Can’t be bothered to queue at Daruma? Don’t worry - there’s another kushikatsu restaurant in Shinsekai that’s just as good, if not better. Tengu is sure to satisfy all your greasy, deep-fried desires. Just be warned, sometimes there’s a queue here, too.
Tengu - image © Florentyna Leow
Tengu stands out in the narrow Jan Jan Arcade for the long, red-nosed demon above its door for which it’s named. It’s one of many kushikatsu restaurants in the Shinsekai area. Not all kushikatsu are created equal, however. The queues outside Tengu at peak dining hours are testament to the consistent quality of its deep-fried skewers.
Like most kushikatsu restaurants, the skewers here won’t break the bank. Most vegetables and meats cost around JPY100 - 200 per skewer. An outlier is the fried shrimp at around JPY450 - but given how large and sweet it is, we think it’s entirely worth the extra expense. Another one to try is the doteyaki - beef tendons stewed in a sweet miso sauce. This local speciality is an acquired taste but one you should definitely try at least once when you’re traveling through Osaka.
While you’re supposed to dip your deep-fried skewers in the communal sauce pot on the table, the cardinal rule here - as with guacamole or salsa - is to never double dip. If you really need extra sauce, spoon it on after you’ve taken a bite.
If you want to try out the greasy Osakan speciality in its birthplace, Tengu isn’t a bad restaurant at all to test it out.
For more Osaka kushikatsu choices, see our Best Kushikatsu in Osaka page.
English name:
Tengu
Japanese name:
てんぐ
English address:
3-4-12 Ebisu-higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, 556-0002
Japanese address:
〒556-0002 大阪市浪速区恵美須東3-4-12
Opening hours:
10:30am-9pm
Closed Monday
Price:
Cheap
Non-smoking section:
No
Reservations:
No Reservations
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 2-minute walk from exit 1 of Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
Train: 5-minute walk from the east exit of Shin-Imamiya Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line and Nankai Main Line.
Telephone:
+81-6-6641-3577
Website:
none
Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Tengu on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Tengu is located in Osaka's Tennoji and Abeno area. See our complete list of things to do in the Osaka's Tennoji and Abeno area, 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.
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