Street food heaven in Japan’s food capital

Sample a myriad of classics like okonomiyaki pancakes and takoyaki octopus balls, before trying local favorites like deep-fried kushikatsu and tonpeiyaki omelets. Your journey will be peppered with your guide’s all-time favorite street food stalls and izakaya, and along the way they’ll introduce you to hormon, grilled tripe that’s so good, you won’t care what it is, and when you’re ready for the next level, you can bite the bullet and chow down on shirako, fish semen that locals enjoy with pure glee! Endo Sushi serves up warm sushi with a twist, bought fresh from the Central Wholesale Market next door, and you’ll discover that liquor stores often hide secret tapas joints – it all goes down real easy with craft sake and beer on tap!

There’s a reason Osaka is known as the Nation’s Kitchen, but a more honest description is that it’s a ‘kuidaore city,’ which means to ruin yourself by indulging in food! Sounds good, right? Our hosts live that philosophy and know the best and most unexpected places to get your street food fix in Namba, the wildly frenetic entertainment district, and Dōtombori, its canalside neighbor, where even animatronic crabs and neon lights aren’t enough to distract you from the food! Osakan street food needs to abide by one rule, and one rule only: it has to be well-priced, and your host is an expert at checking out the best. It won’t be long before you’re cheering “kanpai” with the locals in a standing tachinomiya bar!