November 6, 2012: The Osaka Walking Tour: Part Deux!

Wow!  It’s been a whirlwind few days here in Osaka.  I’ve covered so much ground that I’ve decided to squeeze in an extra blog entry.  Let’s call it “November 6, 2012: The Quickening!”

We met up with Akemi’s parents on our first night in town.  The plan was to go to Sushi Koyoshi, a mom and pop restaurant I’d seen profiled on one of Anthony Bourdain’s shows.  It took us about twenty minutes to find the place – and discover it was closed.

Akemi and her parents. 

The initial disappointment gave way to single-minded resolve.  Determined that we WERE going to have sushi, Akemi’s mother  started off, up one alley, down another – the rest of us scurrying along, struggling to keep up.  Eventually, we ended up at Uosa where we enjoyed a great meal.  Some of the highlights:

Aji (spanish mackerel).  More thickly sliced than in Tokyo.  

The bones of the mackerel are deep-fried, salted, and served up.  I’m thinking of serving these instead of chips for my next football party.

You can’t get much fresher.  Or unsettling.

The melt-in-your-mouth toro.

An enormous, delicious bite of anago (sea eel).

Okay, it’s time for another walking tour.  This time, Akemi will be joining us.  Poor gal developed an eye infection last night and can’t wear contacts or make-up so she’s feeling a little camera-shy today.  So no pictures, please.

Before we head out, I’m going to hop in the shower.  For some mysterious reason, the tub is only half covered.  Try not to get the bathroom floor wet.

One of the things I love about Japan is the detail that goes into the various window displays, especially as Christmas approaches.

This fellow stops to talk to us about the over-30 rugby tournament taking place in Osaka.  Apparently, he’s a player.  At 75!

If there are two things Osaka is known for, it’s okonomiyaki and takoyaki.  Let’s cover both, shall we?

We grab a seat at one of the okonomiyaki booths.  The hot coming off the grill is oppressive.  That’ll teach you to rest your elbows on the table.

We order two okonomiyaki.  The server comes over, mixes together the batter and cabbage and sets it down on the grill.  She tops with bonito flakes that do a little dance as they cook.

After flipping it, she lets it cook a little longer, then tops with mayo, okonomiyaki sauce (that tastes suspiciously like tonkatsu sauce) and nori.

Akemi preferred the version with pork and seafood.  I liked the one pictured here with the beef gristle (that’s how it’s described on the menu), green onions and a raw egg.

Akemi gives this place two enthusiastic thumbs up:

Let’s head over to the lower level of one of the major department stores and check out the fresh fruit.  You’re not allowed to take pictures so let’s pretend we’re just checking for the updates on our respective fantasy football league teams:

Those melons are about $30 a head.

Very expensive but so much better than any of the fruit I’ve had anywhere else.  Still, it IS fruit…

Hanging whale art.

You don’t need an English menu when ordering.  Just point to the appropriate plastic replicas.

We stop for one of these matcha cream-filled mini-pancakes. Eat quickly because, if you don’t, Akemi WILL finish it.

Okay, we did the okonomiyaki.  Now it’s time for takoyaki.  Let’s take up position at the standing counter at Hana Dako and wait for them to complete our batch.

Firm on the outside and lava hot and goopy on the inside.  An acquired taste but strangely addictive.

For dessert, how about some sake cake?  You know what would go great with this?  Right.  Sake ice cream.

Let’s wash it down with a cool, bittersweet matcha latte

Tomorrow’s irregularly scheduled entry = The Osaka Wrap-up!

Tagged: fugetsu, Hana Dako, Japan, Japan travel, okonimiyaki, Osaka, Osaka food, Osaka sushi, Osaka takoyaki, Osaka tokonomiyaki, Osaka travel, sushi, takoyaki, Uosa, Uosa Sushi