Ajinoya is a Bib Gourmand okonomiyaki specialist near the Dotombori Arcade. With fast, friendly service, and rich, delicious okonomiyaki, it’s one of our favourite places to sample Osaka’s signature dish. Recommended!
Ajinoya - image © Florentyna Leow
Osaka is the city of kuidaore, meaning “to eat until you fall over.” One of the most delicious ways to achieve horizontal gustatory bliss at the end of your meal is to eat okonomiyaki. This is one of Osaka’s signature dishes: think of it as a cabbage-rich lovechild of a frittata and a pancake, rather than a pizza as it’s erroneously referred to at times. In terms of toppings, anything goes: shrimp, squid, pork, even cheese.
Ajinoya - image © Florentyna Leow
One of our favourite places in the Minami district to sample okonomiyaki is at specialist restaurant Ajinoya near the Dotombori Arcade. Open for almost seven decades and counting, Ajinoya has fed countless diners with soft, fluffy, flavourful okonomiyaki. One of its many secrets: a batter that’s light on the wheat and heavy on the cabbage, making it a much lighter meal than your average pancake. There are some okonomiyaki restaurants where you can cook it yourself, but here, it’s best to let the staff work their magic on the hotplate in front of you.
Ajinoya - image © Florentyna Leow
Not surprisingly, Ajinoya is hugely popular with Japanese diners and tourists alike. It also saw a surge in popularity after being selected by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand-certified restaurant. Book in advance if you can - it’ll require a Japanese-speaker, as they only take bookings by telephone - or steel yourself for long queues before your meal.
For more Osaka okonomiyaki choices, see our Best Okonomiyaki in Osaka page.
English name:
Ajinoya
Japanese name:
味乃家
English address:
2F Gendai Koisan bldg., 1-7-16 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, 542-0076
Japanese address:
〒542-0076 大阪市中央区難波1-7-16 現代こいさんビル2F
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: noon-10:45pm
Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: 11:30am-10:45pm
Closed Monday except national holidays
Price:
Non-smoking section:
No
Reservations:
Possible only weekdays
Nearest Transport:
Subway and Train: 1-minute walk from exit 14 of Namba Station.
Telephone:
+81-6-6211-0713
Website:
Official website (English)
Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Ajinoya on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Ajinoya is located in Osaka's Minami district. See our complete list of things to do in the Minami district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Best Osaka Restaurants
See our list of the best Osaka restaurants for even more ideas about great places to eat in Osaka.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help