion gratin. Such a hearty creamy flavor!

It’s a kushikatsu restaurant, but they have their own pastry chef! If you tell them your budget and the kinds of fruit you like, they will make you a whole cake to match your requests. I want to come back for a celebration with my family and loved ones to make their special day, even more special. The cake requires advance reservations, so be sure to plan ahead!

I usually don’t eat kushikatsu, so I didn’t realize how each restaurant has its own personality and style!
Relax by yourself, spend time with friends and family, or go out as a treat for a special day with your loved ones…Have fun dining out in the kushikatsu restaurant depending on the occasion♪
You might just see me and the other NMB48 members eating all the Osaka gourmet kushikatsu!

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Yuina Deguchi

I’m a member of the idol group NMB48 from Osaka. Someday I hope to be a food reporter. I love to eat so you can find more of my favorite restaurants and foods on my social media accounts. Or look for my hashtag #ラビグルメ
Twitter: @yuina_laby
Instagram: @yui_laby0622
TikTok: @yui_labygurume