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Thanks to its history and unique culture, the Kansai region offers an unparalleled variety of Japanese cuisine. In addition to the local specialties of Osaka, Kobe, and Nara, Kansai has the same inexpensive chain restaurants as Tokyo and a good variety of international food. Outside tourist areas, restaurant staff may not speak English but often exhibit Kansai’s signature friendliness, going out of their way to help.
The most famous restaurant on Dotombori-dori—the enormous mechanical crab is a local landmark—Kani Doraku has fine crab dishes at reasonable prices. The lunch set menu includes large portions of crab; dinner is more expensive ¥6,000. If you prefer a quick snack, a stand outside sells crab legs. An English-language menu is available. Reserve a table on weekends.
In a little 1920s farmhouse just north of Ara-ike pond in Nara Koen this delightful restaurant with dark beams and pottery-lined walls serves delicious home-style cooking. Everything is prepared from scratch. The lunch course with fried fish, tofu, and seasonal vegetables is delightful. As there is only one set meal, ordering is no problem.
This is one of Osaka's best known fugu (blowfish) restaurants. There are now branches in other parts of town, but this location is the original. In addition to fugu sashimi, the store has fugu nabe (hot pot) and many other varieties. For less-adventurous diners Zuboraya serves a range of Japanese foods, like sushi, tempura, and shabu-shabu.
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