Osaka Dotonbori Charcoal-Grilled Skewers Izakaya

Address: 〒542-0071 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Chuo Ward, Dotonbori 2-4-11 Maison de Dotonbori 2F Atmosphere/Facilities: Very small seating area, restroom available, smoking allowed, handwritten menu (with Chinese translations), cash only Highlights: Skewers, side dishes, draft beer Average Price: 3,000 JPY per person Rating: Discovered this local gem while wandering around Dotonbori. Later found out it’s a 28-year-old chain restaurant. Many Chinese tourists often stop by to take photos at the entrance. Inside, seating is quite cramped. A table for four can barely fit two people. Since five Japanese patrons occupied two six-person tables, only counter seats and a small four-person table were left. Personally, I recommend sitting at the counter in this type of izakaya unless the tables are larger. The handwritten menu includes Chinese translations for reference. For side dishes, the cucumber with miso and natto is refreshing and tasty. The restaurant also serves stir-fried rice noodles as a complimentary dish. Each skewer set includes three skewers, with prices slightly higher at around 300-500 JPY per set. Recommended dishes: Grilled chicken wings, which are crispy; chicken tail, meticulously trimmed to remove any unpleasant flavors; and grilled chicken heart, which is juicy and free of any gamey taste. Grilled vegetables like eggplant and mushrooms are also excellent. Not recommended: Grilled beef belly slices, which are tough and hard to chew. While the radish sauce is delicious, it quickly cools the freshly grilled beef belly, making it cold. Overall, the total cost was around 14,000 JPY! Prices are moderately high, and the quality of dishes varies.