5 oldest Osaka restaurants serving locals and tourists for generations
Osaka is often called Japan’s kitchen, a city with a deep culinary lineage built not just on flavour but on longevity. In a region where trends come and go, some Osaka restaurants have managed to hold on for centuries, feeding locals, entertaining visitors and preserving craft. As living records of a city’s appetite and resilience, these five are among Osaka’s oldest restaurants. Still in operation, in these establishments time has become as integral to the experience as taste and flavour.
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Dotonbori Imai Honten
Dotonbori Imai Honten is a renowned udon restaurant in the heart of Osaka’s bustling Dotonbori district, established in 1946. It is widely celebrated for its signature kitsune udon—chewy wheat noodles served in a delicate, freshly made dashi broth, topped with sweet simmered fried tofu that perfectly balances the light flavors.
Alongside udon, the menu includes soba and oden dishes, as well as set meals that combine noodles with rice bowls for a well-rounded dining experience. Though it’s one of the more popular Osaka restaurants for locals and tourists, the focus remains on simplicity and quality, with a consistent reputation for serving authentic Kansai-style noodles and broth made fresh multiple times daily.
Ippoh Honten
Ippoh Honten is legendary for its Kansai-style tempura.
Ippoh Honten is Osaka’s most storied tempura restaurant, established in 1850 and still run by descendants of its founder. Located in the Edobori district near Higobashi, Ippoh Honten has become legendary for its Kansai-style tempura: delicately battered, fried in fresh safflower oil, and served piece by piece at intimate counter seats inside elegant private rooms. The experience is refined from the moment you’re welcomed in a traditional waiting area, through a multi-course kaiseki meal that progresses to the chef preparing tempura right before you.
Honke Shibato
Honke Shibato is known for its signature Osaka-style grilled eel.
Honke Shibato is a historic and celebrated unagi restaurant in Osaka with over 300 years of tradition dating back to the Edo period. Located in the Koraibashi area of Osaka’s Chuo Ward, it remains family-run by the 15th generation of unagi masters. Known for its signature Osaka-style grilled eel—where the eel is sliced from the belly and grilled without prior steaming, creating a crispy skin and flavorful, juicy meat—Honke Shibato offers iconic dishes such as the Osaka Mamushi, with layered eel and rice in a lacquer box, and ohitsumabushi served with dashi and condiments. The ambiance is traditional and inviting, with attentive service and an emphasis on preserving culinary heritage in every dish.
Honke Ootako Dotonbori Honten
Honke Ootako Dotonbori Honten is the oldest takoyaki shop in Osaka’s vibrant Dotonbori district, first opening its doors in 1972. Famous for serving generously sized octopus pieces encased in a creamy, savory batter, the shop’s takoyaki stands out for its rich texture and distinctively tangy, house-made sauce.
Unlike many Osaka restaurants serving takoyaki, mayonnaise is never used, allowing the original flavours to take center stage. Honke Ootako’s nostalgic stall offers both takeout and a simple dine-in area, with locals and tourists often queueing for a taste of this world-famous street food. The menu is straightforward—takoyaki available in three portion sizes—alongside classic Osaka comfort foods such as okonomiyaki, yakisoba and kushikatsu.
Hokkyokusei
Hokkyokusei is a historic and beloved Western-style restaurant in Osaka, established in 1922 and located in the Shinsaibashi area near Dotonbori. It is famously known as the birthplace of omurice, a popular Japanese dish combining omelet and rice. The story goes that in 1925, the founder created the dish by wrapping seasoned ketchup rice with a thin, soft omelet to diversify the menu for a regular customer with a weak stomach. Hokkyokusei’s main restaurant features traditional sukiya-style wooden architecture built in 1950, evoking a serene, nostalgic atmosphere.
Takoume
Takoume is Osaka’s oldest and most traditional oden restaurant, established in 1844 and located in the vibrant Dotonbori district. Renowned for its authentic Kanto-style oden, it offers a refined yet unpretentious dining experience cherished by locals, writers, and celebrities alike. The restaurant is famous for its signature dishes like their Kanto-ni, an oden stew, along with whale meat preparations and candied octopus called tako kanroni, all simmered in a rich, meticulously layered dashi broth. With a cosy, intimate atmosphere, Takoume maintains a traditional style where the chef focuses on the simmering pot without much direct interaction, providing an authentic taste of Osaka's historic culinary culture.
Endo Sushi
Endo Sushi is an institution at the Osaka's Central Fish Market.
Endo Sushi is a historic and beloved sushi restaurant located in Osaka's Central Fish Market, with a legacy spanning over 100 years since its founding in 1907. Known especially for its unique "tsukami sushi" technique, where toppings rest delicately on lightly grasped, still-warm rice that gently falls apart in the mouth, Endo Sushi offers an authentic and traditional sushi experience. The counter-only setup serves a limited menu of carefully selected seasonal sushi pieces, including premium cuts like toro and anago, with a refreshing simplicity and fresh seafood sourced directly from the market.
These Osaka restaurants haven’t lasted this long by chance. Their consistency, quality and respect for tradition keep them relevant in a city that constantly reinvents itself. If you're planning a trip, consider adding one or two of these spots to your itinerary—not just for the food but to experience a piece of Osaka's living history. These Osaka restaurants are easy to access, reasonably priced and a reliable way to connect with the city beyond the usual tourist trail.
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