Takoyaki Kuu: Osaka Shinsaibashi's Must-Try Izakaya Spot
Craving authentic takoyaki and a cold beer in Osaka? Takoyaki Kuu in Shinsaibashi is your late-night spot for delicious Japanese street food and izakaya vibes. Don't miss this local favorite!
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Craving authentic takoyaki and a cold beer in Osaka? Takoyaki Kuu in Shinsaibashi is your late-night spot for delicious Japanese street food and izakaya vibes. Don't miss this local favorite!
Osaka Shinsaibashi Foodie Spot, Japan
Takoyaki Kū
Text/Photos ©Hibubu
When you visit Osaka, a refreshing
draft beer with takoyaki is an absolute must-try, right?
Today, I'll introduce you to a fantastic izakaya and foodie spot
in Shinsaibashi, where many tourists choose to stay:
Takoyaki Kū!
Takoyaki Kū |
Operating Hours: 7:30 PM ~ 4:30 AM (next day) Closed: Thursdays Location: 500m from Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station |
📍 Takoyaki Kū is a late-night izakaya that operates from evening
until early morning the next day.
It's located on the right side of the Shinsaibashi shopping arcade,
and it's just an 8-minute walk from Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station.
A special feature of Kū is that all alcoholic beverages are 500 yen,
and takeout orders are also available.
Also, smoking is permitted inside, so
non-smokers, please keep this in mind.
The exterior is painted purple,
giving it more of a café vibe than a traditional takoyaki shop.
And the employee grilling takoyaki at the entrance had quite a serious expression,
which initially made it feel a bit difficult to approach.
(But it turns out they were actually very friendly!)
The interior is divided into two floors: ground floor and first floor.
The ground floor only has straight counter seating,
while the first floor has table seating for about 16 people.
On the blackboard above the ground floor seating, there were drawings of Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan
characters along with some writing.
Funnily enough, it was an advertisement for a nearby
restaurant!
Besides the drawings, there were also
photos of Kū's signature dishes.
If you're wondering what to order, it seemed like a great idea to choose from there.
We took seats at the ground floor counter.
The space between seats was quite narrow,
and the chairs couldn't be moved, so the seating was a bit uncomfortable.
However, with the setup where you're almost facing the owner,
it really felt like an authentic local izakaya.
The cooking space on the ground floor was also incredibly small.
In a space just big enough for one person to stand,
teppanyaki, takoyaki, and other dishes were being prepared.
Next up, I'll show you the menu.
Both Korean and English menus were available,
and there was no difference in price or items compared to the Japanese menu.
Let me introduce you to a few of their most popular dishes.
Takoyaki 7 pieces 500 yen, 14 pieces 900 yen
Fuwafuwiyaki 800 yen
Okonomiyaki 1,000 yen
Yakisoba 900 yen
All alcoholic beverages 500 yen
For our first order, we got beer and Calpis,
along with **takoyaki and Takosen**.
Let me tell you how each of them tasted!
First up, the beer was cool and smooth,
pairing perfectly with the savory and sweet takoyaki.
The takoyaki had that wonderfully gooey texture,
exactly the Osaka-style takoyaki I was hoping for!
While not exceptionally mind-blowing,
it was definitely delicious takoyaki.
Next, we tried Takosen out of curiosity.
True to its name, it's a simple dish with takoyaki and
sauce sandwiched between senbei crackers.
Funnily enough, it was surprisingly delicious!
The soft takoyaki combined with the crispness of the senbei
**added a richer texture** to the dish.
Plus, the sweet teriyaki sauce was more pronounced,
making it even tastier than regular takoyaki.
However, the senbei can get soggy as it cools,
losing its crunch, so I recommend eating it quickly once it arrives.
Lastly, we ordered the Fuwafuwiyaki.
Literally translating to "fluffy-fluffy grilled,"
it looked quite similar to an egg omelet.
But unlike a typical egg omelet,
the inside was incredibly soft and gooey.
The texture melted in your mouth,
and its sweet flavor made me keep wanting more.
When I asked the owner, they explained it's a dish wrapped
like tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) with takoyaki batter mixed into the egg.
If you're looking for something unique,
**I highly recommend trying the Fuwafuwiyaki!**
📍 We had a simple dinner for two and paid 3,200 yen.
The food was generally good all around,
but the **Fuwafuwiyaki** stood out with its unique texture –
definitely a must-try if you visit Kuu!
Also, with all alcoholic beverages at 500 yen, it's **great value for money**
**and perfect for a second round**!
If you're staying on the east side of Shinsaibashi and craving
takoyaki and a cold draft beer in the evening, I highly recommend stopping by here for a casual bite!
▼ Looking for more Takoyaki spots in Osaka? ▼
Takoyaki Kuu is a late-night izakaya operating from 7:30 PM until 4:30 AM the following morning. It is closed every Thursday.
Takoyaki Kuu is located approximately 500m from Kintetsu Nippombashi Station, taking about an 8-minute walk. It is situated on the right side of the Shinsaibashi shopping street.
All alcoholic beverages at Takoyaki Kuu are sold at the same price of ~$3. This is one of its features offering great value for money.
Fuwafuwa-yaki looks similar to an egg omelet, but it's a dish wrapped like an egg roll with takoyaki batter mixed into the egg. It's characterized by its unique, sweet texture that melts in your mouth.
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