\n
\u25cf551 Butaman (Nikuman)<\/h3>\n
\n2 piece: \u00a5460\/4 piece: \u00a5920\/6 piece:\u00a51,380\/10 piece: \u00a52,300 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nMain Store, Namba Walk location, Tennoji location, JR Osaka Station Midosuji location, JR Shin-Osaka Station central gate location, Eki March\u00e9 Shin-Osaka location, Kansai International Airport South Terminal location, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The illusive sauce from the land of sauces\u2014Hermes Sauce<\/h2>\n
Osaka is known for its takoyaki<\/em> (octopus dumplings), okonomiyaki<\/em> (savory cabbage pancakes with your choice of toppings), and kushikatsu<\/em> (deep-fried skewers), which require sauce toppings. Accordingly, Osaka has tons of sauces to choose from. There are so many sauces in fact, that when people visit from other prefectures, they\u2019re surprised at the sauce section in the supermarket. This is my absolute favorite! <\/p>\n![\"Hermes](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img03.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Hermes Sauce!
\nIt’s made in Osaka\u2019s very own Higashi-Sumiyoshi ward by Iwami Foods. And recently, it is gotten so hard to find that some people started calling it \u201cthe illusive sauce.\u201d
\nAccording to their website, Hermes Sauce is made from a careful selection of fruits, vegetables, sugar, and salt which is simmered before adding spices, vinegar, and other flavorings. You can tell by the taste that it is an original blend of countless flavors.
\nThe refreshing sweetness and spicy aroma make it the perfect condiment for takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakisoba<\/em> (fried noodles), as well as tonkatsu<\/em> (pork cutlet), croquettes, and other fried foods.<\/p>\nIn order to preserve its traditional flavor, Hermes sauce is all made by hand. So understandably production is pretty limited and it isn\u2019t widely sold in stores.
\n(You can order it online, but the wait-list is about one month long.)
\nIf you\u2019re lucky and you do find a bottle, or you just happen to be in the know for where to get it, it makes a fantastic gift. When people call it Osaka\u2019s illusive sauce, they really mean it.<\/p>\n
\n
\u25cfHermes Tonkatsu Sauce 900ml<\/h3>\n
\n\u00a5918 (tax included)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Choosy Osakans choose\u2014Asahi Ponzu<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s one more condiment that makes a great gift. It\u2019s delightfully sour and has a powerful flavor. It has the appetizing aroma of citrus. It is ponzu<\/em>!
\nThere are many different ponzu brands at the store, but the one that Kansai people seem to prefer above the rest is the Asahi brand.<\/p>\n![\"Asahi](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img04.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Osaka people tend to be picky about flavors, but Asahi Ponzu has so many fans here. It is made from ponzu citrus juice from Tokushima and konbu<\/em> (kelp) from Rishiri Island in Hokkaido. (Both of these regions are famous for these products.)
\nIf you don\u2019t believe me just ask someone from Osaka. They\u2019ll tell you how delicious Asahi Ponzu is.
\nPonzu can be used for nabe<\/em> (hotpot), to dip your sashimi, or as a compliment to fried foods. This is one sauce you definitely want at your table!<\/p>\n\n
\u25cfAsahi Ponzu<\/h3>\n
\nPricing varies (360 ml: approximately \u00a5600\u2013\u00a5800)
\nSales locations:
\nSupermarkets, department stores, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reigning from Kitashinchi, Osaka\u2019s bite-sized Tenten Gyoza<\/h2>\n
The ponzu got me thinking… nothing goes better with ponzu than gyoza!
\nRegional gyoza from all over the country\u2014like Utsunomiya Gyoza from Ibaragi Prefecture, and Hamamatsu Gyoza from Shizuoka Prefecture are all the rage these days.
\nSo of course Osaka has something special too!<\/p>\n
![\"Tenten](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img05.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Bite-sized gyoza!
\nThey look so cute on first glance, and they actually came from an upscale drinking establishment in the upscale Kitashinchi neighborhood. They\u2019re the perfect size to nibble while you\u2019re drinking and they\u2019re easy to eat while still maintain an air of elegance like the hostesses in Kitashinchi.
\nThese gyoza please even the most discriminating of palates in Kitashinchi, so naturally people began wanting to give them as gifts. And so this fabulous Osaka omiyage<\/em> (souvenir) was born!<\/p>\n![\"Bite-sized](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img06.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
And if you\u2019re getting bite-sized gyoza as a gift, Tenten Gyoza is what you want. Potstickers tend to have a strong aroma that might leave your breath smelling off, but Tenten makes a point of using chives with a lighter aroma. And they\u2019re delicious!<\/p>\n
\n
\u25cfBite-sized Gyoza<\/h3>\n
\n30-piece: \u00a51,490\/45-piece: \u00a52,138 (tax included)<\/p>\n
Sales locations:<\/h4>\n
Tenten Bar (Eki March\u00e9 in Shin-Osaka Station), department stores, gift shops, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A cute box and a great taste\u2014takoyaki flavored Jagarico<\/h2>\n
One of the city\u2019s best known foods is featured in this flavored snack. And trust me, it makes a great gift for yourself or someone else!
\nJagarico are deliciously crunchy potato-chip like snack sticks and as a regional specialty product, they come in takoyaki<\/em> (octopus dumpling) flavor. <\/p>\n![\"takoyaki](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img07.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a big Jagarico fan and usually stick to the classic salad flavor, but if you\u2019re bringing them as a gift, definitely go with this flavor because it\u2019s limited to the Kansai region. It has hints of takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise and chances are they will go over well.
\nThe box of 8 individually wrapped bags are perfect for a group. So if you are looking for something to bring to work or school, this would be a good choice.<\/p>\n
![\"jagarico](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img08.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
When you open the box, the 8 bags are designed to look like octopus tentacles. How cute!<\/p>\n
\n
\u25cfJagarico, takoyaki flavor<\/h3>\n
\n\u00a5950 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nTrain stations, airports, and highway service areas throughout Kansai, gift shops, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Two classic Kansai flavors\u2014Kansai dashi soy sauce potato chips & Happy Turn\u2019s takoyaki sauce flavor<\/h2>\n
![\"ansai](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img09.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Some might say Kansai=dashi. And they\u2019re definitely not wrong!
\nFull of umami flavor, Kansai is known for its delicious soup broth like konbu dashi<\/em> (kelp broth) and katsuobushi dashi<\/em> (bonito broth). And that special umami flavor works well on potato chips!
\nLook for the pink bag of \u201cKansai dashi shoyu\u201d chips for an easy gift. They\u2019re sold in supermarkets and convenience stores all over the Kansai region. I get them for myself all the time!<\/p>\n\n
\u25cfKansai dashi shoyu potato chips<\/h3>\n
\nSuggested retail price \u00a5130 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nSupermarkets and convenient stores, etc. in Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Shiga, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui Prefectures\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
And let\u2019s talk about takoyaki flavored Happy Turn!
\nThey\u2019re mostly sold in gift shops, so Kansai people don\u2019t eat them every day. But I guarantee they are good! It\u2019s a combination of Happy Turn and takoyaki. Of course they\u2019re good!
\nThe golden combination of takoyaki sauce and nori so really, how could they not be good?<\/p>\n
\n
\u25cfTakoyaki flavored Happy Turn<\/h3>\n
\n34 g bag: \u00a5172 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nEntr\u00e9e March\u00e9 in JR Shin-Osaka Station, gift shops, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Another classic Osaka flavor in snack form\u2014Pickled ginger tempura potato chips<\/h2>\n
![\"Pickled](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
This is a funny one… Red pickled ginger (beni-sh\u014dga<\/em>) as tempura is a regional food in Osaka that has a long history. It seems most people don\u2019t consider pickled ginger as tempura material. When I showed it to my Tokyo friends, they were shocked!!!
\nI don\u2019t think it\u2019s that weird, but then again, I grew up with it.
\nAnd so here we have the picked ginger flavored potato chip. If you like salt & vinegar chips, this is the chip for you. The sour pickled ginger flavor is complimented with a hint of salt and they go great with a drink! In fact, they go so well with beer, you have to consciously try not to eat this Osaka souvenir on your Shinkansen ride home. They are pretty addicting!<\/p>\n\n
\u25cfOsaka Beni-shoga Tempura Potato Chips<\/h3>\n
\n\u00a5378 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nEntr\u00e9e March\u00e9 in JR Shin-Osaka Station, etc.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Potato chips that are so special, they\u2019re only sold at Hankyu Umeda Department Store\u2014Grand Calbee<\/h2>\n
The concept for Grand Calbee is \u201ca snack that makes your heart sing, a gift that connects hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img12.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
These specialty potato chips are so special, they\u2019re only sold in one location, at the Hankyu Main Department Store in Umeda.
\nGreat care is taken to make these chips, starting with the soil the potatoes are grown in at contracted farms. The Hokkaido potatoes are then cut thick in Calbee\u2019s original style and fried slowly.
\nThis is, without a doubt, the ultimate potato chip!
\nThe Potato Basic pack is a combination of 3 flavors\u2014salt, butter, & salt-pickled plum.
\nThe Potato Roast pack is made from roasted potatoes and you can choose from 4 flavors\u2014roasted salt, burnt soy sauce, broiled cod roe, grilled cheese & black pepper (sansho<\/em>).
\nIf you give these as a gift, you\u2019re going to have to tell them where you bought these impressive potato chips.<\/p>\n\n
\u25cfGrand Calbee<\/h3>\n
\n\u00a5685 (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nHankyu Main Department Store Umeda\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pocky, but with a dash of luxury\u2014Baton d\u2019or<\/h2>\n
Since there are special potato chips, there have to be special pocky!
\nThen name of these pocky means golden stick in French. They\u2019re made from clarified butter, which has all of the liquid and solids removed. They\u2019re one rank above regular pocky both in looks and in taste!<\/p>\n
![\"Baton](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img13.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The lineup includes sugar butter, strawberry sugar, matcha sugar, almond sugar, and seasonal flavors as well. If you\u2019re gift-shopping, it\u2019s fun to choose the flavor you think your special person will like. <\/p>\n
\n
\u25cfBaton d\u2019or <\/h3>\n
\n\u00a5700 each (tax included)
\nSales locations:
\nBaton d\u2019or locations in Hankyu Umeda Main Store, Takashimaya Osaka, Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Good luck & good flavor\u2014Kansou shiokombu<\/h2>\n
Kansai\u2019s famous dashi flavor would be nothing without kelp aka kombu<\/em>. And in Osaka it\u2019s not just used for dashi. It has a long culinary history in Osaka, as the main ingredient in shiokombu<\/em> (dried soy flavored kelp) and tsukudani<\/em> (preserved foods boiled in soy).
\n![\"Kansou](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img14.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI especially like Kansou\u2019s shiokonbu. It’s bursting with umami flavor and goes great with tea, rice or even ochazuke<\/em> (green tea over rice). I love shiokonmbu!!!<\/p>\n![\"Kansou](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img15.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
In Osaka, konbu is sometimes pronounced \u201ckobu\u201d which sounds a bit like \u201cyorokobu\u201d meaning to be happy. So it is considered a lucky food to eat. And shiokonbu is definitely one of those foods that makes me happy!
\nGet a pack for your friends and give the gift of happiness.<\/p>\n
![\"551](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Cold](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img02.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"nadai](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img16.jpg\")
![\"Nadai](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img17.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sakkura](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img18.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\u308a\u304f\u308d\u30fc\u304a\u3058\u3055\u3093\u306e\u5e97](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/07\/osaka-souvenir-img19.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"front](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2022\/11\/osaka-castle-facade-e1668503808170.jpg\")