Kushikatsu Ageha

Ageha elevates the B-kyu gurume (“B-tier gourmet”) status of its crisp fried skewers with a thoughtful medley of light refreshing sides, great donburi and curry rice options, a full wine list, desserts, and excellent gourmet cocktails loaded with real fruit.

Kushikatsu Ageha is tucked away in a narrow Yokocho alleyway packed with popular eateries © Angelino Donnachaidh

As the battered and deep-fried cousin to kushi-yaki (of which yakitori is the most famous subcategory), kushikatsu is often a denser, oilier and saltier meal that can sit a little heavy on the stomach and, for all its deliciousness and variety, wear out its welcome fast for certain palates. This is why the quality of kushikatsu itself matters so much – proper preparation can mitigate a lot of the greasiness and thus much of the overload. Pairing it with sides and that complement it with light refreshing tones and fruity hits of sweet or sour that cleanse the palate and round out the meal also goes a long way.

Ageha has both of these angles covered. Its kushikatsu itself is airy and fluffy-crisp, with all the delicious texture and saltiness you expect from these fried treats but without being overly greasy. It’s also made from market-fresh meat, veggies, and seafood cut into perfect bite-sized chunks.

In a unique move that sets Ageha apart from many of the other great kushikatsu places that dot the Osaka landscape, the restaurant also offers its own signature limited skewer combos that combine complementary ingredients and toppings for maximum enjoyment on a single stick (in addition to the usual single-item skewers). Some standout surprises for me were the sudachi citrus-garnished matsutake mushroom kushi, the Caprese-style arugula and ham roll kushi, and the beef skirt steak with makomo-dake “water-bamboo shoot” (AKA “Manchurian wild rice shoot”) kushi.

Ageha has an indoor dining room with tables, as well as a compact patio terrace with small tables © Angelino Donnachaidh

And did I mention the sides and drinks? Ageha’s sense for the overall experience and knack for backdropping the flavors of kushikatsu really shines here too, with fantastically fresh veggie, fruit, seafood and other salad options that cut through the decadent salty crispiness with bright bursts of refreshing contrast. There’s a distinctly Mediterranean leaning in many of the sides that never would have occurred to me (and clearly hasn’t to many other restaurants) as the perfect balancing complement to kushikatsu, but really works. If you want to go the other way and double down on the salty, meaty, oily goodness, you can also grab a plate of curry rice or some grilled sausage or french fries on the side.

Those who like a tipple with their dinner will be happy to know that Ageha has draught beer on tap, a full wine list, and some of the most beautiful and thoughtfully-crafted real fruit cocktails anywhere in the city, including low-alcohol and non-alcoholic options. These cocktails, loaded with real fruit like kiwi, orange, blueberry, and raspberry also offer a great sweet-and-sour refreshing hit that contrasts the kushi nicely.

About Angelino Donnachaidh
Angelino Donnachaidh is a Mexican-American father, author, Japanese-English translator, and longtime resident of Osaka, Japan. His works include the middle grade (pre-)historical fiction novel Tamiu: A Cat’s Tale (Winner of the North Street Prize and CWA Muse Medallion), the YA post-cyberpunk heist adventure screenplay Brother (Winner of the HollywoodGenre 2025 Scifi Screenplay Competition), and the upcoming samurai scifi-fantasy action-thriller novel The Mayhem Protocols.

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Kushikatsu Ageha Information

Name in English:
Kushikatsu Ageha

Name in Japanese:
串カツAGEHA

English address:
〒530-0057 Osaka, Kita Ward, Sonezaki, 2 Chome−9−16 1F

Japanese address:
〒530-0057 大阪府大阪市北区曾根崎２丁目９−１６ 1F

Opening hours:
5:00pm-12:00am every day

Non-smoking area: Yes

Price:
¥2000-¥4000 per person

Nearest transport:
5-minute walk from Higashi-Umeda on the Osaka Metro (Subway) Tanimachi line
8-minute walk from Kitashinchi Station on the JR Tozai and Gakkentoshi Lines
8-minute walk from Osaka-Umeda Station on the Hankyu Lines

Website: Official website (English)

Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Kushikatsu Ageha on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Kushikatsu Ageha is located in Osaka’s Kita and Umeda district. See our complete list of things to do in the Kita and Umeda 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 and our other recommended kushikatsu in Osaka.

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