Jibundoki MICHELIN Okonomiyaki Restaurant
Osaka is a city where a unique food culture has developed, offering delicious and affordable local specialties such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. The nearby areas of Nada, Itami, and Ikeda are famous for producing excellent sake, allowing visitors to enjoy delicious food and sake simultaneously.
Among Osaka's culinary delights, the one I recommend the most is "okonomiyaki." Osaka is the birthplace of okonomiyaki, and you can find numerous okonomiyaki restaurants lining the streets of Dotonbori and Shinsekai.
Among these, the restaurant I highly recommend is "Jibundoki." This establishment is listed in the Michelin Guide as one of the world's finest okonomiyaki restaurants and is a top-rated venue even in Osaka, the home of okonomiyaki.
In this article, I, an Osaka food enthusiast, will introduce the charms of Jibundoki Okonomiyaki and the must-try menu items.
Jibundoki: Japan's Most Difficult-to-Reserve Okonomiyaki Restaurant
Jibundoki is a top-class popular okonomiyaki restaurant in Japan, located just a 5-minute walk from Honmachi Station (Osaka Metro Chuo Line). It's a high-end restaurant that has everything you could want - delicious food, high-quality service, and a beautiful interior - making it perfect for special occasions. It's also said to be the most difficult okonomiyaki restaurant to reserve in Japan, with many food enthusiasts vying for a chance to visit.
Jibundoki is also famous for its teppanyaki, and many people enjoy okonomiyaki as the final dish. The teppanyaki is also exquisite, so be sure to try both when you visit.
What is Okonomiyaki?
Okonomiyaki is one of Osaka's traditional culinary delights. It's made by mixing a batter of flour and water with ingredients such as cabbage and seafood, then cooking it in a circular shape on an iron griddle. The key point is to top the entire okonomiyaki with sliced pork.
The "okonomi" in okonomiyaki means "favorite," and true to its name, you can mix in your favorite ingredients. Many restaurants offer a variety of toppings, so feel free to enjoy your "favorite" okonomiyaki.
By the way, my recommended topping is shiso (perilla) leaves. Their vibrant flavor enhances the taste of the okonomiyaki, making it even more delicious.
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Jibundoki is Located on Midosuji, a Major Street Running North-South Through Central Osaka
Midosuji, where Jibundoki is located, is Osaka's main street that runs north-south through the urban area. It's a bustling place always filled with people, lined with office buildings, department stores, and hotels.
The street offers an open space created by burying power lines underground, and you can enjoy the yellow-colored ginkgo trees in autumn and illuminations on winter nights, making it a pleasant place to walk.
Midosuji, frequented by many people, is home to various restaurants, from high-end establishments to chain stores. It's particularly known for restaurants offering slightly upscale lunches and dinners, perfect for those days when you want to indulge a bit.
At Jibundoki, You Can Enjoy Exquisite Teppanyaki à la Carte to Your Heart's Content
At Jibundoki, you can indulge in your favorite foods à la carte. The typical way to enjoy your meal is to order several teppanyaki dishes first, then finish with okonomiyaki or yakisoba. Each dish is not too large in portion, allowing even those with smaller appetites to enjoy a variety of flavors.
Also, be sure to enjoy some wine with your meal. Here, you can find rare wines that you don't often encounter, offered at reasonable prices. The stylish dishes served at Jibundoki pair excellently with wine.
Three Must-Try Menu Items at Jibundoki Okonomiyaki
Pork and Egg Okonomiyaki
Source: Tabelog
The pork and egg okonomiyaki is Jibundoki's signature dish and is extremely popular as a finishing dish.
The charm of this menu item lies in its thick, fluffy batter that's cooked to perfection. The light texture that melts in your mouth is incredibly smooth and addictive. The batter is also made with plenty of eggs and cabbage, giving it a delightfully sweet flavor. The cabbage, in particular, is carefully selected from various regions across Japan for its low water content and high sweetness.
The sauce is another point of pride, with five different types applied. It creates umami while maintaining a subtle flavor that doesn't overpower the sweetness of the cabbage and eggs.
They also offer half-sized portions, so feel free to ask the owner about this option.
Teppanyaki Steak
Source: Tabelog
Here, you can enjoy three types of steak: Awaji beef kalbi steak, rump steak, and black pork bacon steak.
All are cooked to perfection, allowing you to savor the concentrated umami of the meat. These are signature dishes of Jibundoki, and you should definitely try at least one when you visit.
My top recommendation is the kalbi steak. Kalbi, known for its perfect balance of tenderness and flavor, is one of the highest-grade rare cuts that you don't often get to try. At Jibundoki, it's served medium-rare, allowing you to enjoy its refined sweetness. The accompanying garlic is also aromatic, enhancing the sweetness and umami of the meat.
Pork Yakisoba
Source: Tabelog
Pork yakisoba is another popular finishing dish, alongside the pork and egg okonomiyaki. Some people can't decide between okonomiyaki and pork yakisoba for their final dish and end up ordering both. I'm one of those people, by the way.
While the pork yakisoba looks simple, it's a dish where the sweetness and umami of the sauce are concentrated. Its rich flavor pairs perfectly with alcohol, allowing you to enjoy your drinks right up to the end of your meal.
At Jibundoki, they also offer yakisoba with squid, shrimp, or a mix of ingredients. The bean sprout yakisoba, topped with plenty of bean sprouts, is also popular. They're all delicious, so please enjoy your favorite yakisoba as your finishing dish.
How to Make a Reservation at Jibundoki Okonomiyaki
Reservations for Jibundoki are accepted by phone only. Also, they don't take calls during business hours (17:00-23:00), so you need to call outside of these hours.
Reservations open at 12:00 noon one month before the desired date. For example, if you want to reserve for September 20th, you can start calling from 12:00 noon on August 20th. As it's said to be "the most difficult okonomiyaki restaurant to reserve in Japan," slots fill up quickly if you don't call right at 12:00. Decide on your plans in advance and do your best to secure a reservation.
Basic Information and Access to Jibundoki
Address: 1F Lions Mansion Midosuji Honmachi, 4-5-11 Minami Kyuhoji-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 17:00 - 23:00
Closed: Mondays, Sundays, and Public Holidays
Phone Number: 06-6253-1661
If you are interested in Okonamiyaki in Osaka, check the article below! I summarized Okonomiyaki Restaurants in Osaka I recommend and how I felt each Restaurant.
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Osaka Has Many Michelin-Listed Restaurants Offering Local Specialties
Besides Jibundoki, Osaka has many Michelin-listed restaurants offering exquisite local specialties. Here, I'll introduce five of my recommendations from among these. If you find any that interest you, please give them a try!
Tanpopo [Okonomiyaki]
Source: Tabelog
Tanpopo is a highly popular okonomiyaki restaurant with the concept of "enjoying teppanyaki and Italian wine in a refined space." It's a Michelin-listed restaurant known for its excellent okonomiyaki, rivaling Jibundoki, and is also difficult to reserve due to its popularity.
Tanpopo's okonomiyaki is characterized by its thick batter. It's cooked to achieve a light texture by incorporating air, and it melts in your mouth, disappearing quickly. The batter also contains seafood powder, which releases a seafood aroma through your nose as you eat.
Tanpopo is also famous for its teppanyaki. If you sit at the counter, you can enjoy the live cooking experience and savor freshly prepared dishes right in front of you.
Moreover, this restaurant is renowned for its excellent selection of Italian wines. They'll recommend wines that suit your preferences and complement the dishes, so don't hesitate to ask.
<Store Information>
Address: 6F Eiraku Building, 1-10-16 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 18:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Closed: Sundays and Public Holidays
Phone Number: 06-6344-2888
Official Website: https://www.tanpopo-kitashinchi.com/
If you are interested in Tanpopo, check the article below! I summarized in more details and how I felt there.
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Kushikatsu Bon [Kushiage]
Source: Official website
Kushikatsu Bon is a famous kushiage (deep-fried skewers) restaurant that has expanded not only in Osaka but also to Tokyo and Paris. The concept of this restaurant is "quality over quantity," and you can enjoy kushiage made with carefully selected ingredients for each skewer. They also offer high-end ingredients like Chateaubriand and foie gras as kushikatsu, which are not typically found in more casual kushikatsu restaurants.
Kushikatsu Bon's kushikatsu is renowned for being light despite being deep-fried. You can eat many skewers without feeling full, and there's no stomach discomfort the next day, so feel free to enjoy kushikatsu to your heart's content.
In fact, Kushikatsu Bon is also famous for its katsu sandwiches. These sandwiches are available for takeout, so you can enjoy Kushikatsu Bon's delicious katsu at home as well.
<Store Information>
Address: B1F Dojima Merry Center Building, 1-3-16 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 18:00～24:30 (Last entry 22:30 due to course-style dining)
Closed: None
Phone Number: 06-6344-0400
Official Website: http://kitchen-dan.jp/bon/
If you are interested in Kushikatsu Bon, check the article below! I summarized in more details and how I felt there.
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Kushikatsu Bon Also Has an Annex
Source: Official website
Kushikatsu Bon also has an annex located very close by. At the annex, you can enjoy high-quality kushiage one by one, just like at the main store.
Smoking is allowed in all seats here, so this branch is recommended for smokers. Reservations can be made together with the main Kushikatsu Bon store, so please inform them that you prefer the "annex" when booking.
<Store Information>
Address: 3F, 1-3-14 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 18:00～22:00 (21:00) *Last entry 20:00
Closed: New Year's holidays
Phone Number: 06-6344-0400
Official Website: http://kitchen-dan.jp/bon/
Kushiage 010 [Kushiage]
Source: Official website
Kushiage 010 is a kushiage restaurant that values the four seasons, allowing you to enjoy kushiage made with seasonal ingredients.
At Kushiage 010, they pay attention not only to the ingredients but also to the oil used for frying. They use an original blend of oil based on rice oil, which allows you to enjoy kushiage with a crispy texture.
Also, this restaurant offers course meals, so you can thoroughly enjoy everything from appetizers to kushiage, finishing dishes, and desserts. Not only kushiage but also appetizers and desserts use seasonal ingredients, allowing you to experience Japan's four seasons through food. The ability to enjoy seasonal ingredients no matter when you visit is one of the reasons for its popularity.
<Store Information>
Address: 4F Tanaka Building, 1-1-41 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 18:00 - 00:00
Closed: Sundays and Public Holidays
Phone Number: 06-6131-8878
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/kushiage010
If you are interested in Kushiage 010, check the article below! I summarized in more details and how I felt there.
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Kitashinchi Okurano [Japanese Cuisine]
Source: Official website
At Kitashinchi Okurano, you can enjoy "kaiseki cuisine," a type of traditional Japanese cuisine. Kaiseki cuisine has developed as a way to entertain guests.
At Kitashinchi Okurano, you can enjoy kaiseki cuisine that overflows from the tray. This restaurant not only focuses on exceptional taste but also emphasizes the concept of "enjoying with your eyes." The colors, shapes, and presentation of each dish are all beautiful, making the served dishes feel like works of art.
They have a selection of famous sake from various regions of Japan, so it's recommended to add the all-you-can-drink option (a system where you can enjoy as much alcohol as you like for a fixed price).
<Store Information>
Address: 3F Kitashinchi FOODEAR Building, 1-3-23 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 11:30 - 15:00 (L.O. 14:00)
17:30 - 22:30 (L.O. 21:00)
Closed: Winter and summer holidays
Phone Number: 050-5868-7777
Official Website: https://okurano.net/
Kashiwaya Kitashinchi Branch [Japanese Cuisine]
Source: Official website
Kashiwaya is a place that values the traditions of Japanese cuisine while weaving new traditions to match modern tastes and values.
The menu offers only one course, allowing you to enjoy meticulously prepared dishes. Each dish has a gentle taste and smooth texture, allowing you to enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
What I highly recommend trying at Kashiwaya is the "pairing." You can enjoy a drink that matches each dish. This not only enhances the flavors of both the food and the drink but also provides an opportunity to compare different types of alcohol, making it highly recommended.
<Store Information>
Address: 5F YAMANA K-2 BLDG, 1-7-4 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Business Hours: 18:00〜 (Exit by 20:15)
20:45〜 (Exit by 23:00)
*Simultaneous start for all diners
Closed: Sundays, Public Holidays, and irregular days
Phone Number: 080-6103-0979
Official Website: https://jp-kashiwaya.com/
