I have an extensive list of restauarants AND play AND sightseeing spots in my Osaka with kids post but for those who just need a quick list of my favourites to refer to quickly…
Here are my favourite places to eat in Osaka with kids.
Breakfast suggestion in Osaka: Scroll down for the exact address but Bikkuri Donkey in Nishi-Shinsaibashi serves a breakfast plate from 8am-11am with eggs, bacon and toast for a little under 1000 yen.
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS NEAR OSAKA STATION?
A lively food court with lots of different types of food
The Grand Front Osaka food court area is such a fabulous option for families with small children 1) because its noisy and lively so there is no pressure for kids to sit still if they don’t want to 2) because everyone can eat different types of food but still all sit together. Mum can have sushi, Dad can have gyoza and kids can have rice or pizza or whatever.
Grand Front Osaka is directly connected to the north gate, via a 2nd floor walkway, of Osaka station. I have written more about Grand Front Osaka here.
Australian Restaurant
Australian restaurant Bills can be found in Tokyo and also Osaka.
They are a great option for an Aussie style breakfast.
BILLS, OSAKA STATION
大阪市北区梅田3-1-3 3-1-3 UMEDA, KITA-KU, OSAKA
OPEN EVERYDAY : 8:30AM-10PM
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS NEAR HONMACHI?
Izakaya (specializes in seafood, sushi and tempura)
This izakaya Sugidama is completely non-smoking (if you’ve been in Japan for a hot minute, you will know that this is not an easy things to find.). They also are fine for kids to come along.
This is NOT a touristy spot and I mean that in the best way. This is where you will find people dining after work or catching up with a friend. They do have an English menu but don’t be afraid to copy what someone next to you has ordered if it looks amazing (it might be a special not on the ready-made English menu.) If you’d like to say “Please give me the same” (while pointing) say 同じものください onaji mono kudasai.
Remember that at izakayas at dinner time you order lots of small dishes that are designed to be shared (it would be quite weird to order one dish per person.)
While at lunchtime you choose a “lunch set” (there are several to choose from here) per person and it comes out kind of in a big bento style way. At lunch, I recommend getting the sushi & tempura set – it also comes with a soup.
For lunch here, I would budget 2000 yen per adult and approximately 3000 yen per adult at dinner time.
Firstly, there are 3 types of seating here : counter seating, table seating and horigotatsu seating (horigotatsu is where it looks like you’re sitting on the floor but actually the part where your legs go is dug out so you are still in a seated position. Horigotatsu will mean you shoes will need to come off.)
I recommend getting the sashimi of the day and the seasonal vegetable tempura (it comes with two types of salt for dipping and I love this so much more than a tempura sauce). For those with kids who aren’t in a “new food” type of mood – they also have fries.
Sugidama is 2 mins walk from Honmachi Station and 12 mins walk from Shinsaibashi Station.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. It is possible to make reservations here – ask your hotel to call for you.
SUGIDAMA, HONMACHI
大阪市中央区南本町3-6-1竹宏本町ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, 3-6-1 MINAMI-HONMACHI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-2:30PM (LAST ORDER AT 2PM)
OPEN WEEKENDS FOR DINNER 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 10:30PM)
OPEN SATURDAYS FOR DINNER: 4PM-11PM (LAST ORDER AT 10:30PM)
OPEN SUNDAYS FOR DINNER 4PM-10PM (LAST ORDER AT 9;3oPM)
If you are struggling for gluten free options in Honmachi, Osaka, there is a wheat free Pizza rice bowl at Dominos Pizza in Honmachi (please note that the pizzas are not gluten free but this rice bowl is.) See the rice bowl on the Dominos Japan menu here.
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS NEAR DOTONBORI?
Gyoza
A fantastic option is Gyozaoh! Dotonbori. It is 6 mins walk from the Dotonbori bridge (it takes the same amount of time in a cab so, sorry, no shortcuts for this one.)
The gyoza here are delicious and also there are vegan menu options.
This restaurant sometimes accepts reservations but most diners walk in. On weekends – there can be a 20-30 min wait so- with kids, I recommend going there right at 5pm. There are counter seats and table seats. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
This restaurant also serves wine, sake and cocktails.
GYOZAOH! DOTONBORI STORE
大阪市中央区道頓堀2-4-14
2-4-14 DOTONBORI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN 5PM-11PM
Okonomiyaki
Approx 10 mins walk from Dotonbori you will find Chibo’s Dotombori branch.
Warning; this restaurant often has a line from around 5pm so it’s best to go for lunch or a super early dinner.
In case you’re not aware, okonomiyaki is like a savoury omelette/pancake cooked on the hot plate. It’s a great dish to enjoy with kids as they can watch it being cooked and it’s also easy to ask for certain ingredients to not be added etc.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and both floors of the restaurant are non-smoking.
In terms of budget, I would expect to pay between 1000-2000 yen per adult here for lunch or dinner.
This picture is from another Chibo restaurant branch – but the vibe is similar.
They have an English menu (also on their website here.)
Read my tips here on how to order a vegetarian version of okonomiyaki in Japanese.
CHIBO, DOTOMBORI
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-11PM (LAST ORDER 10PM)
Pizza
How about grabbing a slice of pizza at Slices in Nishishinsaibashi ( 6 mins walk from Dotombori.). There are also many vegan pizza options.
If you book ahead, they also sometimes offer pizza making experiences for kids on Sundays- in English.
They accept cash and cards. There is a small amount of seating – all counter seating. They also serve wine and cocktails. Takeout allowed.
This is a fabulous and easy dinner with kids in Osaka.
SLICES
2-3-21 NISHISHINSAIBASHI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN: TUESDAY-SUNDAY 12PM-12AM
CLOSED: MONDAYS
Teppanyaki / Okonomiyaki
Another option that is loved by the locals is Teppanyaki Dohtonbori Okonomiyaki. The staff will show you how to cook your own teppan (hot plate) at your own table. This restaurant is vibey and casual and is popular with high school and university students. Just a heads up that teppanyaki in Japan may be different to teppanyaki back at home and I explain why in my blog post here. This restaurant does accept reservations. Budget wise – I would expect to pay around 2000 yen per adult at dinner time and 1000 yen at lunch. Most major credit cards are accepted here. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
TEPPANYAKI DOHTONBORI OKONOMIYAKI, OSAKA MAIN BRANCH
大阪市中央区難波1-6-20
1-6-20 NAMBA, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN MIDDAY-11PM (LAST ORDER 10PM)
Vegan Restaurant
Try vegan restaurant Paprika Shokudo ( 5 mins walk from exit 3 of Shinsaibashi subway station on the Midosuji line or 2 mins walk from Yotsubashi subway station on the Yotsubashi line via exit 2 OR 20 mins walk or 7 mins in a cab – approx 750 yen from Dotonbori.). They accept most major credit cards.
This restaurant serves meal plates ( one plate will include a few dishes and a salad or grain, for example.) For this restaurant I would budget around 2000 yen per person. Ingredients here are organic. This restaurant seats 40 people. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
PAPRIKA SHOKUDO
大阪市西区新町1-9-9アリビオビル1F
ARIBIO BULIDING, GROUND FLOOR, 1-9-9 SHINMACHI, NISHI-KU, OSAKA
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-3PM (LAST ORDER 2:30PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5:30PM-9PM (LAST ORDER 10PM)
Hamburger/Steak Grill Restaurant with a gluten free option
Also in Nishi-Shinsaibashi (3 mins walk from Yotsubashi Station) is Hamburger Steak/ Grill restaurant called “Bikkuri Donkey”. The name always makes me laugh as it literally translates to “Surprise Donkey” but the interior is quirky ( kind of like dining inside “Western River Railroad” at Disneyland.). It’s a casual restaurant and lots of families dine here.
The cuisine is “hamburger steaks served on mini hot plates.” Many adults meals come out on hot grill plates so please watch little toddlers and baby hands here.
Please note that when the menu states “burger” it refers to a ground meat patty.
Bikkuri Donkey have two kids menu options: Kids Regular Burger Plate – comes with a small salad and rice ( 550 yen or 660 yen with a drink) OR Kids Egg Burger Plate – comes with a small salad, fries and a sunny side egg on the burger patty ( 660 yen or 770 yen with a drink .)
They have a cute kids menu .
This restaurant is entirely non-smoking.
There is one gluten free hamburger steak option at this restaurant too. I would budget around 1500 yen per adult to dine here.
In the morning, they also offer a breakfast plate with eggs and toast and bacon for approximately 1000 yen.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. They also take reservations and walk-ins.
This branch has lots of stairs down to the restaurant. However, if you have a stroller, the staff will help you bring it down the stairs and can store if for you while you dine.
BIKKURI DONKEY, AMEMURA BRANCH
大阪市西心斎橋2-11-30 ブルータスビルB1F
B1 BRUTUS BUILDING, 2-11-30 NISHI-SHINSAIBASHI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN 11AM-MIDNIGHT
Sukiyaki & Shabu-Shabu
This hot-pot style of eating is so much fun for families and just interactive with kids. This restaurant Syabu-yo is a chain restaurant. Diners choose the amount of time they would like to have unlimited meat brought to their table (usually 60 or 90 mins) and that price also includes access to a salad and vegetable buffet and ice-cream. The instructions on how to make your meal at the table are here on the Syabu-Yo website but the staff will also help you. My kids prefer sukiyaki to shabu-shabu as it is so sweet and more-ish.
This style of restaurant is tricky if everyone has different dietary requirements (for example if one family member is vegetarian etc) as all the food is cooked in one pot. I guess you could get around this by booking two tables with two separate pots. Sometimes they have pots like the one pictured below that has two sections. This is mostly so you can cook two different flavours but it could also work for a meat side and a veg side too, I guess. To eat here I would budget for around 3000 yen per adult. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Syabu-Yo accept most major credit cards.
If you like this restaurant – I’m pretty sure you will! Then you are in luck as you can always google your closest Syabu-Yo branch as they are all over Japan.
They have free wifi. It is best to make a reservation here but if you’re eating outside of traditional meal times you could also just try for a walk-in.
The Shinsaibashi branch is 130 metres from Shinsaibashi Station.
SYABU-YO, Q PLAZA SHINSAIBASHI STORE
大阪市中央区心斎橋筋1-1-10 キュープラザ心斎橋 6F
6TH FLOOR, KYU PLAZA SHINSAIBASHI BUILDING, 1-1-10 SHINSAIBASHISUJI, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN 11AM-11PM
If you are struggling for gluten free options in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, there is a wheat free Pizza rice bowl at Dominos Pizza in Higashi-Shinsaibashi – aka East Shinsaibashi. (Please note that the pizzas are not gluten free but this rice bowl is.) See the rice bowl on the Dominos Japan menu here.
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS NEAR UMEDA STATION?
All day breakfast & Pancakes
Eggs’n’Things is a Hawaiian restaurant built around the concept of “All Day Breakfast” (a relatively new idea for Japan.) It is light and bright and there are several of these restaurants around Japan but this is branch my favourite – mainly because of the space and shorter lines. This restaurant is well-known for the mountain of whipped cream on their sweet pancakes. YUM! They also have savoury options and a kids menu (egg and hamburger steak plate or fruit and cream pancakes with a chocolate pen to decorate). They have high chairs and the staff are very welcoming when it comes to families.
The Umeda Eggs N Things is actually a very very beautiful restaurant – it’s light and open and modern.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking.
Free colouring for kids too.
EGGS’N’THINGS UMEDA CHAYAMACHI
大阪市北区茶屋町1-45
1-45 CHAYAMACHI, KITA-KU, OSAKA
OPEN EVERYDAY 9AM-8PM
Salads, Rice Dishes and Pasta
For a really fun and trendy cafe vibe in Chayamachi, I recommend Wired Cafe Umeda NU Chayamachi.
Lunch sets at Wired Cafe Umeda NU Chayamachi are pasta, salad or rice dishes and come with a small drink and a dessert for around 1300 yen. For dinner I would budget around 3000 yen per adult.
They do accept reservations & accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
Wired Cafe Umeda Nu Chayamachi also have space to store strollers while you dine. They also have a kids menu.
WIRED CAFE UMEDA NU CHAYAMACHI
大阪市北区茶屋町10-12 NU 茶屋町 2F
2ND FLOOR, NU CHAYAMACHI, 10-12 CHAYAMACHI, KITA-KU, OSAKA
OPEN 10AM-11Pm
Organic Cafe
This cafe Natural Kitchen Medaka Ni-goten has amazing lunch sets and there is also a kids menu. The menu changes daily but always has a protein with a side of 2-3 vegetable dishes.
This restaurant does accept reservations. There is also a small vegetarian menu in English. Popular menu items include the vegetable curry and the salad bowls.
Please do note that, although this restaurant’s menu is filled with lots of beautiful, organic vegetables – it is not a vegetarian restaurant so please check and ask for a meat-free meal if you are vegetarian.
There are often 1 or 2 vegan options here AND gluten free meals- best to have your hotel call and confirm ahead of time.
Natural Kitchen Medaka Ni-goten is 11 minutes walk from Umeda Station. Please note that this restaurant is cash only. The entire restaurant is non-smoking and has free wifi.
NATURAL KITCHEN MEDAKA NI-GOTEN
大阪市北区兎我野町3-20 雁木ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, GANGI BUILDING, 3-20 TOGANOCHO, KITA-KU, OSAKA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-8:30PM (LAST ORDER AT 8PM)
Gluten Free Cafe
Just 11 mins from Umeda Station, is Gluten Free Cafe & Shisha Bar Anosaki Konosaki. This entire cafe is gluten free. Meal options include hamburger steaks and fried chicken and dessert options such as cheesecake or waffles.There is additional seating upstairs.
GLUTEN FREE CAFE & SHISHA BAR ANOSAKI KONOSAKI
GROUND FLOOR, 1-2-5 NAKAZAKINISHI, KITA WARD
CHECK THE ANOSAKI KONOSAKI INSTAGRAM PAGE FOR OPEN HOURS BUT USUALLY OPEN DAILY 11AM-11PM
Salads, Quiche, Pastas, Desserts
If it’s greens and vegetables you’re craving, I recommend Cosme Kitchen Adaptation in Umeda.
It is located next to the Hanshin Umeda Station but is only 3 mins walk from JR Osaka. Lunch sets are around 2000 yen and dinner more like 3000 yen. They accept most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking. You can sit indoors or out on the terrace. They have an English Menu available and an allergen friendly menu. They also have a kids menu and space to store strollers while you dine.
COSME KITCHEN ADAPTATION
北区梅田1-13-13 阪神百貨店梅田本店3F Wellness Square
3F Wellness Square, Hanshin Hyakkaten ( Department Store) Umeda Main Branch, Kita-ku, Umeda
OPEN EVERYDAY 10AM-8PM
COSME KITCHEN ADAPTATION MENU HERE
One restaurant suggestion in this immediate area – across the road from Hep 5 is another department store called Hep Navio.
On the 7th floor of Hep Navio is Botejyu.
Okonomiyaki
Botejyu is an okonomiyaki restaurant chain in Japan that has been around since 1946.
In Japan, okonomiyaki is seen as a comfort food. It is often referred to as a thick Japanese omelette made with cabbage and then diners choose their own fillings such as additional vegetables, meats or seafood. It is then decorated with sauces, mayonnaise and/or seaweed flakes. It is cooked on a hot plate in front of you so it is really good if you are fussy or just really need to be able to veto ingredients as they are added.
Another option for food in Okonomiyaki restaurants is yakisoba – noodles cooked on the hot grill. It’s really popular and is often considered to be one of Japan’s most popular street food options.
Okonomiyaki restaurants are pretty much always really casual and a great way to share a cheap meal with friends or colleagues.
This restaurant accepts credit cards.
Please note that this is not a non-smoking restaurant so you may need to venture in in between normal mealtimes or suss it out first.
Unlike many other in this chain of restaurants, however, smokers and non-smokers can be seated in separate sections before 3pm.
I would budget around 1000 yen for an adult meal for lunch and 2000 yen for dinner.
大阪市北区角田町7-10 HEPナビオ 7F
7F HEP NAVIO
OPEN: 11AM – 10PM ( LAST ORDER AT 9:30PM)
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS NEAR NAMBA STATION?
If you’re in the Namba area walking around and need somewhere to feed or change baby, I recommend visiting the 7th floor of Edion Shopping Mall Namba. This shopping mall is mostly electronics but the 7th floor has games and toys (figurines, lego, plarail, tomica, sylvanian families etc) and also an area to feed and change babies- there are also toddler toilets on this floor.
The entire 8th Floor of Edion Namba is a food hall dedicated just to ramen.
A soba and tempura restaurant in Namba with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options
Genji-soba is just 200 metres from JR Namba Station. This restaurant does accept reservations (although most days walk-ins are fine) and accepts most major credit cards. Budget wise I would expect to pay around 4000 yen per adult for dinner and around 2000 yen at lunchtime. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Children are welcome (will need to remain seated so bring some stickers or colouring) and there is space for strollers. Please note that even though this restaurant sells soba that doesn’t mean that they sell yakisoba. See here for the Genji Soba website menu – with pictures. At the actual restaurant is a more detailed English menu. I recommend trying the vegetable soy milk soup soba. So good. For those who are celiac and are sensitive to cross contamination, there isa celiac package of soba where everything is cooked separately.
GENJI-SOBA, OSAKA
大阪市中央区難波4-5-8
4-5-8 NAMBA, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-9:30PM
CLOSED THURSDAYS
Teppanyaki with kids in Osaka
Teppanyaki restaurant Minami in Osaka welcomes children. This is high end dining so I’d be sure to save it for a special occasion. Please note that lunch is literally half the price of dinner here. Also please read my post here on how teppanyaki in Japan is a bit different to how you may be used to it in your home country. This restaurant is on the 10th floor. Minami accepts most major credit cards.
This restaurant won「The 2023 World Luxury Restaurant Awards for “Best Luxury Farm to Table Restaurant – Global Winner”, “Best Locally Sourced Produce Menu in Asia” and “Best Teappanyaki-style Cuisine in Asia.”
Minami is entirely non-smoking. For lunch here, I would budget 7000-8000 yen per person and more than 14,000 yen at dinnertime.
See here for the kids menu at Minami, Teppanyaki restaurant.
See here for the vegetarian menu.
MINAMI TEPPANYAKI RESTAURANT
大阪市中央区難波5-1-60
10F, SWISSOTELL NANKAI OSAKA, 5-1-60 NAMBA, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-3PM (LAST ORDER 2:30PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5:30PM-9PM (LAST ORDER 8:30PM)
A family-friendly Gyukatsu restaurant in Namba
And if you’re looking for a bit of a lush dinner or lunch with a reasonable price tag at a restaurant that also allows children in Namba, I recommend Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Namba Sennichimae for Kobe Beef and Wagyu. It’s a Beef Cutlet restaurant. It is high quality beef, crumbed and fried so that the outside is crunchy and served with a range of sauces (dipping sauces) and rice. The restaurant is entirely non-smoking. They have an English menu. They also accept most major credit cards.
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is 3 mins walk from Namba Station (Take Exit Namba Walk B21.)
This restaurant welcomes children and babies. They also have a kids menu (750 yen) and space to store strollers while you dine.
Each meal is 1000-2000 yen. You can see the full Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu menu here. This restaurant is walk-in only.
GYUKATSU KYOTO KATSUGYU NAMBA SENNICHIMAE
大阪市中央区千日前1-8-17 TKビル1F
GROUND FLOOR, TK BUILDING, 1-8-17 SENNICHIMAE, CHUO-KU, OSAKA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11:30AM-10PM
WHERE TO EAT WITH KIDS IN SHIN-OSAKA STATION?
Shin-Osaka Station is the bullet train station in Osaka. It is in an awkward spot so if you are going to Kyoto from Osaka I recommend just taking a local train instead of a bullet train as the time to get out to Shin-Osaka Station + the travel time takes about the same amount of time anyway and tickets are almost half the price (so just use google maps to find the most direct route there from your hotel or closest station instead.)
However, if you are looking for something to eat in Shin-Osaka Station, I recommend Ramen Kiou Osaka. It is on the 2nd floor of the station. They serve Vegan ramen and have meat substitutes and serve vegan versions of Tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen etc. To eat here, I would budget approx 2000 yen. The restaurant is non-smoking. They don’t take reservations (the restaurant seats
RAMEN KIOU OSAKA
INSIDE SHIN-OSAKA STATION, SECOND FLOOR
OPEN 10AM-11PM (LAST ORDERS AT 10:30PM)
If you want tips for sightseeing or playgrounds in Osaka,I recommend reading my blog on Osaka with kids.
