Fugu Yoshi Ikeda

Osaka is crazy about fugu. This Japanese pufferfish is famous because of its poisonous qualities, which mean it needs a steady hand (and a strictly-regulated license) to cook. The Japanese are so mad for the fish that it had to be banned for centuries, back in the days before proper regulation. Nowadays you can enjoy it safely, in the hands of the expert chefs at Fugu Yoshi Ikeda, a fugu restaurant in Osaka. They offer various set-course meals featuring different cooking styles, and an a la carte menu at dinner time. Expect delicious dishes like fin sake, fugu porridge, hotpot, deep fried fugu, sashimi, and pickled fugu skin. The store is a little outside of the city center, but it’s well worth making the trip here to sample one of Osaka’s most culturally significant dishes.