Dining in Osaka

Japan is the country with the most Michelin Guide “Three Star” restaurants, more than France.  Osaka is in the center of the Kansai area, where there is a seeming consensus, Osaka is the food capital of Japan.

My first night I find myself in what could be considered the food capital of the world, I am turned away at my first choice, a Yakitori restaurant.  It’s full.

I move along to a tiny Shabu Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ”) restaurant in the heart of the city.  Most of the restaurants in this area of narrow winding streets hold at most 20 people.

Shabu-Shabu is a hot pot kind of meal, with thinly sliced meat with vegetables.  The name is an onomatopoeia, the sound made when stirring.

A number of bowls of freshly cut meats, vegetables, dipping sauce and rice comprise the meal.

I follow the example of those around me, cooking the meat a few minutes, then, dipping it into the sauce bowl provided.  A second small container of sauce with a heavy garlic odor is provided as a condiment.  It is wonderful with its delightful kick.

All of the staff are superbly polite and both the food and the service is par excellence. I am thoroughly pleased.  In my halting Japanese, I thank the proprietor “oishii deshita.”

Later I realize I made a basic grammatical error.  The phrase should have been oishikata des.  In Japanese, the adjectives (oishii) are conjugated.  He ignored my error and shared my joy of the meal.

I have a scolding coming from Sensei Nicholson upon my return.

Still, I have had a wonderful meal.

Author: Cultural Explorer

Multi-Day Thru-Hiker. Cultural Explorer. Traveler of thousand-year old trails. Cool forests of Japan, South America, North America and Europe. The East and the West. View all posts by Cultural Explorer