8 Best Kushikatsu Restaurants & Tours in Osaka

Osaka is famously referred to as “Japan’s kitchen” because of its profound culinary culture and large variety of dining options. Osaka specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu are beloved classics because they are simple, delicious and fried. 

While all three are famed throughout the islands of Japan, kushikatsu — also known as kushiage — may be lesser known to those dwelling outside of the country. Kushikatsu is, basically, a deep-fried item of meat, seafood or vegetable on a stick. 

Where can one go wrong with something that’s yummy and deep-fried on a stick? Biting into a kushikatsu of any variety is like sinking one’s teeth into a little piece of deep-fried heaven. It’s tasty, comforting and has the most satisfying crunch.

Find out more: What is Kushiage or Kushikatsu?

While the terms “kushikatsu” and “kushiage” are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two. The word kushi translates to the skewers used, while katsu is short for katsuretsu, which means a cutlet of meat. 

Many may already be familiar with the term “katsu,” as it’s present in some other popular Japanese dishes: tonkatsu, katsu curry, katsudon, etc.

Kushikatsu is also primarily associated with Osaka’s food scene and is thus tied to this specific region.

Kushiage is a more broad term for skewer frying; kushi means skewer, while age represents the verb “to fry.” Hence, kushiage directly translates to “skewer fry.”

While kushiage is very similar to kushikatsu in the way it is prepared (something is skewered on a stick, dipped in batter made from egg, flour and panko breadcrumbs, and then fried until golden and crispy), it is not associated with Osaka in the same way that kushikatsu is. 

Because of kushiage’s “freedom” from being tied to a certain region, it has more flexibility in its ingredients and presentation. This allows higher-end restaurants and chefs to get more creative with their own kushiage creations.

Feast upon gourmet-level skewers at this Michelin-rated restaurant in one of Osaka’s busiest entertainment strips. It is here, at Kitashinchi Kushi Katsu Bon, where Chef Otani Kenji takes bold risks with premium ingredients to craft some of the best kushikatsu in Osaka. 

A professional with over thirty years under his belt at some of Osaka’s most celebrated kushikatsu venues, Otani abandons traditional street food notions in favor of delicately-balanced luxury.

 At this combination sukiyaki, shabu-shabu and kushikatsu restaurant nestled in the heart of Osaka, guests dine upon delicious melt-in-your-mouth Ibu Biton pork from Wakayama prefecture. 

 The course menu includes the option to include crunchy and delicious kushikatsu skewers to accompany the soft and delicate Ibu Biton delicacy. 

Here at Kushikatsu Gojoya, the humble street food of kushikatsu is elevated into something more. This Michelin-listed establishment in Osaka serves up some of the best kushikatsu that both locals and visitors enjoy alike — a French-inspired potato millefeuille skewer precedes an Italian squid ink risotto, followed by deep-fried samgyeopsal for some Korean flair. 

Each skewer is cooked and served one at a time, and comes with the chef’s recommendation for seasoning.

In the year of 2017, the Osaka kushikatsu establishment of Again received a prestigious Michelin star for its creative take on traditional deep-fried skewers. Each course begins with a deep-fried shrimp skewer to serve as this cozy restaurant’s signature greeting. 

This is then followed by a wide variety of up to twenty fried skewers, which also includes a healthy and delicious bowl of salad topped with whipped dressing. In classic Japanese fashion, the ingredients used in this course vary, as the chef handpicks the freshest items every morning, which can vary depending on the season.

Experience the real nightlife and foodie culture of Osaka like a local on this guided tour of two of its local neighborhoods, Tenma and Kyobashi. Explore these areas through your stomach by tasting its amazing food and drink while discovering another side to Osaka at night.  

Dishes vary each night, but always include a variety of classic Japanese foods like sashimi, seasonal vegetables, kushikatsu and more. Throughout the night a full dinner will be served, and dietary restrictions are easily accommodated on this tour, thanks to the help of your friendly English-speaking guide.

This experience will include stops at tiny standing bars, cozy izakaya and local restaurants, all serving a range of food and drinks made in-house.

Learn how to make sushi and kushikatsu in Osaka with a culinary master who has spent over 37 years perfecting his cooking skills. The experience begins with a Japanese tea ceremony at the host’s home, where guests can learn about Japanese matcha and the art of preparing and consuming it. 

After the ceremony, guests will learn how to properly cut and prepare the raw seafood ingredients for their sushi. Following the sushi, visitors will have the chance to learn how to make the best homemade kushikatsu by dipping the many ingredients into the batter and then frying them up until golden and crispy. 

At the end, participants will feast upon their culinary creations and then receive a calligraphy souvenir to take home with them.

 Enjoy an array of street foods at Osaka’s little restaurants in this custom and private tour of local drinking alleys and nostalgic Dotonbori mainstays, led by an expert guide and interpreter. 

You will spend your evening eating and drinking through three areas of Osaka while your guide introduces the local dining scene through personal stories and a tour itinerary tailored to your food preferences and dietary needs. 

This three-hour food crawl starts at Kuromon food market, where Osakans buy fresh ingredients and feast upon local specialty meals like kushikatsu, okonomiyaki, takoyaki and more. From there, you’ll stroll to Dotonbori, a lively shopping and dining street that has come to characterize Osaka’s nightlife, and head to the retro Hozenji Yokocho alley, an intimate and exclusive line of long-running izakaya frequented by locals. 

This tour includes seven small bites and a main dish, two drinks per person and dessert. 

Minami Osaka (South Osaka) is a hub of restaurants, entertainment, shopping and nightlife. On this Osaka food tour, guests will have the chance to explore its off-the-beaten-path areas, see some truly local Osaka spots that are still relatively unknown and delve into Osaka’s rowdy nightlife. 

Sample local dishes, like yummy kushikatsu, takoyaki and other delicious culinary delights. You will also have the chance to visit a local izakaya and enjoy a drink alongside seasonal dishes crafted from fresh seasonal ingredients. 

You will get to see Osaka’s retro drinking alleys, with tons of tiny izakaya bars crammed together. These artsy, hole-in-the-wall izakayas are worlds in and of themselves, with different themes or twists on the classic Japanese bar itself. Your tour concludes with the usual conclusion for a meal: dessert. 

After indulging in your dessert, feel free to explore the area on your own, checking out some of the local guide’s recommended spots.

Perhaps one of the best Osaka street foods out there, kushikatsu definitely reigns supreme in the deep-fried category. From skewered beef and skewered lotus root to skewered ebi (shrimp) and even skewered slices of cheesecake, Osaka is definitely the place to be to feast on the best kushikatsu in the world.

Hungry for more of the best foods in Osaka? You're going to want to discover Osaka's best restaurants, search for the best dinner in Osaka, wander through Osaka's drinking alleys, try the best street food and head over to Dotonbori.