Hanbey Umeda Hankyu Higashi-dori

It's a scene plucked straight out of Osaka during its golden age,in the living room of a Kansai local. The space is bathed under a dreamy haze of Japan’s Showa era: antique signage and summer festival decorations deck the walls; old brands of snacks, beverages, and even side dishes display a side of Japanese food that visitors rarely encounter. It’s one of the many venues by the izakaya chain, who have been exacting in their efforts to recreate a moment from favorite retro shows and comic books in real life. Hanbey’s menu ranges from retro-inspired dishes like cream soda and “age pan,” or fried bread dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour), to bittersweet recollections of postwar Japan. Cocktails are named after iconic sentai action heroes,vintage manga and film characters — think Astro Boy, Space Ace and Sally the Witch. There is even a strong collection of unique items sequestered in the menu, like “Inago-no-Tsukudani “ — locusts simmered in soy sauce — which was highly precious during wartime but played an important role in Japan’s culinary history. And then there are dishes that up the best of Osaka street food, including skewered-then-fried kushiage, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, oden and more. There’s no shortage of excitement, grubs and drinks here — this is the place to be for anyone looking to get acquainted with a bygone era.