583185 Sat Dec 27 18:04:01 -0800 2008 13 45 Japan 0 4276698 I will be at Osaka for a few days in mid January. Are there any recommendation for sushi and ramen ? Or any other recommendation for good food ? Has anyone been to the Osaka No.1 ranking ramen "弥七" of Tabelog ? I will stay near ShinSaiBashi, so probably I will go to places not too far off from there. Thanks in advance ! Sat Dec 27 18:04:01 -0800 2008 62525 skylineR33 1 4280528 In Namba, there's this places that has AMAZING Japanese cheesecake, if you didn't like them before, this is the one to change your mind! ...and if you do like Japanese Cheesecakes this will spoil you for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!! Mon Dec 29 12:44:08 -0800 2008 4276698 212885 AngelSanctuary 1 4290997 Loved the ramen at Ippudo - I think it's in Namba. Watch out for long lines outside the door at lunch time, though. Fri Jan 02 16:59:40 -0800 2009 4276698 12383 Nyleve 2 4291004 Thanks for suggestion, AngelSanctuary and Nyleve. However, I have tried Ippudo before and it is great, so I am looking for something else this time. Fri Jan 02 17:01:44 -0800 2009 4290997 62525 skylineR33 3 4291010 Was just about to post that it's in Umeda, not Namba. But have fun wherever you go! Fri Jan 02 17:04:07 -0800 2009 4291004 12383 Nyleve 1 4291233 I've only been to a few places in Osaka recently, as I don't spend much time there. I guess I'd recommend the following: The roll cakes at Mon Chou Chou are pretty incredible compared to other places! 楽々 and 釜竹 for うどん. Maybe someone has some recent good recommendations for okonomiyaki as well... Fri Jan 02 18:57:18 -0800 2009 4276698 202405 tjr 2 4292145 Thanks, 釜竹 and 楽々 look good as they are rank 1 and 2 on Tabelog for udon, but does not seems that easy accessible. I would like to give it a try if possible. How long will it take to get to 釜竹 from Osaka Minami and any recommendation how to get there ? Sat Jan 03 07:54:01 -0800 2009 4291233 62525 skylineR33 3 4292476 They'd both be a bit of a hike, I think (probably over an hour by transit). For うどん you might want to make a side trip anyways. 焼肉の金海 is pretty close, and is a pretty good deal for yakiniku. The last sushi I ate in Osaka was at 多田, which is close, but you may want to avoid it if you're also going to Tokyo. The シャコ (don't miss it, if you go) and sardines were the best part of the meal there. Overall it was pretty good. You may also want to try 鼈鍋 (turtle nabe) while you're there (perhaps someone could suggest a place), since it's something you won't be able to find in Toronto! Sat Jan 03 10:11:36 -0800 2009 4292145 202405 tjr 1 4293361 I highly recommend Hibiki for sushi--much better than Tukiji. http://www.hibiki.jp/index.html The young owner/chef has traveled across the US so he might speak some English. His blog has lots of pic of fish. (He trained in Tsukiji many yrs ago.) http://hibikishi.exblog.jp/ They serve Shiro-ebi (white shrimp) from Toyama, which I had never eaten anywhere else. Absolutely delicious. Their hikarimono (samma, saba, kohada, etc.) were all good. Their tsubu-gai was huge. It's near Nagahori and you can walk from Shinsaibashi. It's on the second floor of a small building and very hard to find. You might need a Japanese-speaking person to find this place. http://r.gnavi.co.jp/k306200/map1.htm My local business associate is a long-time patron of this place and I don't know why she took me to all other so-so places but Hibiki until a few months ago. Sat Jan 03 16:32:40 -0800 2009 4276698 51639 kuidaore 1 4293435 As for ramen, you know Yashichi is at Nakatsu--one station north of Umeda, though you can walk from Umeda. When I walked by in Oct, there was a huge line. I tried Ippudo in Umeda, but I thought their ramen was just ok. So did my local friend. Neither of us will go back. My favorite ramen place in Osaka is good old Kinryu (tonkotsu soup, but not heavy). I know it doesn't rank high on Tabelog or AskU, but I think it's much better than Ippudo, Jangara or whatever that ranks high on those lists. Sat Jan 03 17:10:51 -0800 2009 4276698 51639 kuidaore 2 4293455 Thanks kuidaore, I definitely have to try Yashichi and the sushi place you suggest looks good too! Sat Jan 03 17:19:20 -0800 2009 4293435 62525 skylineR33 1 4293510 No, but I actually plan to go to sushi places around Umeda and 北新地 this time, as from my understanding, there are many good sushi places around 北新地 area. Sat Jan 03 17:51:34 -0800 2009 4293489 62525 skylineR33 2 4293881 My client in Osaka entertains his clients here. http://www.sushiden.co.jp/kokei_kenzan/kokei_kenzan.html There are several locations, but he goes to this one--Shih Kenzan in Kita-Shinchi http://www.sushiden.co.jp/kokei_kenzan/tmap119.gif They have a couple of locations in NYC, too, and the Manhattan board reviews seem positive. http://www.sushiden.com/ I won't go anywhere but Hibiki in Osaka anymore, though ;-) Sat Jan 03 21:00:12 -0800 2009 4293510 51639 kuidaore 3 4302646 Great ! Thanks. Tue Jan 06 19:28:30 -0800 2009 4293881 62525 skylineR33