Kitashinchi Ultimate Gourmet Guide 2024: Enjoy Osaka's MICHELIN Restaurants
Osaka, Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo, has developed its unique food culture over the centuries. One reason for this is the presence of the nearest port to Kyoto, which once flourished as Japan's capital, allowing access to various ingredients from all over Japan.
Osaka, known as the "Nation's Kitchen" and the "City of Kuidaore" (eat until you drop), is home to numerous high-quality restaurants. The number of Michelin-listed establishments in Osaka ranks fourth in the world, following Tokyo, Paris, and Kyoto.
Among these, Kitashinchi, which comes alive at night, is known as an area where gourmets gather. Not only does it have Michelin-listed restaurants, but it also boasts many establishments where you can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine and kaiseki meals, making it popular among foreign tourists as well.
In this article, we'll introduce you to the restaurants in Kitashinchi, the nightlife district, without missing a single one!
Osaka Kita Area, Home to Nakanoshima Museum of Art and Umeda Sky Building
Kitashinchi is located in the area called "Kita" (North) in Osaka, along with Umeda, Shin-Osaka, and Nakanoshima. The Kita area is vibrant as a bustling district, characterized by its abundance of commercial facilities such as the Umeda Sky Building and Grand Front Osaka. Around Nakanoshima, where you can find art museums and rose gardens, you can enjoy a nature-rich atmosphere while being in the heart of the city.
Another attractive point is the excellent access to other areas, with various train lines converging at Umeda Station, a terminal station, and the Shinkansen (bullet train) stopping at Shin-Osaka Station.
Kitashinchi:The Most Vibrant High-Class Entertainment District in Osaka's Kita Area
Among the Kita area, Kitashinchi particularly has a luxurious image. Developed as a social hub for people in political, economic, and entertainment circles, Kitashinchi is home to many high-end restaurants suitable for business entertainment. With numerous long-established bars and clubs, it's always bustling as an area where adults can enjoy themselves.
Kitashinchi also has many casual restaurants where you can enjoy Osaka specialties like okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, making it a must-visit entertainment district in Osaka.
Kitashinchi Has Many Restaurants Offering Japanese Cuisine and Kaiseki
Kitashinchi boasts about 3,000 restaurants, with many offering authentic Japanese cuisine and kaiseki meals. Kaiseki is a course meal based on the basic Japanese dining style of "ichiju-sansai" (one soup, three side dishes), served in a specific order including appetizers, soup, main dishes, rice, and dessert.
Many restaurants in Kitashinchi, used for business entertainment as an adult social scene, are open until late at night or even until the next morning. Another characteristic is that many shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays when most companies are off.
6 Must-Try Michelin-Listed Japanese Restaurants in Kitashinchi
Kitashinchi Okurano
Source: Official website
At "Kitashinchi Okurano," you can enjoy seasonal dishes that evoke the tradition of Japanese cuisine. Based on kaiseki cuisine born in the world of tea ceremony, the courses created by the skilled chef are visually artistic. The owner's desire to cherish each ingredient and deliver an extraordinary experience is reflected in every dish.
Lunch starts from 4,000 yen, and dinner from 15,000 yen, with options including monthly changing kaiseki meals and chef's special courses.
My recommendation is the 6,000 yen lunch menu "Ichiju Jussai Zen" (One Soup, Ten Dishes Set). It comes with 10 colorful side dishes that change daily, allowing you to experience the seasons. It's perfect for those who want to try a variety of dishes in small portions. The tai-meshi (sea bream rice) served at the end of the course, made with natural sea bream, is also exquisite.
Address: 3F Kitashinchi FOODEAR Building, 1-3-23 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 11:30-15:00 / 17:30-22:30
Closed: Only during New Year holidays (may have temporary closures)
Phone: 06-6341-3535
Official website: https://okurano.net/greetings/
Kashiwaya Kitashinchi Branch
Source: Official website
At "Kashiwaya Kitashinchi Branch," you can savor authentic Japanese kaiseki cuisine prepared by an experienced chef. The chef's desire to "let customers relax even in a high-class restaurant" allows you to enjoy traditional Japanese food in a relaxed atmosphere.
The full course, which feels innovative even within the framework of basic Japanese cuisine, showcases the chef's ideas and skills in each dish. The gentle seasoning that brings out the flavors of the ingredients is characteristic, such as the cold jelly appetizer with dashi. You can also enjoy innovative pairings, like matsutake mushrooms with red wine, which will surely expand your perspective on Japanese cuisine.
As all guests who have reservations at the same time start their courses simultaneously, be careful not to be late.
Address: 3F Kitashinchi FOODEAR Building, 1-3-23 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 18:00- / 20:45- (simultaneous start)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
Phone: 06-6103-0979
Official website: https://jp-kashiwaya.com/kitashinchi/
Kitashinchi Shien
Source: Website
"Kitashinchi Shien" is a yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) specialty restaurant where you can enjoy skewers and Japanese cuisine. The menu is the chef's choice, but they can adjust ingredients and seasonings to your preferences. The interior features an elegant white wood counter with only 8 seats, so reservations are essential.
The fragrant skewers made with "Jitokko," a brand of chicken from Miyazaki Prefecture, are juicy with a rich chicken flavor. Courses start from 6,000 yen and include appetizers, chicken tataki, soup, skewers, clay pot rice, and dessert, all made with seasonal ingredients. The chef's choice of sake, which often includes rare varieties, pairs perfectly with the yakitori.
The chicken hot pot course, filled with the umami of chicken broth, is recommended for the upcoming colder season. At the end of the course, I recommend trying the "tamago kake gohan" (rice with raw egg), where you pour soy sauce over rice cooked in a clay pot with a raw egg from a local chicken. It's a uniquely Japanese way of eating that you should definitely try!
Address: 2F Espace Kitashinchi 21, 1-7-19 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 18:00-24:00 (Last order at 23:00)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
Phone: 050-5493-3756
Official website: https://kdgs400.gorp.jp/
Kushikatsu Bon
Source: Official website
At "Kushikatsu Bon," you can enjoy Osaka's famous kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) in an upgraded style. With the motto "kushiage without being bound by common sense," they offer creative kushiage using high-end ingredients like foie gras, caviar, and sea urchin.
You'll encounter unique dishes that can only be eaten here, such as kombu with roe topped with sea urchin and caviar, or fugu (pufferfish) kushiage. With kushiage options including Kuroge Wagyu beef and Chateaubriand, meat lovers will be fully satisfied with the course. For those who want to eat to their heart's content, there's a course where kushiage is served continuously until you're full. The guideline is about 20 skewers for around 14,000 yen.
If you have any food preferences or allergies, it's best to mention them when making a reservation. The restaurant's specialty "Gyukatsu Sandwich" is also a must-try dish that I personally love.
Address: B1F Dojima Merry Center Building, 1-3-16 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 18:00-24:30 (Last entry at 22:30 due to course meals)
Closed: Open year-round
Phone: 06-6344-0400
Official website: http://www.kitchen-dan.jp/bon/
f 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 called "Hanare" in the building next to the main restaurant. The differences from the main restaurant are two points: smoking is allowed, and it only has counter seats. With only 14 counter seats, "Hanare" offers a cozy space where you can enjoy a relaxed time while conversing with the chef.
If you want to leisurely enjoy kushiage and drinks while smoking, specify "Hanare" when making a reservation. Using the form on the official website for reservations makes it easy to specify the restaurant and choose your course.
Kushiage 010
Source: Official website
"Kushiage Zero Ichi Zero" is a hidden gem kushiage restaurant in Kitashinchi. Their unique kushiage incorporates accents from cuisines around the world, offering a visual feast and one-of-a-kind flavors you can only experience here. Course options range from a 5,500 yen short course to a 7,700 yen standard course, and for those with bigger appetites, there's an 8,800 yen 15-piece course. You can choose based on your hunger level and budget.
Western-style kushiage options like prosciutto with figs, black pork fillet, and Camembert cheese pair wonderfully with red wine. The mini burger that appears midway through the course is perfect for photos. Seasonal Japanese ingredients like sansho pepper, sea bream, and matsutake mushrooms are also generously used, giving you a sense of the seasons.
A delightful point is that you can choose between ochazuke (tea over rice) or the chef's special curry to finish your course.
Address: 4F Tanaka Building, 1-1-41 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 17:00-22:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 050-5488-0228
Official website: https://kushiage010.gorp.jp/
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 Fukutatei The Ukai
Source: Tabelog
"Kitashinchi Fukutatei The Ukai" is an Italian restaurant featuring oven-roasted steak, selected as one of "The 11 Best Steakhouses in the World."
Upon entering, your eyes are immediately drawn to the large brick oven behind the counter. The steak, slowly roasted in the oven under the chef's expert eye, offers a crispy exterior and a juicy, moist interior that fully captures the meat's flavor.
The mini burger made with beef tenderloin, which appears at the beginning of the special course, may be bite-sized, but it's packed with flavor and leaves a strong impression.
What particularly impressed me was the "Special Wagyu Beef Consommé Soup." The deep flavor, concentrating the richness of wagyu and the sweetness of vegetables, is a luxurious delicacy you can only experience here.
This is the perfect place for those who want to fully indulge in beef.
Address: B1F New Dai Building, 1-11-19 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 12:00-14:30 (Last order 14:00) / 17:00-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 050-5590-9136
Official website: https://kchw303.gorp.jp/
Reservations Required! 3 Michelin-Listed Italian Restaurants in Kitashinchi
YUNiCO
Source: Official website
"YUNiCO" is a renowned Italian restaurant where you can enjoy simple Italian cuisine that you'll want to eat again and again. With the concept of "bringing out the original flavor of ingredients," they carefully select seasonal ingredients from both Japan and abroad. Their Japanese-accented Italian cuisine offers unique flavors you can only taste here.
Before the course begins, they show you the ingredients that will be used that day, building anticipation for the meal. This excitement is one of my favorite parts of visiting YUNiCO.
My top recommendation is the Caprese, which generously uses sweet domestic tomatoes and burrata cheese. Its simple yet pronounced flavors always make me exclaim, "Delicious!" The pasta, which uses seasonal ingredients and sauces, is also exquisite.
Enjoy your meal while savoring the wine pairings.
Address: 4F IM Thousand Building, 1-5-17 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: Monday-Friday 17:30-23:00 (Last order 21:00) / Saturday 12:00-15:00 (Last entry 13:00, reservation required) 17:30-23:00 (Last order 21:00)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 06-6225-8007
Official website: https://www.y-unico.jp/#footer
LACERBA
Source: Tabelog
"LACERBA" is an Italian restaurant popular for its "chef's choice course using seasonal ingredients." The large glass windows offer a view of green trees, creating a relaxed atmosphere in the midst of the city.
My favorite aspect of this restaurant is the array of innovative amuse-bouches, which is unusual for Italian cuisine. The artistic plates using seasonal vegetables and high-end ingredients heighten expectations for the course.
Many dishes incorporate Japanese ingredients like sansho pepper, aonori seaweed, and eel, striking a perfect balance with Western ingredients. While it's refined Italian cuisine, you can also taste a nostalgic flavor reminiscent of local dishes.
The beautiful dishes served on carefully selected tableware can truly be called art. Please enjoy with all your senses!
Address: 2F New Dai Building, 1-2-1 Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 17:00-10:30
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 06-6136-8089
Official website: http://www.lacerba.jp/
La Casa Tom Curiosa
Source: Tabelog
"La Casa Tom Curiosa" is a hidden gem Italian restaurant in Kitashinchi. The intimate interior, with 9 counter seats and one 6-person table, offers an authentic course menu in a homey atmosphere.
The chef's choice course showcases the chef's sensibility, using seasonal ingredients to create unique dishes you can only taste here. I often visit in summer because I love their cold dishes, and the chilled pasta with snow crab and summer vegetables is an indescribably exquisite dish, both visually appealing and delicious.
The shop's signature dessert, pistachio panna cotta, is also available for takeout. As it's a popular restaurant that's difficult to book, I recommend making a reservation as soon as your travel plans are set.
Address: 3F Sakura Building, 1-2-7 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 18:00-20:20 & 20:45- (2 seatings) / Wednesday 18:00- or 19:00- (2 seatings)
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
Phone: 050-3188-6885
Official website: https://tomcuriosa.com/
Recommended for Dates and Parties! 4 Popular Kaiseki Restaurants in Kitashinchi
Japanese Cuisine Yuki Shinten
Source: Tabelog
If you want to taste authentic Japanese cuisine, visit "Japanese Cuisine Yuki Shinten." There are various types of seating available, allowing you to choose based on your group size and preferences. The "horigotatsu" seating, which has a hollow space under the table for your legs, is recommended for experiencing a traditional Japanese style.
The kaiseki course, which allows you to enjoy seasonal Japanese cuisine, includes appetizers, sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes, and simmered dishes, all using seasonal ingredients. You can enjoy gentle Japanese flavors with your eyes and nose as well.
I chose the conger eel and matsutake mushroom course, which is hard to find in Tokyo. The firm and flavorful conger eel paired with the fragrant matsutake mushroom is a luxurious taste of the season. For meat lovers, the Kuroge Wagyu sukiyaki course is also recommended.
Address: 1F Maruta Building, 1-5-39 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 11:30-14:30 (Last order 13:30) / 17:30-22:00 (Last order 21:00)
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 06-6348-2777
Official website: https://www.kitashinchiyuki.com/shinten.html
Ono
Source: OMAKASE
"Ono" is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine. The course menu, which generously uses ingredients from the chef's hometown of Awaji Island, offers a refined taste in each carefully prepared dish. The calm atmosphere of the interior features counter seats surrounding the kitchen, allowing you to watch the skilled preparation up close, which is another attractive point.
The course, centered around seafood like soft-shell turtle, sea bream, sweet shrimp, and abalone, subtly incorporates ingredients like matsutake mushrooms and white truffles, reflecting the chef's love for his hometown. Depending on the season, you might even get to taste rare sea urchin from Awaji Island.
The curry served towards the end of the course, infused with the essence of spiny lobster, is exquisite. The meal concludes with matcha and Japanese sweets for dessert, leaving both your stomach and heart satisfied.
This is the perfect restaurant for those who want to enjoy high-quality Japanese cuisine in the sophisticated atmosphere of Kitashinchi.
Address: 6F Kita Linden Building, 1-2-22 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 12:30- / 18:00-
Closed: Only during New Year's holidays (temporary closures may occur)
Phone: 06-6341-8171
Official reservation site: https://omakase.in/ja/r/fs460459
3 Popular Kappo Restaurants in Kitashinchi Offering Various Cuisines to Suit Your Preferences
Fukuichi
Source: Official website
Soba, a healthy and nutritious food with various flavors and eating styles across regions, is a soul food for Japanese people. "Fukuichi" is a place where you can enjoy soba in kaiseki-style cuisine. They are particular about the proportion of soba flour used and proudly serve hand-made soba just before serving, resulting in a flavorful and firm texture.
Their signature dish, "Fukuichi kogane soba," is generously topped with grated karasumi (dried mullet roe), which you can enjoy as is or with dashi broth according to your preference.
The 12,100 yen omakase kaiseki course allows you to savor soba along with classic Japanese dishes like sashimi and tempura. À la carte menu items like braised pork belly and dried mentaiko (spicy cod roe) pair perfectly with sake.
When you order alcohol, they let you choose your preferred sake cup from those displayed in the restaurant. Being able to enjoy sake from a cup of your choice is one of the reasons why I like Fukuichi.
Address: 7F Matsuki Kosan Building, 1-5-21 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: Weekdays 18:00-2:00 next day / Saturday 18:00-22:00
Closed: Sundays, holidays, Golden Week, Obon, New Year holidays
Phone: 06-6343-5211
Official website: http://soba-fukuichi.com/
Kappo Matsumoto Eiraku
Source: Yahoo Maps
"Kappo Matsumoto Eiraku" is a long-established Japanese restaurant that has been in Kitashinchi for over 40 years. The restaurant, located on the first floor of the building that houses the famous nightclub "Club Yamana," catches the eye with its high-class exterior.
The chef's choice kaiseki course follows the traditional style, starting with "sakizuke" (appetizer). The evening kaiseki course also incorporates Western flavors into Japanese cuisine, with the "beef tenderloin cutlet" served with demi-glace sauce being a hidden specialty of the restaurant.
During lunchtime, they also offer casual menus like one-dish lunches and shokado bento, allowing you to taste the flavors of a long-established restaurant at reasonable prices.
The friendly interaction with the owner is enjoyable, and you can feel the unique atmosphere of Osaka. Enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine at this long-established restaurant!
Address: 1F Yamana Building, 1-6-19 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 17:30-22:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 06-6341-6802
Official website: https://matsumoto-eiraku.gorp.jp/
Ajisai
Source: Retty
"Ajisai" is a Japanese restaurant that generously uses ingredients unique to Osaka. You can taste delicacies like rare natural eel from the Yodogawa River in Osaka, which are hard to find elsewhere.
The "seafood bowl," available only during lunchtime, is the restaurant's signature dish, generously topped with a variety of fresh seafood. When I visited on a weekday around 12:30, it was already sold out, so I recommend lining up before opening if you want to try it.
During dinner time, in addition to kaiseki courses, they also offer hot pot dishes like chicken, fugu (pufferfish), and soft-shell turtle. The abalone croquette with Japanese-style sauce is a unique dish you can only taste here. The "tempura course," which allows you to enjoy tempura made with seasonal ingredients, is also popular among foreign visitors.
They also have a rich selection of local sake from Osaka. If you're unsure, feel free to ask the chef for recommendations! Enjoy Osaka's seafood with your favorite local sake.
Address: 1F Iwashin Spread Building, 1-5-4 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 11:30-13:30 / 17:00-23:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 06-6346-1818
Official website: https://ajisai-osaka.com/
If you are interested in Dinner in Osaka, check the article below! I summarized Dinner Spots in Osaka I recommend and how I felt each Spot.
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Kitashinchi, the Nightlife District, Also Has Many Bars Where You Can Relax and Enjoy
Kitashinchi, which becomes more lively as the night deepens, has many attractive bars. Here, we'll introduce three bars where you can leisurely enjoy drinks.
We recommend visiting these bars as a second stop after dining at one of the restaurants introduced earlier. Spending time enjoying delicious drinks in a relaxed atmosphere will surely become a wonderful memory of your trip.
Bar Tarlogie SONA
Source: Official Facebook
"Tarlogie SONA," located a 3-minute walk from Kitashinchi Station, is a bar recommended for those who want to enjoy drinks at a leisurely pace. As soon as you step inside, you're enveloped in a calm and warm atmosphere. Reflecting the owner's desire for guests to taste drinks simply and directly, the entire bar is non-smoking.
They have a rich selection of aged spirits including whisky, cognac, and calvados. Their cocktails using seasonal fruits are exquisite, allowing you to taste the fresh deliciousness directly. If you're unsure what to drink, try a cocktail first. The carefully selected chocolates from popular confectionery stores pair perfectly with the spirits.
Relax and unwind from your sightseeing fatigue at this wonderful bar at the end of your day.
Address: 2F Yamamoto Building, 1-2-11 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: Monday-Friday 19:00-1:30 Last order / Saturday 19:00-23:30 Last order
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 06-6347-1779
Official website: https://bartarlogiesona.com
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarlogiesona/
Suntory Bar & Dining Kitashinchi Suikyotei
Source: Official website
"Kitashinchi Suikyotei" is an "aquarium dining & bar" where you can observe beautiful tropical fish. With large aquariums installed in 9 locations throughout the restaurant, you can enjoy drinks in a fantastical world while watching the graceful swimming fish.
Another attraction of this restaurant is its exquisite food menu, including appetizers, meat dishes, pasta, pizza, and desserts. My recommendation is the "Wagyu beef fillet cutlet sandwich." This sandwich, made with thick wagyu steak cooked medium-rare and coated with a special demi-glace sauce, pairs well with beer or highballs. Popular specialties unique to this restaurant include shrimp dashi curry and sea urchin cream sauce pasta.
Spending time in this extraordinary space will surely become a special memory of your trip to Japan.
Address: B2F Kita Shinchi Koda Building, 1-3-30 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: Monday-Friday 17:30-3:00 / Saturday 17:30-0:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Phone: 050-3164-0178
Official website: https://www.dynacjapan.com/brands/suikyoutei/shops/kitashinchi/
Bar K
Source: Official website
If you ask locals, "What's the go-to bar in Kita-Shinchi?" many will likely mention "Bar K." "Bar K" is a long-established bar that has been operating in Kita-Shinchi for 36 years. Once you step through the doors, you'll be greeted by a classic, calm atmosphere that offers a sense of comfort.
A must-try is the master’s signature, authentic cocktails, crafted with great care. Thirty years ago, when fresh limes were hard to come by, the master created his own homemade lime syrup to make a "Gimlet," a recipe that has been perfected over time.
The "Mojito," a drink whose recipe the master studied all the way in Cuba, spreads a refreshing sensation the moment it touches your lips. It’s so delicious that you might find yourself wanting to drink it all in one go.
Many regulars stop by after dinner, enjoying the relaxing and leisurely ambiance the bar provides.
Address: Basement Floor, Koyo Building, 1-3-3 Sonezaki Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka City
Hours: 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Closed: Sundays and New Year holidays
Phone number: 06-6343-1167
Official website: https://bar-k.jp
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