The area around Osaka Namba Station is considered the heart of Osaka travel. If we were to list major tourist spots or busy districts in Osaka, Namba Station, Dotonbori, and the Umeda area, a bit further north, would top the list.
Among them, for first-time visitors to Osaka, the most visited area is the Namba Station – Dotonbori area.
“Diverse restaurants near Namba Station”
Around Namba Station, various well-known restaurants attract tourists. The Dotonbori – Namba Station area is always bustling with many travelers, making it easy to find ‘must-try’ restaurants naturally.
On the first night of my Osaka trip, I ended up in Namba Station by chance as I aimlessly wandered around. I recalled seeing a post about a famous tempura restaurant nearby, and checking the map confirmed that the restaurant, “Tenpura Daikichi,” was close by.
“Local gem known as Daikichi”
The restaurant I visited this time is known as “Tenpura Daikichi.” Rather than being famous among tourists, this restaurant is well-known among locals. It is located beneath a subway line.
Referring to blog posts by other writers, I learned that there is usually a considerable wait time to dine at Daikichi. However, during my visit, perhaps due to the relatively late dinner hour, I was able to enter without waiting.
“Order and fry seafood caught on the same day”
Daikichi’s popularity among locals is simple. They fry seafood caught on the same day right after you place your order.
Upon entering the restaurant and finding a seat, I spotted a menu. Fortunately, there was a menu available in both Korean and English. After looking at the Korean menu, I ordered the “Tempura Rice Bowl” in a certain size and “Clam Miso Soup,” along with an additional “Assorted Tempura Set.” Since I was dining alone, I ordered the small assorted tempura set, which consisted of seven different items, for 1,000 yen.
“Randomly fried assorted tempura”
The assorted tempura set is said to be fried randomly from the ingredients available at the time of the order. It appeared that they fry different items each day. With 7 pieces of tempura for 1,000 yen, it cost around 140 yen per piece, approximately 1,400 won in Korean currency.
After placing my order and waiting, the dishes arrived one by one. The “Clam Miso Soup” came out first, followed by the Tempura Rice Bowl and the assorted tempura.
A dipping sauce for the tempura is provided, and notably, it comes with “Daikon Oroshi,” grated radish in soy sauce. You can dip the tempura in this sauce for a unique flavor.
“A tradition of discarding eaten clam shells on the floor”
If you observe the floor at Daikichi, you’ll notice a pile of clam shells. This is a tradition of the restaurant.
People casually discard clam shells on the floor after eating, and it’s quite a sight. As it was my first visit, I felt a bit awkward and couldn’t bring myself to throw clam shells on the floor. Instead, I discreetly placed them on one side of the table.
The first meal in Osaka ended with a hearty tempura experience. Although the meal cost around 2,000 yen, which is about 20,000 won for a single meal, it was satisfyingly generous, making it worthwhile.
“Japan, Osaka Namba Station, Tenpura Daikichi”
- Address: 2 Chome-10-25 Nanbanaka, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 556-0011, Japan
- Phone: +81 6-6644-2958
- Website: Daikichi (Japanese)
- Operating Hours: (Tue-Fri) 11:30 – 15:00 / 17:00 – 22:30, (Sat-Sun) 11:00 – 22:30
- Closed on Mondays