[Osaka Gourmet. Japan] Top 3 Must-Eat Dishes in Osaka

(1) Cafe & Pancake Gram's limited edition "Premium Pancake" is available for purchase.

Osaka is the birthplace of Cafe & Pancake Gram, so you can't visit without making a pilgrimage to try their signature "Premium Pancake". I don't believe it, but this is the first time I've had this limited edition muffin after a few visits to the branch. The popular Premium Pancake is limited to 60 servings per day, and is available at three different times of the day: 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00. Weekday afternoons are less crowded, but if you are coming on weekends and holidays, it is best to queue up at least half an hour to one hour in advance.

As it was a less crowded time this time, I didn't need to pick up a number for the chips, so I went straight into the shop and ordered some drinks to take a break. During the waiting period, I heard another table nearby complaining about the long waiting time, but in fact, the muffins are made according to the ordering sequence, so the later you come, the longer the waiting time will be. After about 30 minutes, the long-awaited three-layer bouncy muffin finally appeared. The hemispherical butter slowly melted on the hot muffin, and then drizzled with honey, it was not too sweet and greasy. Each piece of Sofrito muffin is about 1 inch thick, which seems to be a big portion, but the soft and dense texture is actually less saturated than the traditional thin-sliced muffins. Honestly speaking, I think the taste is not as good as what they say, it's just a medium one, there are many others that are better, but it's worth to try it once and compare it with other muffin shops.

(2) "Ajinoya Okonomiyaki" Michelin Recommended Okonomiyaki Restaurant

Whenever I come to Osaka, I have to eat Kansai's famous "Okonomiyaki". This time, my friends and I chose this Michelin recommended "Ajinoya Okonomiyaki", which has a history of over 65 years, amongst the countless other okonomiyaki restaurants in Osaka.

Okonomiyaki is made by pouring a mixture of broth, cabbage, yam and other ingredients onto a hot iron plate and then frying the ingredients of your choice. Each okonomiyaki restaurant has its own secret sauce, which is poured over the okonomiyaki and sprinkled with slices of shibori (wood-fired fish) to make the perfect meal. We chose Kagoshima pork as our choice of ingredient. The Minai family uses less flour, more vegetables and more fillings, so the sweetness of the cabbage and the nine green onions is especially appealing, and with the strong flavour of the pork, the overall taste is not too greasy. The inside was soft and the bottom was fried to a nice crisp, and with a little mayonnaise, wasabi and Minotti's rich okonomiyaki soy sauce, I thought it was a good meal. In addition to the authentic flavour, you can also enjoy the professional frying skills of the restaurant's chef. Last but not least, we ordered some grilled scallops, green chillies and mushrooms, which were also very fresh and tasty.

(3) "Fishing Tea House" - Taste the fish you have caught yourself!

Usually you go to Japan for shopping and gourmet, but have you ever thought of fishing in Japan? Actually, it's not difficult at all. Let's introduce you to this interesting "Fishing Tea House". This is a restaurant where you can enjoy fishing and tasting your own catch even in the middle of the city. The restaurant originated in Fukuoka, Kyushu, and there are several branches in Kanto and Kansai, so my friends and I went to the Namba branch, which is close to Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori.

The seating area in the lobby is set up in two large wooden boats, and the pool next to them is filled with delicious fish, making it feel like you're fishing in the ocean. There is also a room for fishing, but the fishing area is narrow and it is difficult to catch fish. There are two types of prices for fish dishes. If you catch the fish yourself and cook it for the restaurant, it's a little cheaper than the normal price, and you only need to pay an extra 100 yen for the bait, and if you borrow a fishing rod, it's free of charge. If someone catches a fish, the staff will clap their hands and beat a drum to warm up the atmosphere. Then you tell the staff how you want to cook it. We caught sea bream and halibut and made sashimi and sushi respectively. You can also choose from tempura, grilled fish, or even two dishes for one fish. You can book a table in advance on the website, which is very convenient.