Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [304]
Another top food court is Hilton Plaza, on the B2 floor beneath the Osaka Hilton. Here, you will find the excellent Shinkiraku (Map; 6345-3461; 1-8-16 Umeda, Kita-ku; meals from around ¥800; 11am-2.30pm & 4-11pm Mon-Fri, 11am-2.30pm & 5-10pm Sat, Sun & holidays; JR line to Osaka), a favourite tempura specialist that packs ’em in at lunchtime. At lunch try the ebishio-tendon (shrimp tempura over rice; ¥880) and at dinner try the osusume-gozen (tempura full set; ¥2079). Take the escalator to the B2 floor, go right and look for the small English sign.
INTERNATIONAL
Org…Organic Life (Map; 6312-0529; 7-7 Dōyama-chō, Kita-ku; drinks from ¥500, meals ¥1000-2500; 11am-11pm; Hankyū line to Umeda, JR line to Osaka or Tanimachi subway line to Higashi Umeda) At this open-plan, casual cafe you can grab a light meal or a quick pick-me-up while exploring Kita. You can get a pasta or risotto lunch for ¥900, and finish it off with cake and coffee. It’s easy to spot, with an English sign. There’s no English menu, but there is a picture menu and ‘pasta lunch’ or ‘risotto lunch’ will get your point across.
Monsoon Café (Map; 6292-0010; 15-22 Chayamachi, Kita-ku; meals average ¥1000; 11.30am-4am; Hankyū line to Umeda) For a fun night with decent pan-Asian cuisine and a casual international atmosphere, try the Osaka branch of this nationwide chain. It’s in the Urban Terrace building (the westernmost of the three buildings), which is across from the Hotel Hankyū International. English menu.
Minami
JAPANESE
You will find lots of good Japanese choices in Minami, including a bunch of giant dining halls in Dōtombori Arcade.
Nishiya (Map; 6241-9221; 1-18-18 Higashi Shinsaibashi, Chūō-ku; noodle dishes from ¥630, dinner average ¥3000-4000; lunch & dinner; Midō-suji, Yotsubashi or Nagahori Tsurumiryokuchi subway line to Shinsaibashi) An Osaka landmark that serves udon noodles and a variety of hearty nabe (iron pot) dishes for reasonable prices, including a tempura udon (¥1155). Look for the semirustic facade and the food models. English menu.
Tonkatsu Ganko (Map; 6646-4129; 2-2-16 Nambanaka, Naniwa-ku; meals from ¥880; lunch & dinner; Nankai Main line or Midō-suji, Yotsubashi or Sennichi-mae subway line to Namba) Sometimes you need something a little heavier than noodles and rice, and tonkatsu may be the call. This popular tonkatsu specialist near Namba Station is easy to spot with food models in the glass case out front (next to an NTT Docomo shop). There’s a picture menu and an English menu.
Gin Sen (Map; 6213-2898; 2-4-2 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chūō-ku; all-you-can-eat kushikatsu lunch/dinner ¥2380/2680; 11.30am-11pm; Midō-suji, Yotsubashi or Sennichi-mae subway line to Namba) This casual, approachable place serves delicious kushikatsu (meat and veggies deep-fried on skewers), a greasy but tasty treat. It’s on the 2nd floor of the Gurukas building; there’s a Lawson convenience store on the ground floor. English menu.
Ume no Hana (Map; 6258-3766; OPA Bldg, 11th fl, 1-4-3 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chūō-ku; dinner from ¥4100; 11am-3pm & 5-9pm; Midō-suji subway line to Shinsaibashi) This is part of an upscale chain that serves a variety of tofu-based dishes. It’s on the 11th floor of the OPA building. The elevator is on the southeast side of the building (entry from the street – look for the sign reading ‘OPA Restaurant & Café’). English menu.
Of course, Minami is all about shōtengai (shopping arcades) and the Sennichi-mae Arcade is one of the biggest. In addition to all the pachinko parlours here, you’ll find lots of cheap, casual restaurants like Genroku Sushi (Map; 6644-4908; 2-11-4 Sennichi-mae; 10am-11.10pm; Midō-suji, Yotsubashi or Sennichi-mae subway line to Namba), a bustling automatic sushi place where plates of sushi cost a mere ¥130.
Dōtombori Arcade (Map; Dōtombori, Chūō-ku; Midō-suji, Yotsubashi or Sennichi-mae subway line to Namba) is the heart of Minami, and it’s crammed with eateries. This