Top 10 Best Restaurants in Namba and Dotonbori

Dotonbori and Namba area is Osaka's biggest entertainment district

The Dotonbori and Namba area is one of Japan's largest entertainment districts.

Unlike the 'Kita' (North) area where Osaka's office buildings are concentrated, this area is lined with lively shopping streets and restaurants popular among locals.

It's within walking distance of the popular shopping area Shinsaibashi.

We also recommend trying Osaka's famous street foods like takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes).

Popular foods in Dotonbori

The popular food genres in Dotonbori include okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), takoyaki (octopus balls), kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), fugu (pufferfish), kani (crab), and ramen (noodle soup).

There are well-known restaurants for each of these.

Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes)

A staple dish made by grilling a mixture of flour, cabbage, and pork, then topped with sauce.

There are many okonomiyaki restaurants in the Dotonbori area, but 'Ajinoya' and 'Mizuno' are famous.

Takoyaki (octopus balls)

Similar to okonomiyaki, these are round dough balls with octopus inside, cooked in a special mold.

A famous shop is 'Otako,' which is the oldest takoyaki shop in Dotonbori. Known for its large pieces of octopus, it also has an eat-in space.

Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers)

A dish of skewered pork, shrimp, or vegetables, coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried.

A famous shop is 'Daruma,' known for its impactful storefront and said to be the birthplace of kushikatsu. It's popular for its thin batter and light sauce.

Fugu (pufferfish)

Osaka consumes the most tiger pufferfish in Japan.

There are many fugu restaurants in Dotonbori's entertainment district.

A famous shop is 'Jihei,' where you can enjoy classic dishes like tecchiri (fugu hot pot), tessa (fugu sashimi), and kawayubiki (parboiled fugu skin) in a course meal. Private rooms are available.

Crab

Crab consumption became popular in Osaka after the establishment of 'Kani Doraku,' Japan's most well-known crab restaurant.

The Dotonbori branch, in particular, has over 60 years of history.

Ramen

Osaka has many ramen shops with various types of ramen.

A famous shop is Kinryu Ramen, an old-established tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen shop with a dynamic dragon object decorating its storefront. You can add toppings like kimchi (spicy fermented vegetables), garlic chives, and grated garlic.

There are also some Michelin-starred restaurants in Dotonbori and Namba.

While Tokyo and Kyoto might come to mind when thinking of Michelin-starred restaurants, there are also some in the Dotonbori and Namba area of Osaka. Michelin-starred restaurants in Osaka, known as a gourmet city, are actually hidden gems.

You're sure to find wonderful restaurants that reflect Osaka's dedication to good food.

Top 10 Best Restaurants in Namba and Dotonbori

1. Taian (太庵) / Japanese

This authentic Japanese restaurant has earned three Michelin stars from 2021 to 2024.

While based on traditional Japanese cuisine, the chef incorporates a variety of ideas, including Western ingredients like Iberico pork and Challandais duck.

In addition to counter seats where you can closely observe the chef's skills, table seats are also arranged to allow guests to experience the live kitchen atmosphere.

The dishes served are simple yet elegant, focusing on savoring the food thoroughly.

The menu is an omakase (chef's choice) course that changes monthly, with a pairing of dishes with 100 different sake cups and 200 types of wine.

2. Masuda (桝田) / Japanese

This Japanese restaurant has consistently earned one or two Michelin stars from 2019 to 2023.

They’re particular about seasonal ingredients and even make delicacies like karasumi (dried mullet roe) from scratch.

The menu, updated every two weeks, features fresh, high-quality seasonal items, mainly seafood from the Seto Inland Sea and seasonal vegetables.

The hassun (a tray with small appetizers) is particularly beautiful and lavish.

3. Sumibiyakitori Torisei (炭火焼 鳥清) / Yakitori

This charcoal-grilled yakitori shop was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Restaurants on a famous gourmet review site in both 2022 and 2023.

The interior is filled with the aromatic scent of charcoal, and the restaurant offers cozy counter seating only.

Seasonal Japanese dishes and drinks like beer and sake complement the food, along with the 'Torichan,' an original champagne exclusive to this restaurant.

4. Osaka Kitahama Anagoya (大阪北浜あなごや) / Others

This conger eel specialty restaurant has been selected for the Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years since 2019.

The owner, who fell in love with 'Densuke anago' (a type of high-quality conger eel) during his Japanese cuisine training, opened this specialized anago (conger eel) restaurant.

Anago is healthier than unagi (freshwater eel) as it contains less fat. 'Densuke anago' refers to particularly large conger eels. The restaurant mainly uses conger eel from Tsushima, known for its rich umami (savory taste). They offer various anago dishes such as tempura (deep-fried), shabu-nabe (hot pot), simmered anago sushi, and stone-grilled anago. As a specialty shop, they also serve unique dishes like aburi sashimi (lightly seared raw fish). Come and taste this distinctly Japanese flavor that differs from unagi.

5. Sui Okazaki (翠 岡﨑) / Japanese

The owner, Mr. Okazaki, trained at the Michelin-listed Japanese restaurant 'Sui Oya' before opening his own restaurant, 'Sui Okazaki.'

In addition to counter seats where you can experience the live kitchen atmosphere, there are semi-private table seats and a private room that can accommodate up to 10 people, making it suitable for various occasions.

Both the lunch course (8 dishes) and dinner course (10 dishes) allow you to enjoy ingredients that change with the seasons.

Enjoy dishes that blend traditional Japanese cuisine with the owner's unique ideas. The restaurant also pays attention to the dishware, using both traditional antiques and modern designs.

6. New Babe Namba Store (ニューベイブ難波店) / Tonkatsu

This restaurant offers tonkatsu that can be enjoyed with 10 carefully selected condiments chosen by the owner.

Their specialty low-temperature cooking method results in a juicy and tender texture.

Even the extra-thick rib roast is manageable thanks to this low-temperature cooking method.

They carefully select safe and high-quality branded pork such as 'Hayashi SPF' and 'Tokyo X.'

All menu items come with free refills of rice, pork miso soup, and cabbage (or lettuce).

In addition to the standard cabbage that typically accompanies tonkatsu, you can also choose lettuce, which is the owner's preference.

7. Private Room Wagyu Yakiniku Gin Namba Branch (個室 和牛焼肉 吟 難波店) / Yakiniku

This yakiniku restaurant was selected for the Best 100 Yakiniku Restaurants on a famous gourmet review site.

Located on the 10th floor of a building, the restaurant offers completely private rooms for 2 to 16 people. Private rooms by the window offer views of Osaka's night scenery.

Enjoy the delicious taste of fresh wagyu (Japanese beef) beef, cut to order, including famous 'Kobe beef' and rare A5 grade 'Saga beef' in yakiniku style.

Try various wagyu dishes such as steak and aburi sushi (lightly seared sushi). The 'Ginka-mori' (flower arrangement-style meat platter), available in courses over 10,000 yen, is particularly beautiful.

They also offer a 'Rose Course' (reservation required) that starts with sparkling wine, allows you to enjoy wagyu dishes, and ends with a cake celebration, perfect for special occasions.

8. Le Nez (ルネ) / French

This French restaurant has been listed in the Michelin Guide in both 2023 and 2024.

The restaurant's name means 'nose' in French, reflecting the chef's desire to emphasize aroma in his dishes.

The chef's hometown is Minabe in Wakayama Prefecture, which boasts the highest plum production in Japan.

While based on classic French cuisine, the course meals uniquely incorporate plenty of 'plums' and 'oranges' from the chef's hometown of Wakayama.

Enjoy with all your senses the dishes prepared by the chef, who has gained experience at multiple French restaurants in Osaka and Tokyo, including some listed in the Michelin Guide.

9. Shunsenwaraku Sanai (旬鮮和楽 さな井) / Japanese

This skilled Japanese restaurant has earned one Michelin star for over 10 years since 2012.

Enjoy Japanese cuisine one dish at a time in kappo style (counter seating where you can watch the chef prepare the food).

The owner, with 40 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, offers dishes that blend the elegance of Kyoto cuisine with Osaka's culture and traditions.

The dishes, which focus on seafood from Osaka and the Seto Inland Sea, are high-quality and delicate in appearance.

Savor the chef's masterpieces in the calm atmosphere of the restaurant, which also employs female chefs.

A wide variety of drinks that pair well with Japanese cuisine is also available.

10. Nisishinsaibashi Yuno (西心斎橋 ゆうの) / Japanese

This Japanese restaurant has earned one Michelin star from 2022 to 2024.

The owner, who trained at famous restaurants and served as head chef at a vegetable specialty restaurant, runs this establishment.

Focusing on traditional Osaka vegetables, the chef offers dishes that incorporate rare ingredients such as high-grade wagyu beef and seafood from across Japan, with unique ideas and ingenuity.

The interior, supervised by a specialist in sukiya-zukuri (a traditional Japanese architectural style), showcases the intricate work of craftsmen in features like sliding doors, window glass, and mud walls.

Enjoy an extraordinary and elegant time in this museum-like interior where antiques are also displayed.