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Chic . Explore . ThinkerTen

My Style ~ My Journey ~ My Inspiration

Food ReviewsJapanTravel

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

by kumamonjeng August 23, 2019
written by kumamonjeng August 23, 2019
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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dotonboriEmperor Crab LegsFurusato No KaoriGyoza Hot DogJapan's Hyogo PrefectureKansai accentKansai-benKobe BeefkuromonKyoto & Nara)OkonomiyakiOsaka TakoyakiOsho Gyoza Osakapot stickersTako Tamago or Octopus EggTop Food to try in Kansai Region (Osakawagyu beef
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17 comments

Thefashionhousemom September 4, 2019 - 1:04 pm

Wow! So many interesting street foods. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Elizabeth Keene September 4, 2019 - 8:54 pm

I’m way too tempted to visit a japanese restaurant right now. Takoyaki is absolutely delicious – can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve had some.

Reply
Norma September 5, 2019 - 3:49 am

All the food looks delicious. I would love to try japanese gyoza as it is slightly different from the Chinese potstickers. I would like to see if I can taste that the wrappers for Japanese gyoza are thinner and filling is more finely textured.

Reply
Valerie September 5, 2019 - 6:43 am

yummy . Am being tempted to take a trip to Japan to visit their restaurants. Kobe beef I would love to try that as a lover of meat.

Reply
briebrieblooms September 5, 2019 - 11:58 am

Street food in this area of the world is so intriguing. Awesome details here, I’d love to visit this part of the world.

Reply
Ashley Rollins September 5, 2019 - 12:00 pm

I love traveling just so that I can try new food. Those huge crab legs look so amazing. I’ve always wanted to go on a street food adventure!

Reply
IG:Suetanyamchorgh (@suetanyamchorgh) September 5, 2019 - 12:59 pm

Wow, thanks for this list of top foods to try in Kansai. The Kobe Beef looks really tasty.

Reply
Kara (@ChelseaMamma) September 5, 2019 - 2:55 pm

I have heard that street food is amazing in the far east. I will get to try it one day

Reply
missfirestar September 5, 2019 - 8:16 pm

I love seafood! This looks so good! Thank you for sharing 😉

Reply
Yeah Lifestyle September 5, 2019 - 9:08 pm

You have just made my mouth water as I love most of the food here from the Kobe Beef to the soy milk to the Gyoza.

Reply
Jasmine - LoveLifeLaughMotherhood September 5, 2019 - 11:11 pm

wow, this all looks delicious! great guide for travelers!

Reply
Catherine Santiago Jose September 6, 2019 - 8:43 am

I love everything you’ve mentioned but definitely Takoyaki and a Soy Bean will be a good choice for me. Delicious!

Reply
Eli, The Partying Traveler September 6, 2019 - 2:56 pm

I’m way too hungry to be reading this blog post right now. All of this looks amazing and I can’t wait to try some of these some day!

Reply
Marianne Nambu September 6, 2019 - 5:22 pm

Nice selection here, those crab legs got me salivating already. I look forward to having those, lol thanks

Reply
Lisa September 7, 2019 - 6:23 am

I love Japanese food in general so this is a dream for me. The hot dog and the pancake look insanely delicious!

Reply
alexandra cook September 7, 2019 - 7:51 am

I want to visit Japan so badly. It would be such a beautiful place and these pictures really showcase that. Also, the food looks so amazing!!!

Reply
dearmummyblog September 7, 2019 - 6:59 pm

We love Japanese gyoza but never travel outside the UK to sample it! Sounds amazing!

Reply

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I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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