OSAKA

Dotonbori Street Food: What to Eat in Dotonbori

By Lucy Baker
Updated: November 29, 2024

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.

Video: Here's a sneak peak at the delicious street food you'll find in Dotonbori

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. 

Street foods to eat in Dotonbori, Osaka

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

1. Takoyaki - Takoyaki Juhachiban

Guests lining up at night at the Dotonbori shop Takoyaki Juhachiban

Arguably the most famous street food in Japan, takoyaki’s history is rooted in Osaka, having been created there in the 1930’s. Today, you can find the piping-hot battered balls of octopus at various street vendors throughout Dotonbori. Creamy, chewy and intensely flavorful, if you have to choose just one street food to try, takoyaki is a great choice.   

If you want something more unique, Takoyaki Juhachiban serves the fried octopus balls with tenkasu (crispy tempura bits), which adds a satisfying crunch.   

2. Kushikatsu - Kushikatsu Daruma

A tray of various kushikatsu at the Dotonbori restaurant Kushikatsu Daruma

Kushikatsu (also known as kushiage) is another classic Dotonbori street food originating in Osaka. Ingredients like meat, vegetables, eggs and even cheese are skewered, battered and fried to crispy goodness. Served alongside a tangy tonkatsu sauce, they are a delicious indulgence and pair perfectly with beer or sake. 

The most well-known spot to grab some of these fried skewers is Kushikatsu Daruma, easily recognizable by the striking angry face that adorns the front of the building.

3. Melon Pan - Melon Bread

Holding melon pan with green tea ice cream inside while walking along a Japanese street at night

Melon pan is a popular Japanese pastry with a soft, fluffy inside, cookie-like exterior and, of course, the flavors of melon throughout. Melon Bread, a popular shop in Dotonbori, is known for putting a scoop of ice cream inside their melon pan, effectively making it an ice-cream sandwich. 

You can choose the regular vanilla flavor or switch things up with strawberry or green tea varieties. 

4. Crab - Kani Doraku

Huge crab sign outside of Kani Doraku Dotombori Honten

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. 

5. Egg tart - Andrew's Eggtart 

Two egg tarts from Andrew’s Eggtart Dotonbori Honten in Osaka

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!

Tiny shop with a sign that reads Andrew’s Eggtart in Japanese

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. 

6. Akashiyaki - Dotonbori Kukuru

A tray of Akashiyaki, pan-grilled balls of batter

Takoyaki are known as the quintessential Osaka 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. 

7. Candied fruit - Taro’s Parlor

Candied strawberries from a cute-looking food stall in Tokyo,Japan

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. 

Note: Taro’s Parlor is temporarily closed for renovations and will reopen in the spring of 2025.

8. Gyoza - Osaka Ohsho

Gyoza on a plate

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! 

Where to try Dontonbori’s street food

Snack on takoyaki and kushikatsu in Dotonbori’s back alleys

Various kushikatsu on a tray

It can be hard to escape the main street of Dotonbori, where huge crowds are waiting to enter popular eateries. In this food tour, walk through some of the area’s back alleys, which have delicious foods and local secrets to find. 

Sample takoyaki and kushikatsu, two of Dotonbori’s most famous street foods. You’ll also check out local bars and an izakaya as you discover a side of the Dotonbori that many people miss.

Explore Dotonbori’s food scene during the day

Holding a tray of takoyaki with the Dotonbori river in the background

Dotonbori is known for its neon-lit streets and energetic nightlife once the sun goes down. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting during the day, though. In this daytime food tour, you’ll walk the bustling streets of Dotonbori and explore the street food scene as you try popular staples like takoyaki and kushikatsu.

Stop by an izakaya for lunch to try even more local favorites before walking through some of Dotonbori’s backstreets and finishing with a sweet street food dessert. 

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

Dotonbori street food FAQs

A view of the Dotonbori river at night

What is the most popular street food in Dotonbori?

Takoyaki and kushikatsu are arguably the two most popular street foods in Dotonbori. 

Is Japanese street food safe to eat?

Yes, Japanese street food is safe to eat. There are strict regulations around hygiene and food safety that businesses have to follow. These rules ensure that the street food you try is safe to eat. 

Should you visit Dotonbori during the day or at night?

Dotonbori is a fun area to explore no matter the time of day, but early evening and night might be the best time to visit. With street lights and signs brightly lit, beckoning you to the array of shops and restaurants lining the streets, Dotonbori takes on a completely different character at night. Street food shops are also open late, so you don’t need to worry about satisfying your cravings. 

What time does Dotonbori close?

Many street food shops close around nine or ten, but Dotonbori’s nightlife scene stays open even later, with some izakaya restaurants closing at or after midnight. Clubs and some bars stay open until the early hours of the next morning.

We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan's food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
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Lucy Baker
Never not hungry, Lucy is an artist and foodie from Australia. You can find her hunting for the next delicious deal, documenting her food, or brunching. She lives firmly by the philosophy that food friends are the best of friends.
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