Japan 2007 - Food Report I (Osaka)

Having spent my holidays in Japan for close to a month, I've decided to break my trip into a few parts, starting from the food section first! ^__^ This post would be about all the food that I've tried and are worth trying out if anyone is going to Osaka.

OSAKA - FOOD Report Part 1

The first and No. 1 recommended place to go if anyone is going to Japan would be this sushi shop (stupid me forgot to take a picture of the shop's name!) at Tenmanbashi-me.
Although the shop is quite small, it is REALLY popular! Its always best to go either before lunch or after lunch, so that you can get at least a seat.
They sell delicious sushi at really low prices!! Basic sushi such as tamago and maguro only costs 100 yen per plate (2 pieces), salmon etc for 200 yen and the really good ones such as Jo-unagi for only 300 yen! It is really worth the money. Check out the pics for yourself!

Curry Cheese Instant Noodles
This has got to be the best instant noodles EVER! I would be willing to eat this everyday without complaints if they sold it here in Singapore!

Delicious
Reiko and I walked past this confectionery around 4am one morning (they were still not opened) and the smell of freshly baked pastries was enough to make us salivate immediately! The next day we managed to buy a box back to the dorm and finally had a taste of their well known orange cheese cake, apple strudel and strawberry shortcake! DELICIOUS indeed!
HIGHLY recommended! Its around Onohara.

Osaka Castle
If you do go to Osaka, you CANNOT NOT try their tako yaki because tako yaki is Osaka's specialty! However, do not get them at Osaka Castle or any other touristy areas because they are very expensive and not as nice as those you find at the road sides. Nonetheless, it was still good, beats tako pachi back here in Singapore ANYTIME!

Yodobashi @ Umeda
Highest Level of the building - The crepes were really really good. The whole floor was lined with dessert shops and we were spoilt for choice, but we ended up with these irresistable ice-cream crepes!

MacDonalds @ Carrefour
McPork was sooooooo good! The last time I went to Japan, I tried the black pepper McChicken and it was super yummy, thus when I saw the McPork version, I HAD TO GET IT! Macs in Japan is really quite expensive and they don't provide you with chilli or any other condiments, if you want them, you gotta pay! My meal cost me about 450yen!!

It was dessert at Baskin Robbins after that. OMG the ice cream was heavenly!!! yum yum!

Osaka University of Foreign Studies
Canteen Food - good and cheap!
Curry rice made by Reiko!! I couldn't afford to eat out everyday since I still had a few more weeks in Japan! XD

Mister Donut & KFC Buffet @ Onohara
Mister Donut was having a promotion in conjunction with the Simpsons Movie and I bought myself a tray of Mini Donuts! With all the donut craze in Singapore, I was thrilled to find a donut shop! ^_^
I bet none of you have heard of a KFC buffet right? I was surprised too when Reiko told me about this KFC buffet at the outlet near her school. The buffet wasn't exactly very cheap so thank goodness for YJ's parents who treated us to the buffet lunch! ^_^ The buffet was nothing spectacular but it was worth the experience, plus it was my first time trying a KFC buffet! And no, we did not just eat chicken, we actually had spaghetti, soup salad and wedges. (second pic)
Apparently there are only 2 outlets in the whole of Japan that serves this buffet, one of them being Osaka of course. I'm not too sure where is the outlet but if anyone knows, do let me know!
I think the buffet was around 1500yen. Only worth it if you are either a KFC fan or a HUGE eater!

Umeda

Lets call this Panda Panda because the black and white reminds me of a Panda. haha anyway, its a white and dark chocolate coated puff with custard filling inside! The shop is at the Umeda train station itself.

Albar Pasta restaurant
I LOVE Japanese fusion pasta. I can never get enough of it! Ever since Pasta de Waraku was set up in Singapore, I could never get enough of it. I always thought the pasta at Pasta de Waraku was the best I have ever eaten, but boy was I wrong! The ones in Japan were even BETTER!!
I ordered the seafood pasta that cost me only 830yen and dessert was only 380yen! And as you can see from the many dessert pics that I've put up, Japan is like the land of desserts! Taste, quality and appearance is never disappointing!

Some ramen shop around the area at Onohara too.
House specialy and gyoza! Cheap, good and huge servings! Ramen costs about 700-800yen and Gyoza was 300yen I think.

Shindax Plaza
Shindax Plaza is actually a karaoke place but if you do have a chance to go singing here, please make sure you order their fries! It is by far the best fries I've eaten in my entire life! I swear! Its at the foot of the hill where Mister Donut is.

AND make sure you try their strawberries from the supermarket! Its fresh and super super sweet! I heard that the reason why their strawberries are so expensive is because the Japanese throw away all the ugly looking strawberries and only display the good looking ones!
I bought a box of about 6-8 for about 450yen. Slightly more expensive than those in Singapore but worth buying it to try!

Délices du palais
A high end shop that sells freshly made tarts on the spot!
Beautiful and quaint! Tarts are affordable too ranging from 600-1000 yen.
Great place to hang out for high teas with alot of rich Japanese housewives. XD
Its near Osaka Muse, so just walk around the area and streets. There are alot of other confectionary cafes as well that are worth going in!
Highly recommended!

Universal Studios Japan
Lunch at Snoopy land!
Sun/moon/star fries with Prawn patty burger and Snoopy pastry for desert!
And a santa bun for dinner! XD SUPER CUTE! o>_

to be continued..