Recommended Food in Osaka Tenma: “Okonomiyaki Chigusa”

Located near the Tenjinbashi Shopping Street, just a five-minute walk from JR Tenma Station in Osaka, there’s a hidden gem—a 70-year-old okonomiyaki restaurant called Chigusa.

Tucked away in an inconspicuous alley, it’s often packed with customers, including many tourists from afar. Stepping inside, it feels like traveling back to the Showa era. In the compact space, 46 seats are filled with staff in classic black polos and green aprons bustling about. Since its establishment in 1949, the place has preserved its Showa-style charm—from the old furniture and TV to the well-worn griddle, every corner is steeped in stories.

The signature dish, “Chigusa-yaki,” is a quintessential Osaka-style okonomiyaki. Priced at 1100 yen, it involves a thorough blend of batter and ingredients cooked on a hot griddle, featuring top-quality pork, eggs, green onions, red pickled ginger, and bits of tempura batter, all expertly fried. The resulting dish is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with a rich sauce, horseradish, and mustard seeds adding to its indulgent flavor—each bite a joyous journey of taste.

Besides the Chigusa-yaki, their fried noodles are also highly acclaimed. While there are many types of fried noodles, few are as delicious as these. Describing the unique taste is challenging—it’s not just the sweetness of the sauce; the noodles are fried to perfection, creating a sublime experience. Moreover, their homemade warabi mochi—a soft, slightly chewy traditional wagashi that melts in your mouth—provides a perfect end to the meal.

On Tabelog, Chigusa-yaki has a rating of 3.57. Since 2018, it has consistently been named among the “Tabelog Top 100 Okonomiyaki Restaurants,” and in 2022, it was crowned the champion of okonomiyaki in the Keihanshin area by the “Magic Restaurant” show.

When in Osaka, besides visiting Osaka Castle and Shinsaibashi, Chigusa-yaki is a culinary adventure not to be missed. Next time you’re wandering through Tenjinbashi Shopping Street, consider stepping into this tucked-away old shop to savor the authentic flavors of true Osaka-style okonomiyaki.