5 Restaurants to Enjoy Delicious Eel in Osaka, the Gourmet City Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jul 23 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Eel Osaka Japanese Cuisine Unagi (eel)

5 Restaurants to Enjoy Delicious Eel in Osaka, the Gourmet City

Eel is a food ingredient enjoyed in various countries around the world, and Japanese people also love eel. In Japan, the common way to prepare eel is through a cooking method called 'kabayaki,' which is rare in other countries. The sweet and savory sauce with a charred, fragrant taste is sure to change your previous image of eel. Let's enjoy delicious eel in Osaka, a city known for its gourmet enthusiasts.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine and Unagi (eel) restaurants found in and around Osaka.

Hitsumabushi Bincho Grand Front Osaka

Enjoy Nagoya's famous dish in Osaka with three different ways to savor it

Enjoy Nagoya's specialty, which can be savored in three different ways, in Osaka

Located a 5-minute walk from Osaka Station, Hitsumabushi Bincho Grand Front Osaka is a restaurant where you can enjoy 'Jiyaki' eel, which is carefully grilled over charcoal without steaming. The signature dish, Nagoya's famous 'Unagi Hitsumabushi,' can be enjoyed in three ways: first as it is, then with wasabi and sliced green onions, and finally with broth poured over it. Savor the rich flavor of the eel.

Located on the 7th floor of the Grand Front Osaka South Building, a commercial facility directly connected to Osaka Station, this restaurant is conveniently accessible for a casual visit after sightseeing or shopping. The interior is a calm, modern design enveloped in a Japanese atmosphere. Inside the restaurant, the savory aroma of tamari soy sauce and charcoal grilling fills the air, stimulating the appetite. The plump, tender eel with its crispy skin offers a blissful dining experience.

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho Grand Front Osaka Location

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm) [Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Osaka Station
Address: 7F, GRAND FRONT OSAKA South Bldg., 4-20, Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
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Mahoroba Irori Shinsaibashi

Enjoy a Japanese culinary experience with Irori-yaki in a space filled with traditional Japanese ambiance

Enjoy a Japanese culinary experience with Irori-yaki in a traditional Japanese atmosphere

Mahoroba Irori Shinsaibashi, located just a 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station, is a restaurant where you can experience a traditional Japanese 'irori' (sunken hearth). You can grill carefully selected ingredients from all over Japan on the irori at your table. The 'Shimanotogawa Unadon' available in the 'Nihon no Umaimon Course' is particularly attractive because you can grill the eel yourself. The eel, which is repeatedly basted with sauce and grilled, has a fluffy texture and crispy skin. It pairs perfectly with the rice cooked in a clay pot.

The interior of the restaurant features a Japanese-style design inspired by traditional storehouses. The wallpaper is made of washi paper, and the tableware is Arita porcelain, creating an atmosphere full of Japanese charm. The entire restaurant consists of semi-private and fully private rooms, allowing guests to enjoy their meals without worrying about their surroundings. The experience of dining with an irori (traditional Japanese hearth) is also popular among international guests. In addition to eel, guests can savor other Japanese ingredients such as Awaji beef and Ise lobster.

Mahoroba Irori Shinsaibashi

Open: [Monday - Saturday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm), [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 325m from Shinsaibashi Station on Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, 3-minute walk
Address: 1F, BE'S50 Bldg., 1-16-32, Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
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Unagi-Dokoro Umami

A specialty eel restaurant in front of Osaka Castle where one can experience carefully selected eel, Japanese sake, and Japanese food culture

A restaurant in front of Osaka Castle where one can experience Japanese food culture with carefully selected eel and Japanese sake

Unagi-dokoro Umami, located just a 3-minute walk from Morinomiya Station, is a restaurant where guests can enjoy carefully selected eel and a variety of unique Japanese sake. The eel is first steamed until tender, then coated with sauce and grilled to a crispy finish. The 'Unadon' features a perfect harmony of fatty eel and rice. The 'Cha Soba,' available exclusively during weekday lunch hours, is a rare dish that combines tea soba noodles with eel and grated yam, making it a must-try experience.

The restaurant is located in front of a lush park surrounding Osaka Castle. Inside, it has an unpretentious and casual atmosphere where guests can relax and enjoy the taste of eel. Due to its convenient location for sightseeing, it attracts many guests from both domestic and international locations. After immersing yourself in Japanese history at Osaka Castle, why not savor delicious eel and Japanese sake to fully enjoy Japanese food culture?

Unagidokoro Umami

Open: [Monday - Friday] Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm), [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:00 am - 8:30 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Morinomiya Station on the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line and the Chuo Line / 3-minute walk from Morinomiya Station on the JR Line
Address: 1-16-20, Morinomiyachuo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
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Unagi no Masa

Savor Japanese eel grilled over charcoal and domestically produced rice cooked in a traditional pot

Unagi no Masa, where customers can savor eel from Kagoshima and Mikawa, is just a 1-minute walk from Tanimachi 9-chome Station. They procure live eels and only serve those that meet their unique size standards, offering a truly special eel cuisine experience. The 'Unaju (using one eel)' is a classic menu item that allows customers to fully enjoy the rich flavor of the eel. The large grains of rice cooked in a pot are thoroughly infused with the sauce, creating a perfect harmony with the taste of the eel.

The interior of the restaurant is cozy with 8 counter seats. The aroma of eel grilled over charcoal fills the air, and the sound of the charcoal crackling adds to the anticipation while waiting for the food to be ready. It's also nice to sip on some sake while waiting. The eel, which is prepared fresh on the day it is served, is also available for takeout. If you make a reservation in advance, you can take it home without waiting.

Unagi no Masa

Open: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm) **Depending on stock, it will close before closing time.
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,800 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Tanimachi 9-chome Station. In front of Tanimachi 9-chome bus stop.
Address: 1-31, Ikutama-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
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Unagi Jinda

Enjoy traditional eel cuisine from a long-established restaurant that has preserved its flavor for over 100 years

Enjoy traditional eel dishes from a long-established restaurant that has preserved its flavor for over 100 years

Unagi Jinda, located a 3-minute walk from Tenma Station, is an eel restaurant run by the fourth generation of the long-established Ohatsu Tenjin's Daishi. With the motto of 'using the best ingredients, putting in more effort than anyone else, and serving in the freshest condition,' they offer carefully selected domestic eel through their unique procurement routes and expert judgment as wholesalers. The secret to their deliciousness lies in the secret sauce that has been preserved and added to since 1912. Guests can enjoy the traditional flavors unique to a long-established restaurant.

The restaurant is located very close to the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street and the Tenma Market. Despite being in a casual neighborhood, it exudes a luxurious atmosphere. The interior is designed with earthen walls and wooden lacquer, creating a clean and calm ambiance. Everything from the trays to the children's tableware is made of high-quality lacquer, enhancing the presentation of the dishes. The restaurant is designed so that the kitchen is visible from all seats, ensuring that guests are never bored while waiting.

Unagi Jinta

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm / Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from Tenman Station on Osaka Loop Line. After passing [Tenman-ekimae Kitahondori] street, go to the south along with the street behind [Pulala Tenma Tenman Market]
Address: 7-6, Ikedacho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.