Osaka is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Japan and a major economic powerhouse in the Kansai region. The city is also famous for its diverse business and tourism activities. In particular, Osaka is renowned for its tourist attractions and delicious street food, earning it the nickname "Kitchen of Japan."

You can find a variety of authentic Japanese cuisine here, making Osaka a popular destination for culinary tours among foreign tourists. If you're visiting during the holidays, try some of street food in Osaka. Remember to plan your best trip to Osaka only with Traveloka!

One of the best street foods in Osaka is takoyaki. Takoyaki is a batter ball fried filled with octopus, spring onion, and pickled ginger. The name takoyaki means grilling.

When served, takoyaki is sprinkled with mayonnaise and sweet sauce. Usually, takoyaki is eaten as a snack. Besides octopus, you can also eat takoyaki with tempura filling. You can also eat takoyaki with other side dishes or rice.

It is easy to find takoyaki because various street foods in Osaka are served on this menu. One of the most famous street foods is Dotonbori Osaka. The price of a serving of takoyaki is around SGD 2 to SGD 5.

The other best street food to try in Osaka is yakiniku. Yakiniku means Japanese-style grilled meat or barbecue. In addition, yakiniku refers to the style of cooking meat with a bite-size or a tablespoon.

Usually, yakiniku uses beef or chicken served with vegetables and various sauces. You can eat yakiniku with rice and other side dishes such as tamago, omelet, and sesame sprinkles. You can buy one serving of yakiniku for SGD 12 to SGD 15.

We also recommend you try okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese teppanyaki, a savory pancake made from wheat flour. With the dough, there is a mixture of cabbage, meat, seafood, dried seaweed, katsuobushi, and pickled ginger.

Okonomiyaki will later be served with Japanese mayonnaise and other toppings according to taste. You can find okonomiyaki at various street foods in Osaka and street food on every corner of Osaka. A serving of okonomiyaki costs around SGD 5 to SGD 8.

Want to try seafood in Osaka? Try ikayaki. Ikayaki is one of the most popular fast foods in Japan. In general, ikayaki is made from grilled squid. Squid is grilled simply with soy sauce topping. The term ikayaki refers to the meaning of Japanese-style squid pancakes.

You will enjoy the squid intact without the entrails. Ikayaki will be arranged by cutting rings or tentacles, depending on the size of the squid. During Japanese festivals, ikayaki is served in many izakayas and grilled tentacles. Usually, ikayaki is also served with eggs baked together and placed in the squid's stomach.

If you're spending your summer vacation in Osaka, don't forget to try kakigori, a delicious dessert. This treat dates back to the Heian period when ice blocks were stored for months and then shredded. Nowadays, shaved ice is served with sweet syrup and is a popular summer treat.

Kakigori can be served with various toppings such as fruits, syrups, chocolates, candies, and other toppings, it can be adjusted to your taste. One Kakigori is usually enough for two people to share, costing around SGD 2 to SGD 4 per glass.

You should also try kushikatsu while in Osaka. Kushikatsu is a meat or vegetable dish cut into one tablespoon. Kushikatsu originated in Shinsekai in Osaka and is found in many food markets and restaurants.

Usually, Kushikatsu contains meat, fish, onions, lotus root, shiitake mushrooms, green peppers, and eggplant. The meat can also be replaced with pork, beef, shrimp, or octopus. Some restaurants usually serve Kushikatsu with fried fruit to whet the appetite.

Still trying to figure out what to eat in Osaka? You can try Taiyaki. Taiyaki is a Japanese-style fish-shaped cake. Taiyaki is found in many food markets and street food. Generally, Taiyaki contains red bean paste made from sweet adzuki beans.

However, Taiyaki can contain pudding, sweet potato, cheese, chocolate, and other fillings. Some food markets sell taiyaki with okonomiyaki with gyoza or sausage filling. In addition, taiyaki is made using a fish-shaped pancake maker—a serving of taikayi costs around SGD 2.

Dango is one of Japan's most popular foods. This sweet rice dumpling is mixed with uruchi rice and glutinous rice flour. And it is usually moon-shaped and served on skewers. One skewer will contain three to five dango.

In addition, dango belongs to the wagashi category and is served with green tea. There are various types of dango that you can try, namely anko dango, which uses sweet bean paste, and cha dango, which uses green tea. Goma dango is covered with sesame paste, kibi dango is made from millet flour, and many more. You will pay around SGD 5 per serving.

You can also try Senbei. This is one of the best street foods to try in Osaka. These are rice crackers or crackers made from Japanese-style rice. Senbei usually comes in various sizes, flavors, and shapes according to taste.

Usually, Senbei is eaten as a snack and served with green tea. In Japan, Senbei is served to guests as a courtesy refreshment. In addition, senbei is usually made by baking, sweetening, or fried.

There are various variations of Senbei serving, such as atsuyaki and usuyaki senbei, nori senbei wrapped in dried seaweed, satou senbei sprinkled with sugar, nure senbei covered with soy sauce, and senbei shrimp made from potatoes and shrimp.

Another Osaka food is Yakiimo. This is a roasted sweet potato that is widely served in winter. This is because the texture of Yakiimo is tender, creamy, and sweet – especially when served warm and fresh from the oven.

Not only winter, yakiimo is also sometimes eaten as an autumn snack to evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgic memories of the past. The price of a serving of yakiimo in Osaka is around SGD 2 to SGD 4.

Who doesn't know dorayaki? Dorayaki is Doraemon's favorite food. Dorayaki is one of the Japanese foods in the form of pancakes made from castella filled with sweet azuki bean paste.

In general, dorayaki consists of only one layer. The form has existed since 1914. Now Dorayaki is served thicker with more fillings. You can also eat dorayaki with chocolate or cheese filling – according to taste. You can buy a serving of dorayaki for SGD 2.

Breakfast in Japan can be started with a tamagoyaki meal. Tamagoyaki means grilled egg or Japanese-style omelet made by rolling several layers of omelet. Usually, tamagoyaki is prepared in a rectangular omelet pot called makiyakinabe.

There are several types of tamagoyaki that you can try. In addition to eggs, there is also a mixture of soy sauce and mirin to add flavor. Another alternative to tamagoyaki is adding dashi, dried bonito broth, seaweed, shredded mountain yam, sake, and shrimp puree mix. You can choose everything according to your taste.

While in Osaka don't forget to try the Imagawayaki dessert. It is a dessert that is often found in Japan - especially during festivals. Imagawayaki is made from dough in a special pan.

In the mixture it is filled with sweet azuki bean paste, vanilla pudding, fruit pudding, curry, meat, vegetables, potatoes, and or mayonnaise. Imagawayaki stuffing can be customized to suit individual tastes. Usually, imagawayaki is eaten cold – a few minutes after the main meal. The price of a serving of Imagawayaki is around SGD 3.

Another food that you must try while in Osaka is Anmitsu. Anmitsu is a Japanese dessert that originally appeared in the Meiji era. This food is made of small cube-shaped gelatin, white translucent jelly of red algae.

Usually, anmitsu is served in a bowl with anko, syrup, and sweet azuki bean paste. You can also add boiled peas, fruits, mikan, and gyuhu. Anmitsu is generally eaten with a spoon and fork.

Udon is an icon of Japan – thick noodles made from wheat flour. Now udon is served with various variations, toppings, and flavors. The most common in Osaka is udon with soup or kake udon served with light broth. The broth is made from dashi, soy sauce, and a refreshing lookalike.

Udon is usually served with sliced meat, spring onion, shrimp tempura, abura age or sweet fried tofu bags, sliced fish cake, and shichimi seasoning. Other variations include stir-fried yaki udon, katsu udon, curry udon, and many more. Udon is also sometimes served without soup with a variety of toppings.

Those are some of the best street foods in Osaka, Japan. You can find them all at various food markets, restaurants, and street food in every corner of Osaka. Culinary tours will complete your vacation while in Osaka. You can plan your trip to Osaka by booking a hotel room and flight tickets through Traveloka.

Explore further detailed recommendations about Japan:

17 Must-Try Osaka Delicacies You Can't Miss

7D6N Osaka Itinerary: A Complete Guide for Singaporean Travelers