Top Food to try in Kansai Region (Osaka, Kyoto & Nara)

Kansai region is cities including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe. This region is the second populous are of Japan and also famous for its unique dialect, they called it Kansai-ben. “Sumimasen” (excuse me in Japanese) is pronounced as “Sumimahen” in Kansai-ben or Kansai accent.

Kansai people are also friendly and funny and loud as compared to the people in the Kanto region (Tokyo area). Kansai women also love wearing bright colors and leopard prints and in Japanese, they called it “hade” while people in Tokyo prefer “jimi” plain style.

Let’s look into food for this post and stop comparing the accents and fashion in Kansai.  Okay, these are top street food in Kansai area, do not miss out these while you are traveling to Osaka, Nara, Kyoto & Kobe.

1. Takoyaki

Osaka is the birthplace of Takoyaki so do not miss this iconic street food. Now you can also find takoyaki in the whole of Japan

What is Takoyaki?

Takoyaki is actually octopus ball made of flour-based batter and cooked in a special moded pan. It is typically filled with a small dice octopus (“tako” in Japanese), pickled ginger and green onion. It is also brushed with takoyaki brown sauce and mayonnaise and sprinkled with green seaweed (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito.

• Where: Kuromon Market or Dotonburi (I prefer Dotonburi)
• Cost: 400-500yen (USD 3.55-4.40)
• 4/5 Star

2. Tako Tamago or Octopus Egg 

This would be one of the most interesting street food you may want to try in Kuromon.  There is a little surprise when you bite the baby octopus head, it has a little quail egg stuffed into the head of the grilled octopus.

• Cost 100yen-250yen (USD 0.90-2.20)
• Where: Kuromon Market Osaka
• 3.5/5 star

3. Emperor Crab Legs 

Osaka is the place to eat crab and if you are like me a budget traveler, you can also experience “kani” /crab in a cheaper way. There is no need to queue for the fancy restaurant such as Kani Doraku, instead, you can just grab the crab legs at Kuromom market.

It tastes really juicy and with natural crab flavor.  You can dip with the ponzu sauce provided.

• Cost: 1 leg/pcs 1,500 yen (USD 13.30)
• Where: Kuromon Market Osaka
• 4/5 star

3. Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is another top food in the Kansai!  During the war, there is not enough supply of rice so people used flour and mixed with all type of vegetable to cook something to fill themselves.

Okonomi お好み means “what you like”
Yaki焼き means “grilled”
To combine the two means “grilled what you like”. This means that whatever you wish to have in it you can and put them to grill or cook with the flour. The flour is the key here.

What I love about this dish is you got to DIY your own okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki restaurants usually come with table equipped with an iron griddle (“teppan”).  It is fun to cook the dish in front of you.

• Cost: 550-800 yen (USD 4.95 -7.20)
• Where: Anywhere in Kansai & Hiroshima
• 4/5 star

4. Gyoza Hot Dog

This is a new hotdog hybrid and only available at Dotonbori branch Osaka Osho Gyoza. It combines bread with gyoza/dumpling pot stickers.  Great for people who love bread.

• Cost: 600-2000yen /USD 5.40-18.00) (depend on the size)
• Where: Dotonbori Branch Osaka Osho Gyoza
• 3/5 star

5. Gyoza

Japanese gyoza is slightly different from the Chinese potstickers or Jianzi. The wrappers for Japanese gyoza are thinner and filling is more finely textured.

• Cost: 300-600yen (USD 2.70-5.40)
• Where: Osho Gyoza Osaka

6. Kobe Beef

Kobe beef if well-known worldwide and also is the top grade of beef in Japan. it is superior flavor, tenderness which melts in your mouth. Kobe beef is not wagyu beef. Wagyu means Japanese breed cow and can be anywhere within Japan. Kobe beef is raised in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture according to rules set.

Kobe beef is luxury and can be very expensive so be prepared to spend some money.

• Cost: 75000 yen (USD 68) for a 250g steak
• 4/5 Star

7. Soya Bean Milk 120-200yen (USD 1.10-1.80)

One of the popular items sold in Kuromon Furusato No Kaori is soya bean milk. It tasted similar to what we have in Singapore, except richer, smoother and less sugar. Available in cold and warm. Furusato No Kaori translates as “the fragrance of hometown”. Pretty healthy.

• 120-200yen (USD 1.10-1.80)
• Where: Kuromon Market Furusato No Kaori
• Star: 3.5/5