Jul 23, 2024
DISHcovering Umeda Food and Pub is truly amazing. - The tour is worth the price.
1st stop - We eat at Amafuku Takoyaki. Naniwa’s authentic and not just an ordinary takoyaki. You can taste the rich blended soup stock that is used in making the delicious takoyaki. The owner trained at a store published in the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand. My personal favorite is the plain-original rich dashi taste and soy sauce + mayo flavor.
2nd stop - Kushikatsu Dengana at Umeda Danjo. They have a wide variety of Kushikatsu - from meat, seafood, and vegetables. You should also try their other menu like fried tofu and cream cheese. The price is affordable and the kushikatsu is very delicious. It all goes well with beer and high-ball.
Last stop - Bak bar Umekita (located on the 8th floor of Grand Front Osaka). The place is small and cozy. It’s a stand-style bar with a lot of beer like no other because it’s not the traditional type of beer. They have their own brewing style and use various raw materials. What I like is that you can request to taste the beer that you want to try (tasting before ordering).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 17, 2024
Yummy Japanese food! - It's a great chance to experience the Japanese Izakaya culture. I found it’s interesting that many Japanese salaryman go to this kind of restaurant/bar drinking with their colleagues after work. It would be great to go with friends for sure. The food was delicious, thanks to Nao introducing us such nice places all within walking distance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 17, 2024
Nice! - This is definitely a nice tour to guide you around Osaka-Umeda station. Nao-san, the tour guide will introduce you to many hidden gems in the area. You can explore places with different vibes trying Osaka famous foods. The tour is included for foods. And even though we went to a drinking place, non-alcohol drinks are also available.
Basically, this is not only an eating tour, but also a brief history walk of Osaka station. I wished they also offer eating tour in other places as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 17, 2024
FULL & FUN - Nao is just a cheerful and energetic tour guide showing and sharing us the most iconic and signature gourmets.
Walking with stories of Osaka city, that was so much fun.
The walking tour as well included all these must try Osaka soul food, definitely are all the shops that only local Osakans familiar with.
Full and fun, full with belly as well!
Really a must try experience in Osaka!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 13, 2024
One of the best tours I’ve had since coming to Japan. - Our recent food tour in Osaka was an unforgettable experience that took us on a delightful journey through some of the city's best local eateries. Thanks to our patient and professional tour guide Ms Nao Fujimoto who made it possible. We didnt have any problems in communication since she converses with english very well. Five star to that!
Our first stop was a charming takoyaki store called Naniwa takoyaki whose master chef was a Michellin Bib Gourmand-trained. As we approached, the savory aroma of the octopus-filled dumplings welcomed us. The takoyaki were perfectly crispy on the outside and deliciously gooey on the inside. Watching the skilled vendor expertly flip the takoyaki in their special pans added an authentic touch to the experience. Each bite was a burst of flavor, enhanced by the savory sauce and a sprinkle of bonito flakes.
Next, we ventured to a kushikatsu restaurant called Kushikatsu Dengana where we indulged in a variety of skewered and deep-fried delights. The batter was light and crisp, encasing tender pieces of meat, vegetables, and seafood. The casual, lively atmosphere of the restaurant made it easy to relax and enjoy the meal which we ended with some glasses of beer. Our final stop was a cozy craft beer bar called Bak. The selection of local brews was impressive, featuring a range of styles and flavors. The knowledgeable staff guided us through the options, recommending beers that perfectly matched our tastebuds. I personally like the one that’s called “Apollo one” because of its chocolatey scent. The ambiance was warm and inviting and it was the perfect way to end our culinary tour, sipping on unique and flavorful beers while reflecting on the day's adventures.
Overall, the tour was a good way to explore Osaka's vibrant food scene. Each stop offered a unique taste of local culture and cuisine. We left with full stomachs and fond memories, eager to return and discover more of what this amazing city has to offer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 13, 2024
The greatest food and drink tour in Osaka - This was the greatest food and drink tour I took in Japan. Eriko was very knowledgeable and friendly guide. We enjoyed Japanese-style pub strolling in Umeda, around Osaka Station. Do you think Umeda is just business district? No. We discovered its local history and culture. We won’t forget the day we had excellent food and drink―takoyaki, skewered deep-fried food. The biggest surprise was the combination of craft beer and appetizer. I recommend you should join this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 13, 2024
You'll get good vibes of Osaka Night - This night walk is not just about strolling and drinking; it’s an opportunity to experience Osaka’s history, culture, and also to get to know how locals spend their time. Starting with one of the most popular food in Osaka, takoyaki, moving on to Kushikatsu and other small dishes at an underground izakaya in the city’s buildings. The tour ends with a visit to a stylish food court on the upper floors of a modern facility near JR Osaka station, where we droped by at an amazing craft beer bar. Each shop had its own unique charm and I found them all wonderful. Our guide, ERI, was bright and friendly, providing interesting explanations about local spots in Osaka as we walked. Since it’s a group tour, the fellow guests were also delightful, and we quickly became drinking buddies. Despite being only a 3-hour tour, it was far more meaningful than wandering the streets on my own. I highly recommend this tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 9, 2024
I highly recommandation this night walk. - An excellent day coupled with appreciable culinary discoveries. The people we met were all friendly, which allowed us to have a very good tour guide. Thanks Nao :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 8, 2024
Lots of fun and stress-free. - Our guide Nao brought the 5 of us to a lively arcade street where we sampled 5 different kinds of takoyaki at an outdoor stall, and then took us to a shrine and told us about the star-crossed lovers of some 500 years ago memorialized there. Next she brought us to the basement floor of an office tower complex where we sampled kushikatsu mingling with groups of salary-men, and then through the maze of Umeda to a craft beer spot on a high floor filled with young folk sipping and grazing in a modern-elegant, intimately mood-lit atmosphere, and finally to the peaceful roof garden. All in all, the kind of experience you can’t get by staring at recommendations and trying to follow map directions on your phone or tablet.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 8, 2024
Unforgettable tour experience in Umeda, Osaka - 1st Izakaya- Amafuku, Naniwa Takoyaki
We experienced the best tasting Takoyaki in Osaka! They offered 4 different types of Takoyaki 1. Plain- Original rich Dasui taste 2. Sesame salt 3. Soy sauce mayo 4. Takoyaki soy sauce- my personal favorite is the Plain- Original Takoyaki, best pair with Japanese beer!
2nd Izakaya- Kushikatsu Dengana
The second Izakaya we visited, Japan wonders travel have their own English menu to choose from so it’s very easy and convenient to order if you are a foreigner. They offered one appetizer, 1 order set of kushikatsu (deep- fried skewered meat and vegetables) I tried their seafood set Kushikatsu and graded it 10/10. They also offer 2 drinks for this Izakaya.
3rd Izakaya- Bak Craft Beer Bar
The bar is famous for Japanese salary man so the bar have many customers and almost fully booked when we arrived. They offered 1 free taste choice of beer and 1 personal choice of regular order of crafter beer. I tried option 9 and option 3 (Toki Summer) crafter beer. Best flavored craft beer I experience in Osaka, Japan!
Overall I will grade the whole tour as 10/10, Nao San our Japanese tour guide is very good with her story telling and she will tour you in her personal favorites of Izakayas!
Review provided by Tripadvisor