Takoyasu

No other fugu restaurant is more reliable than the one and only Takoyasu. Established well over 80 years ago, with the title of owner being passed down through the family along with high-class cooking skills and restaurant secrets, this restaurant uses only the highest quality natural fugu for their cuisine. Despite modern advancements making it possible to provide fugu (Japanese for pufferfish) all year round, Takoyasu prides themselves in the all-natural factor by using only wild fugu brought in fresh, directly from the East China Sea. Because of this, fugu is only served from October to April. The third-generation owner of Takoyasu, one of the best pufferfish restaurants in Osaka (with 2 Michelin stars to prove it), has the connections to procure some of the absolute best fish possible — huge, sea-caught fugu from the best markets in the country. He prepares it in a variety of styles, each of which shows a different facet of this Japanese seafood favorite. Expect expertly-cut sashimi, rich hot pot, and skin marinated in a citrus sauce. Unfortunately the fugu pufferfish season ends with the start of spring. If you’re visiting Takoyasu in the warmer months, you’ll instead be treated to a set-course meal of conger eel and kelp bass instead (which is equally delicious, of course). Reserve a spot in one of their traditional tatami rooms for an unforgettable seafood experience.