Best Food Near Osaka Castle: Where to Eat & What to Try

Known as “the nation’s kitchen,” Osaka is a must-visit for its dazzling nightlife, unique culture and unparalleled cuisine. In fact, people come here explicitly for kuidaore, a Japanese concept that roughly translates to eating till you drop (or spend all your money). 

If you’re visiting the city, you’ll likely make a stop at Osaka Castle, the centerpiece of Osaka and a key player in the unification of Japan back in the 16th century. After you’re done walking through history at this famous location, it’s time to eat. 

So without any further ado, here are some of the best restaurants and cafes near Osaka Castle.

Mentioned in the Michelin Guide Osaka 2024, it’s safe to say that this restaurant should be on everyone’s radar, and that's why it's first on our list (even if it's 25 minutes away from Osaka Castle). 

Why is Yakitori Matsuoka so popular, you might ask? For one, the head chef, Matsuoka Hiroki, has four years of experience working abroad, enabling him to master English as well as his cooking.

But more importantly, the chicken skewers served here are the best in central Osaka. Kurou jidori chicken is one of Kagoshima Prefecture’s specialties, and Matsuoka uses this exclusively in his kitchen. Highlighting the flavor is the use of top-quality white charcoal, infusing a smokiness into each bite. 

For an upscale izakaya (Japanese pub) experience, you can’t do better than Nagahori Izakaya. Here, chef-owner Shigeo Nakamura serves a multi-course menu, explaining the significance of each component as the dishes are brought to you. 

Through his food, he bonds everyone in the restaurant, and his dedication to creating a warm environment is evident throughout the service.

The recommended omakase course includes marinated eggplant, seven kinds of sashimi, crab croquettes, shabu-shabu, and more. Special requests can also be accommodated, so don’t be afraid to ask! 

Craving French food with a view but don’t have much left over in the budget? Cross the river from Osaka Castle and enter Dans le Ciel for a French lunch menu starting at just ¥900 per person.

This is a small, 10-seat restaurant, allowing for an intimate experience with just one man cooking and taking care of the restaurant. Despite its size, it remains popular enough that you can expect to wait an hour or so unless you make a reservation. 

From a delicious pumpkin soup and salad to unforgettable mains such as breaded chicken and a light sorbet for dessert, Dans le Ciel offers affordable French food with views of Osaka Castle if you manage to snag the right seats. 

Through its “wall of windows,” Sky Lounge bar boasts panoramic nighttime views of Osaka Castle, lighting up the city in illuminated form. Have a cocktail or two as you take in the beautiful skyline of Osaka from 5 pm to 11 pm. 

For a daytime view that’s equally as pleasant, you can visit from 12 to 4 pm, when both the Sky Lounge Bar on the 18th floor and the Castle bar on the first floor transform into cafes, allowing you to dine in style with a great view. 

Reservations for both can be made on their website. 

If you’re a fan of Kanto-style unagi eel from Tokyo but find yourself in Osaka, there’s only one thing to do: eat at Unagi Nishihara. 

The difference between the two styles? Kanto-style involves steaming and grilling by opening the fish at the back, whereas Kansai-style involves slicing at the belly and going straight to the grill. 

Just east of Osaka Castle Park, you can have a slice of Kanto-style right in Kansai, with each eel prepared for you. Trust us, the wait is worth it, and the juicy cuts of unagi are surprisingly affordable.

Tokumasa Udon might be closer to Osaka Castle, but the lines are often too long to brave. For quicker access to delicious curry udon (and other udon dishes), go a little further to Udon Saketodon Ichifuku, still only a 10-minute stroll from the southwestern corner of Osaka Castle Park. 

Its most beloved dish, curry udon, is slow-cooked, with topping options you won’t want to pass up: an onsen egg, delicate beef and butter, slowly melting into the already rich curry. 

Note: Udon Saketodon Ichifuku is only open for lunch from 11 am to 2 pm, so don’t miss your chance to try a bowl of udon goodness!

Okonomiyaki is one of Osaka’s signature dishes and a rite of passage for those visiting Osaka. Head to the second-floor restaurant of Okonomiyaki Goeimon for an authentic okonomiyaki experience and conversations with the friendly locals, located only a 20-minute walk from Osaka Castle itself. 

This cozy bar area serves Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with crispy soba noodles and various topping options, including pork belly, egg, mentaiko (pollock roe) and more. As a bonus, you’ll get to watch the chef grill your meal right in front of you.

Note that the menu is only available in Japanese, but you can use Google Translate’s scanning function to read through the menu. 

Waiting for you only moments from the exit of Osaka Castle Station, there’s Tully’s Coffee and Starbucks, both offering a selection of tried and trusted drinks and light dishes, including sandwiches, wraps, toasties and a variety of sweet treats.

Much like everywhere else in Japan, these chains have menus that change with the seasons, pouring cherry blossom-flavored delights in the spring and pumpkin spice lattes in the fall. 

Note: Public spaces in Japan often don’t have a place to throw away your trash, so you may want to relax in these cafes until you’ve finished or take your drink for a walk around the park before returning to dispose of the cup.

For those craving a taste of home or delicious vegan and vegetarian food, Asakara Good Store will be something of an oasis for you, only a 15-minute walk from the southernmost edge of Osaka Castle Park. 

This cafe takes elements of American diners and dresses up vegan cuisine with Japanese seasonings and ingredients, whether it be burgers, sandwiches, salads, smoothie bowls or desserts. 

If you’re bringing along some meat-eating friends, not to worry — they also serve ethically sourced meat dishes. 

Enjoy breakfast, lunch or snacks inside the store or on the go. Perhaps you’ll want to slurp on one of their delicious milkshakes while strolling through Osaka Castle Park?

Lucky enough to be based inside Osaka Castle Park, Hysteric Jam is where you go for a sweet pick-me-up after walking around Osaka Castle and its surrounding gardens.

You can get everything you could ever want in a crepe, from the classic — chocolate, cream and fruit — to the more luxurious — featuring fillings of tiramisu, creme brulee and beyond. With a selection of hot, cold, sweet and savory crepes on offer, there really is something for every taste and every season.

Few things are as nostalgic and representative of Osaka as Uncle Rikuro’s cheesecakes. Soft, fluffy, and made with cream cheese flown in from Denmark, these desserts are a winner for every crowd. 

However, we have to admit that Uncle Rikuro’s famous cheesecakes aren’t that close to Osaka Castle, hence it’s “bonus” status. Still, they are an iconic Osaka dessert that you need to try while you’re in the area, and you’re only about 30 minutes away by train from their main branch in Namba.

Once you see how they jiggle as the chefs box them up for visitors, emblazoned with a stamp of Uncle Rikuro himself on top, you’ll realise it was worth the trip.

Take a 7-inch (16 cm) round cake home with you for just ¥965, or dig into your slice at the cafe on the second floor. 

Hungry for more content on Osaka’s tastiest food? Check out these blog posts below for the best restaurants, what to eat in Osaka, food tours to try and things to do in Dotonbori, Osaka’s most famous nightlife spot.

If you love Japanese castles and history, then absolutely it's worth paying to go into Osaka Castle. However, if you're happy to snap a few pictures from outside and admire Osaka Castle Park, there's more than enough to see or do without ever going inside.

Including Osaka Castle Park, it's recommended to set aside around two to three hours to fully enjoy Osaka Castle. This gives you enough time to walk around the park, soak up the castle's rich history and maybe even stop for a bite to eat or a coffee in the park's many cafes and eateries.

Well, after exploring Osaka Castle and its beautiful park, there's also the Osaka Museum of History nearby. Or, if you're ready for an electric atmosphere and Osaka's best street food, head to the vibrant Dotonbori area.

Osaka is best known for food like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen and kushikatsu. While you're in the area, do your best to try them all — you won't regret it!