"Matsuba" is a standing fried skewer restaurant located in the New Umeda Dining Street right by Umeda Station. I visited around 4 PM on a Sunday and there was a long line extending beyond the restaurant. However, the turnover was quick and I was able to get inside in about 10 minutes. The counter...

On the way back from Kyoto, I felt like having a drink and made a detour. I found this restaurant at Umeda Station while transferring from Hankyu to Hanshin. I was looking forward to trying their kushikatsu. I ordered beef skewers, smelt fish, pork fillet, and tuna (no photo). Along with a beer, the total came to 1220 yen. I had high expectations for the taste, but it was just average. The batter was too thick, which was disappointing. I probably won't come back again.

Matsuba is also located in the department store basement, but this place is the best. I don't like tobacco smoke, but they have the old-fashioned style of throwing it on the ground. Before, they fry skewers in batches, so when you order, they fry it again and serve it hot. The first time I experienced this style, I was surprised, but this is Matsuba's style. I have been there many times, and it keeps getting better. The food is interesting and enjoyable.

The kushikatsu at the main store is exceptional! Before the renovation of Umechika, there was also a shop located in a narrow space near the connecting passage to JR close to Hankyu Department Store, where I used to frequent. They would squeeze in customers until the last minute, so I would eat while standing diagonally. I love the kushikatsu here because it's crispy and doesn't sit heavy in the stomach. You can order what you want to eat, and they will serve you freshly fried warm items. Of course, double-dipping in the sauce is not allowed. You can have unlimited refills of cabbage. My favorites are the tuna with mustard soy sauce and the camembert with salt. They also have other items like cold tofu. I tried the Matsuba in Lucua B2 once, but it wasn't as good as the main store. Even on weekday evenings, the main store is always bustling with customers. It's a standing style eatery, and smoking is allowed at the main store. Moreover, you can just throw your cigarette butts on the floor without a problem. Non-smokers should be cautious.

This is my favorite restaurant! It's a perfect place to pass the time or grab a snack at a reasonable price. There are plenty of skewers right in front of you, so you can order your favorites or just grab one (even if it's cold). You can also smoke cigarettes and just toss the butts on the ground! It's a bit old-fashioned but I love it! My top recommendation is the green chili skewers - I always have at least three! Oh, and let's skip the water here, at least order some oolong tea! Thank you for the meal!

I visited Ticktock after seeing it on TikTok. Since I was alone, I was quickly seated and ordered pork, chicken, onions, and smelt. The chicken was large and delicious. The smelt didn't have much flavor. I regret not ordering asparagus.

When it comes to kushikatsu in Osaka, this place is a must-visit. I always order a barley soda with my meal. I tried the limited edition eggplant this time, and it had a crispy exterior with a tender inside. The smelt fish was also fried perfectly crispy. I want to come back next time and really indulge from the start. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I have visited this long-established kushikatsu restaurant in Shin Umeda Food Street several times and this visit was after a 3-month break. I ordered two octopus skewers, a beef skewer, pickled ginger, kisu (fish), and a chicken skewer. I love the atmosphere of this place! By the way, they have a unique style of throwing cigarette butts on the floor, which is funny. I really like their octopus skewers here. The chicken skewer is quite generous in portion and has a delicious curry flavor, all for only ¥180, which is cheap. The other skewers were also delicious!

I had lunch at a famous kushikatsu restaurant in the New Umeda Food Street right by Umeda Station. The restaurant always has a long line, but the standing-only interior is quite spacious and the turnover is fast, so there was no need to worry about waiting too long. The retro atmosphere made me feel like I had traveled back in time, and I eagerly stood at the counter. In front of me were rows of freshly fried kushikatsu. It's like a conveyor belt sushi where you can eat them as they are, or request them to be fried again. Of course, you can also order your favorite skewers, and freshly fried skewers are regularly brought out for you to choose from. It's a fun place where you can easily enjoy drinking, eating slowly, or eating quickly and leaving. As for the taste of the kushikatsu, it was interesting because I rarely eat skewers that are not freshly fried. The thick batter is quite chewy when it's cold, almost like fried bread. While freshly fried skewers are definitely delicious, I also really liked the chewy texture of the cold ones. It was a new discovery for me, different from the kushikatsu I had eaten in Tokyo. It's close to the station, so I'll definitely stop by again for a quick visit.

It's amazing how tempting the smell is at Itami Airport. Pork buns, takoyaki... I couldn't resist and had to eat something when I arrived at Umeda Station. If I can eat standing up, I'll go for it. The system seems to have changed as it was clean, unlike before when there were cigarette butts on the ground. I wasn't sure if I could pick the skewers of katsu in front of me, so I asked the staff for help. The man next to me was quite strong.

When I came to Osaka, I wanted to try kushikatsu, and after some research, I found a hit. It's a standing bar where you can sit at the counter and see the freshly fried kushikatsu being added to the tray in front of you. You can choose your favorite skewers or order from the staff. It was hot outside, so the beer was refreshing. I wanted to try all the varieties, but there were so many options. The skewers were delicious and the selection was extensive.Visited in July 2023 at Kushikatsu specialty restaurant Matuba main store.

This is a popular standing-only restaurant in Shin-Umeda Food Street where you can smoke. There are no ashtrays, so people just throw their cigarette butts on the floor in a retro style. The counter has a long baton on the higher level where freshly fried kushikatsu skewers are lined up. You can take them and dip them in sauce, or ask the staff to re-fry them for you. If they don't have what you want, you can order it and they will fry it for you. Since there are no seats, it's a place for quick eating and drinking, not for lingering.

I found a standing bar in the Shin-Umeda Food Street and decided to go to this place. It was quite crowded but luckily there was an open seat available. I placed my order and it arrived in about 5 minutes. The kushikatsu here had a slightly thicker batter compared to the usual ones, which added a nice texture and sweetness to it. It was very delicious. Overall, it was a great place to casually drop by.

The owner wanted to go, so I followed. The use itself was before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the owner, who seemed like a complete stranger, went straight to the counter to enter the restaurant... It seems like things have changed since the last visit, causing quite a bit of inconvenience to the staff. There were more women in the customer base than expected. About 1 in 4-5 people were women. There were a total of 8 people, including myself. The tuna was incredibly delicious. Tuna is a must-eat.

This is a great place for a casual drink and snack. They have a variety of freshly fried skewers displayed on the counter for you to choose from. Some skewers may look similar, so if you have a specific one in mind, be sure to order it. Sometimes you may not be able to tell what's inside until you take a bite, so enjoy using your discerning eye. Everything is fried to perfection. The menu is extensive with a wide selection of dishes and drinks. The skewers are crispy and delicious. Remember, no double-dipping in the sauce. It's like a classic Osaka skewer restaurant. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. ★★★★ Solo diner friendly: 4.3 A great option for solo diners. It can get busy on weekends, but you can easily visit on weekdays. They also have standing tables, so it's fine for groups of 2-3 people.

Visited with 2 people around 7:30 PM on a weekday. The restaurant was almost full, but we were seated quickly due to the good turnover. The surprising thing was the speed of service after ordering. Extremely fast. We ordered kisu, tonkatsu, beef skewers, green peppers, kisu, sausages, chicken katsu... I don't remember everything we ordered, but everything was delicious. Despite being fried food, it was light and not heavy. The dishes were served hot and went well with alcohol. If I had to say one thing, it would have been perfect with Hoppy. However, the octopus highball we ordered instead was also delicious. Since it's a standing bar, you can come alone for a quick and cheap drink. I would like to visit again when I come to Osaka. Thank you for the meal!

I went to a standing bar with a friend in the afternoon and randomly found this skewered cutlet shop near the station with good reviews, so we decided to stop by. There were 3-4 groups waiting, but the shop was spacious and the turnover was quick, so we were seated right away. When our turn came, my friend was in the restroom and I felt bad, but they kindly accommodated us without any complaints. The freshly fried skewered cutlets were delicious! There were mostly traditional skewers, but the chicken skewer with curry flavor was very filling even with just one piece. The bill was a bit higher than expected, but considering how tasty the food was, I'm okay with it.笑

After leaving the okonomiyaki restaurant, I saw a delicious-looking kushikatsu restaurant right in front of me...!!! I was immediately drawn in and found myself walking into the shop. I was a bit unsure of the rules, but the staff kindly explained everything to me, and I was able to enjoy my meal. It's not common these days to find a place that offers the no double-dipping sauce, so I was really happy to finally come across it. ⭐️

Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) costs around 2,200 yen per person. Situation: Visited on a Tuesday around 18:40. Waited for about 5 minutes before entering. Couple-friendly. Good for tourists as it offers a taste of Osaka. Dishes can be shared. Taste: The katsu is dipped in sauce only once, no double-dipping allowed. Be careful not to dip again after placing it on your plate. The katsu is displayed in front of you, so you can help yourself or order if you want it freshly fried. It may be a bit challenging for beginners, but the concept is interesting. Overall, the katsu is tasty and reasonably priced. Other info: Cashless payments accepted, various cards are okay. Tissues provided only for the initial hand wipe. No restroom available.

Beef skewer @120, Vienna sausage @160, Green pepper @160 x2, Shrimp @160 x2, Quail egg @160, Nagaimo (Japanese yam) @160, Camembert cheese @180, Fins @180, Malt beer (bottle) @580, total 2,180 yen. It took about 30 minutes, but I really felt like I was enjoying Osaka! It's very convenient as it's directly connected to Umeda station. (For those who are not familiar with the rules) - When you enter, they will ask you for a drink. - There are many skewers of deep-fried food on a tray in front of you, but most of them are cold, so you tell the staff which ones you want to eat. - The staff will reheat and bring them to you. - Occasionally, freshly made skewers will be placed on the tray, so you can take them directly and eat them. - Double dipping in the sauce is not allowed. - If you run out of sauce, you can scoop some up with cabbage and pour it over the food. - When you finish eating, ask for the bill. - The staff will count the number of skewers and write up the bill. - Take the bill to the register and pay. It seems like they accept credit cards!

I came here because 百百, recommended by Shioya's mom, was closed. The lively atmosphere and energetic staff welcomed me. I ordered lotus root, young chicken, shrimp, and quail. Among them, the young chicken was juicy and I could see why it's a specialty! I didn't know the rule about taking food from the tray in front of me, but the staff kindly explained it to me. The style here is to dispose of cigarettes under the table. This place is good for a quick stop, so it might become part of my routine in the new Umeda dining district. Thank you for the meal!