My favorite Osaka local food is kushikatsu! Food is put onto a thin bamboo skewer, coated with a thin crispy batter, and fried. The thing that truly makes this a local speciality is the dipping sauce. You can get an assortment of skewers for a set price, or order your favorites for a per skewer price. They make them fresh, and we have tried the meat, seafood, and vegetable options. I really like the cheese and shiitake variations, and Matt especially liked the pork loin and onion. I like that I can satisfy my “bloomin’ onion” craving without commiting to a whole onion.

A second local food we’ve tried is the mikasa. It is a pancake with adzuki (red bean) or similar filling baked into the center. This treat is actually found in lots of variations around Japan, but the name is local. (It is known as Dorayaki in other places) It is a lovely warm sweet treat, and I think something that you could reproduce at home by making two pancakes and then sandwiching them with the filling. Let me know if you try!