20 Affordable Restaurants in the Osaka/Umeda Area Chosen by Residents

1. Yousuko Ramen 

This ramen shop beloved by locals has been in business since 1964. They make their salt-based soups with thin noodles. Their char sui ramen and wantanmen ramen are their most popular offerings. This is definitely a shop recommended for people who like the light flavor of salt ramen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27001928/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Fukiya Building B1F, 1-20 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka  (Google Map)

2. Yukari

jpellgen/Flickr

www.yukarichan.co.jp

When you talk about okonomiyaki in the Umeda area, this is the number one shop that comes to mind. Okonomiyaki, often called a Japanese pancake, is made from wheat flour dissolved in water mixed with eggs and shredded cabbage, topped with your favorite toppings like pork or seafood, then grilled on a teppan grill. It's one of Osaka's most famous traditional foods. There's plenty of stores in Osaka and especially in Umeda, but this is one of the ones you should definitely try. 

HP: http://www.yukarichan.co.jp/shop/honten.html (Japanese Only)

Address: 2-14-13 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka  (Google Map)

3. Harukoma

This sushi restaurant in the Tenjinbashisuji shopping arcade is the most popular sushi place catering to the masses in the area. You can completely satisfy your sushi cravings here for a reasonable price. The place is always packed so if you want a quiet meal you should look elsewhere. Definitely get the maguro sashimi!

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270103/27002205/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 5-5-2 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

4. Kotan

This is a famous, well-established ramen shop in Osaka. You can choose the soup base that you want from soy sauce, miso, and salt. They have set menus that include gyoza, chicken karaage, and fried shrimp, so you can enjoy different meals. Their noodles are on the thick side, and they fill their sops with garlic and many shredded vegetables including bean sprouts. It's also very reasonable, with most ramen going for about 700 yen.

HP: www.ramen-kotan.co.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Inside Whity Umeda, 3-3 Umeda Chikamachi, Doyamacho, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

5. Yamamoto

Negiyaki is a dish where a batter made of wheat flour and water is spread lightly and grilled, then topped with scallions, sinewy meat, garlic, and then your desired toppings like pork or seafood. It goes perfect with liquor. This restaurant is known as one of the best places for negiyaki in Osaka. 

HP: www.negiyaki-yamamoto.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: EST E27, 3-25 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka  (Google Map)

6. Shimauta Live 

At this restaurant you can enjoy Okinawan food while listening to live Okinawan folk music. It's a lively restaurant where people drink and dance, so if you want to have a lot of fun, you should check this out. It's very popular with foreign tourists. You can eat good food starting at 450 yen, so it's also very reasonably priced. 

HP: www.ryukyu-shimauta.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Osaka Ekimae Daisan Building B2-87, 1-1-3 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

7. Tachinomi Tokoro Nanatsuya

This is a traditional tachinomi (stand-and-drink) far in an underground shopping arcade in Umeda. This sort of small izakaya where you stand and drink and eat is always filled with people on their way home from work in the evenings. It's not a stylish place like a bar, but rather a place where you can casually relax. You can order small appetizers like tempura, sashimi, salad, etc. Even though it's in a corner of the center of the city, it's very cheap.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27058773/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 3-3 Umeda Chikagai, Douyama-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

8. Robatayaki Isaribi 

This is a rare, genuine hibachi-style restaurant near Hankyu Umeda Station where you can eat fresh seafood. There are tables, but if you sit at the counter, you can enjoy the sight of them grilling your food right in front of you. Most food and drinks are cheap, at around 300 yen.

HP: www.rikimaru-group.com/shop/isaribi.html (Japanese Only)

Address:  1-5-12 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

9. Chuuka Shokudo Juuhachiban

This is a Chinese cuisine and ramen restaurant near Tenjin Station, just one station away from Osaka Station. You can have a "one-coin lunch" (named because it costs 500 yen) that consists of sets like ramen and fried rice, ramen and white rice, etc. for approximately $5. You can also buy fried chicken one piece at a time for 50 yen each. Dinner is also cheap, so you can eat until you're full here. 

HP: www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/y18ban/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 7-2-13 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

10. Yakiniku Shoku 

syoku.amelt.net

This is a yakiniku restaurant near Tenjin Station, just one station away from Osaka Station. They offer a daily lunch special for 500 yen that often includes dishes like tonkatsu and sashimi. The yakiniku is served with their delicious original homemade sauce. The harami (skirt steak) and the steak served with wasabi soy sauce are especially recommended.

HP: syoku.amelt.net/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2-12-16 Doshin, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

11. Sushi Masa

This is a 50 year old sushi restaurant in the Tenjin area that's open to the masses. It's just as popular as another famous sushi restaurant, Tengu. You can get their ji-nigiri set of pieces for 1,500 yen, or 2 pieces of sushi like hamachi (young yellowtail) for 150 yen or salmon for 200 yen. If you want to eat genuine sushi for a cheap price, you must stop by.

Address: 5-6-19 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

12. Mitteran Nisei 

This restaurant was made with the concept of being able to stand and eat French cuisine for reasonable prices. The weekday special roast beef rice bowl made with domestic beef is especially recommended. A regular size (90g) is 780 yen and the large (130g) is 1,280 yen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27078887/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Osaka Fukuoku Seimei Building B2F, 2-4 Komatsubaracho, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

13. Nipponbaru 

This restaurant has a large liquor menu including shochu, sake, wine, umeshu, and cocktails for reasonable prices, like draft beer (medium) for 400 yen and a bottle of wine for 1500 yen. They also have plenty of meat dishes available, including grilled meat and roast beef. The small plates of yakisoba, fried rice, and noodles are all affordable too, from 300-800 yen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27064298/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Osaka Ekimae Dai4 Building B1F, 1-11-4 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

14. Nagaya Omurice

Omurice is a typical Japanese home cooking dish that has fluffy eggs layered over chicken rice and usually topped with a demiglace sauce. This is recommended for people who prefer Western flavors over Japanese, and it's very popular with foreigners. You can enjoy delicious omurice for around 650 yen.

HP: www.nagaya-bar.com/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Osaka Ekimae Dai 1 Building B2F, 1-3-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

15. Takohachi 

Hazumit/Flickr

Takoyaki is one of Osaka's regional specialties, a bite-sized ball of dough with octopus inside. It's popular with people of all ages. You can choose from a variety of sauces, including mayonnaise, brown sauce, ginger soy sauce, and more. You can eat around 5-10 pieces for about 500-1000 yen.

HP: www.takohachi.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Whity Umeda, 4-6 Umeda Chikagai, Komatsubaracho, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

16. Tagoto Soba 

This soba restaurant is famous for using stone-ground buckwheat flour. They have a varied menu, including simple soba dishes, economical rice bowls, tempura, and set menus. Also, neither the soup or the soba noodles use chemical seasonings including preservatives, so you can eat it without fear. The freshly-fried wild shrimp tenzaru set is especially recommended. Average price is around 850-950 yen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27009975/ (Japanese Only)

Address: Hankyu Sanbangai, 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

17. Kitchen and Bar Siifaa 

Umeda, one of the most popular residential areas of Osaka, is home to a 1420 yen lunch buffet on the 17th floor of the Hankyu Terminal. They have a large menu including grilled meals, pizza, curry, dim sum, and more. It's all you can eat without a time limit! It comes with a soft drink bar as well (coffee, tea, and orange juice available).

HP: www.hankyu-hotel.com/ (English)

Address: Umeda Terminal Building 17F, 1-1-4 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

*This place has closed down.

18. Sweets Paradise 

This buffet offers sweet desserts like Japanese cakes, tarts, and chocolates! You can have over 40 types of dessert, pasta, sandwiches, curry, and soups for around 1480 yen for 70 minutes, so you can have a light lunch or dinner followed by plenty of sweets.

HP: www.sweets-paradise.jp/shop/kansai/umeda.html (Japanese Only)

Address: Umeda Rakutenchi Building 2F, 5-1 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka  (Google Map)

19. Shichifukujin

This kushikatsu (fried skewers) restaurant is in the corner of a shopping arcade by Tenjin Station, just one station away from Osaka Station. It's usually very crowded, so it's a good idea to go with just a few people. Draft beer is a surprising 100 yen per glass, and you can eat a lot for around 1000 yen.

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270103/27011477/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 5-7-29 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)

20. Tekomai

This is a restaurant where you can have all-you-can-eat steak on the weekdays for 1000 yen (ladies) and 1380 yen (men). They also have other all-you-can-eat meals like Salisbury steak and curry! If you want to eat steak in Japan, this is a restaurant you need to check out!

HP: tabelog.com/en/osaka/A2701/A270101/27006441/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 2F, 4-16 Douyamacho, Kita-ku, Osaka (Google Map)