Dotonbori: What to Eat in Osaka’s Entertainment & Street Food District

One of the most featured destinations in Osaka, Dotonbori is a busy dining, shopping and entertainment district stretching through the heart of the downtown Namba area.

Dotonbori is both the name of the canal and the street running parallel along the waterway, filled with hundreds of street food stalls and busy restaurants. It is considered to be the main spot in Osaka for kuidaore, which loosely translates to “eating yourself into financial (and physical) ruin.” It’s also the best place in Osaka to get entertainment, shopping, nightlife and quality Kansai street food, all in one bustling hub.

When night falls, the glimmer of neon lights and the glistening water of the canal give an atmosphere of nostalgia and excitement, with plenty of nightlife venues and bars open till the early hours of the morning. 

Here are some of the absolute must-try street foods in Dotonbori for any foodie:

Egg tarts from Andrew’s Eggtart Dotonbori Honten are absolutely delicious as a bite-sized dessert! These Western-style sweets are made of round, flaky pastry cups filled with soft, oozing egg custard and cream. You can get all sorts of flavors, including matcha green tea (with red azuki beans and black kuromitsu syrup), chestnut, strawberry, apple cinnamon, chocolate and more!

The store is named after a man named Andrew who lived in Macau, where the flagship store originated from. It’s located directly across from the landmark Shochikuza Kabuki Theater. 

Head to Kani Doraku Dotombori Honten, the giant crab store that’s brimming with Dotonbori crab products and souvenirs! Here, you can pick up all kinds of crab-themed snacks to take home like kanisenbei (crab rice crackers) and specialty crab sukiyaki hotpot kits that include tiny carrots cut into the shape of crabs!

To eat on the go, you can try nigiri (individual sushi pieces) and makizushi (rolled sushi), to name a few. Taste a specialty rectangular crab sushi that’s neatly tucked away into a bento box, or dine in at the crab restaurant for an immersive dining experience in Dotonbori! 

Takoyaki are pan-fried balls of batter that are filled with octopus pieces, cooked individually on a special griddle with rounded indents. It’s known as a quintessential Osaka food or Kansai street food. However, at Dotonbori Kukuru you can try akashiyaki, which is the lesser-known cousin of takoyaki.

Akashiyaki are similarly ball-shaped bites of batter with octopus inside, that originated in the neighboring Hyogo Prefecture's Kobe area (famous for Kobe beef). The difference is that akashiyaki uses a batter that is eggier and oozing, and rather than being slathered with sauce like takoyaki, akashiyaki is dipped in a clear dashi (fish-based broth). It has a softer texture and is full of octopus flavor. 

Candied fruit is a popular street sweet in Japan, and you can try it at Taro’s Parlor. Named after Dotonbori’s mascot, “Kuidaore Taro,” this shop sells iconic candied fruit towers on a stick! The sugar shell around the fruit makes it look almost icy, and the sticks come with a lucky four-leaf clover. They’re an easy Japanese street food to enjoy as you wander through Dotonbori. 

Osaka Ohsho is a famous gyoza dumpling chain that started out in Osaka but now has many stores throughout Japan. These oversized potstickers are definitely a must-eat Dotonbori food! Get some pork and cabbage gyoza packaged up in a signature box and enjoy with a dash of gyoza dare (a dumpling sauce made of soy sauce, chili oil, and vinegar). The inside of the dumplings are juicy and one side is always fried to crispy perfection! 

For more Osaka travel inspiration, discover the best street food in Osaka, like the famous takoyaki octopus balls and okonomiyaki savory cabbage pancakes!