Kushikatsu Gojoya

The humble deep-fried skewer known as kushikatsu is elevated at Kushikatsu Gojoya. This beloved Osaka street food may appear mundane at first glance — bite-sized pieces of meat or vegetables deep-fried until golden brown — but a crack into the just-right crunchy exterior unveils something far more inventive Typical items like pork, chicken and local vegetables give way to internationally-inspired morsels. A French-inspired, batter-dunked potato mille-feuille skewer precedes an Italian squid ink risotto, followed by deep-fried samgyeopsal that infuses a Korean flair. Each skewer is cooked and served one at a time, and comes with the chef’s recommendation for seasoning. While street food is typically washed down with beer, the restaurant pairs them with easy-to-drink Italian wines. The dessert may arrive on a stick; the night starts with skewers and, unless you decide otherwise, ends with skewers.