Osaka, Japan｜Shirakaba

A hidden jewel and a surprise of find as we were walking around having visited the lovely, zen Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka. This tiny and cosy restaurant, is run by sweet and energetic couple (in their 70s) who did everything together. Amazingly, this place is 63 years old (presumably setup by the owner's parents) and been operating in the same location since. Perhaps, it was the low expectations we had (i.e. no advance hype), or the surprise and walk-in factor...but the lunch was fantastic. The Yakisoba and Okonomiyaki were much, much, better than what we had at the well hyped places in Osaka. My wife and 2 teenage kids also agree!! The cosy ambience and the lovely hosts behind the counter making the food fresh and on-demand made the experience so much better and memorable (amazing, we don't know the name of the place in English).

If you're looking for a cozy and authentic Japanese dining experience, look no further than this small restaurant! I had the pleasure of trying their yakisoba and it was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also a highlight for me. The building is designed in a traditional Japanese style and the decor is tastefully done. It really adds to the overall experience of dining there.

We had the most amazing okonomiyaki and yaki udon here. Everyone (staff and patrons alike) was very friendly, even though our Japanese was rough and they didn’t speak very much English. We would go out of our way to visit again if we go to Japan again. ありがとうございます！