I had lunch at "Kin no Kona" located in the B1F food court of Yodobashi Umeda. There were many restaurants to choose from, but I decided to go with something safe and ordered the "Tonkatsu set meal (1,080 yen)". The tonkatsu they served was quite large, but the breading was a bit crumbly and the meat was a bit thin. They also offer izakaya dishes like kushikatsu, oden, doteyaki, and nikomi in the evening. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Located close to Osaka Station and Umeda Station. Today, I had a casual lunch and drinks here. The interior has counter seats and table seats, and the main menu is kushikatsu. On weekdays, they offer lunch sets with rice and casual drinking sets. I ordered the casual drinking set with 5 skewers. The drink choices include highball. Let's dig in! The kushikatsu consisted of 5 classic items, which were smaller in size than expected. They appeared crispy on the outside but were surprisingly heavy and oily. The oil quality was not the best either. Despite the size, it was quite filling. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Considering the location, it is easy to stop by. However, it's a bit disappointing that they don't serve cabbage, which is a staple at kushikatsu restaurants in Osaka. Also, the chairs are uncomfortable and the counter seats are narrow, so it's not ideal for leisurely drinking.

Right near Umeda Station◆Ordered a set of kushikatsu with one drink included, along with a highball on the side. It seemed like the staff were busy and things were chaotic. I guess that's just the culture here. The kushikatsu tasted average, smaller in size compared to Kushikatsu Tanaka.

For lunch, I had clam ramen at a grilled clam stand and then wanted to eat something else, so I went for a second round. I ordered a set of five drinks for 780 yen. There were two groups of customers in the shop, but no one noticed me standing at the entrance. Finally, after the previous customers informed the staff, I was able to be seated. The background music from outside was too loud, but inside the shop was silent. The interior was dimly lit, making me wonder if they were really open for business. Perhaps they were not targeting local customers, but rather tourists looking for cheap kushikatsu to eat as they shop around Yodobashi for the Olympics. It seems like their main focus was on offering affordable kushikatsu.

Links Umeda (Yodobashi Umeda) is a restaurant located on the basement floor where you can enjoy Osaka specialties such as Doteyaki and Kushikatsu during lunchtime. I visited for a solo lunch on a weekday and chose the Chicken Cutlet Bowl priced at 780 yen (tax included) from the lunch menu available between 11:00 and 15:00. The dish arrived in about 5 minutes, with chicken cutlet coated in sauce placed on top of rice and shredded cabbage. It's a bowl of food that falls into the category of my personal favorite junk food. Although I found the pricing to be a bit high, the taste of the sauce was good (extra sauce is also available on the table) and the bowl was well-balanced and delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The exploration of the delicious food alley seems to be reaching a good point. On this day, I visited a kushikatsu restaurant with a questionable name. If it had gold or white powder in the name, it would seem even more suspicious. - Pork cutlet bowl ¥780 - Sauce cutlet bowl ¥680 - Chicken cutlet bowl ¥780 - Doteyaki bowl ¥880 Above are the lunch menu options in a bowl. - Set of 5 skewers ¥700 - Set of 8 skewers (regular) ¥1,080 - Set of 8 skewers (premium) ¥1,400 These come with rice, miso soup, and pickles. Intrigued by the novelty, I ordered the chicken cutlet bowl. The difference between the menu image and the actual dish was disappointing. The sauce was tangy with a slight spiciness, a complete opposite of the sweet sauce at the popular kushikatsu restaurant, Lum. The chicken cutlet pieces were easy to eat and had a crispy texture, with juicy chicken underneath. It was delicious, but I felt a bit unsatisfied with the portion of rice and chicken. I think it would have been better if it came with miso soup or a side dish. The counter seat I sat on was dangerous. It was at an awkward height with no footrest underneath. Additionally, the small chair had a slippery seat. I almost fell off because of the lack of support. For someone with a bad back like me, a chair without a backrest is seriously dangerous. I wish I could have sat at a table seat and felt the ground beneath me while eating. It was also disappointing that they forgot to provide water until right before serving the bowl. It was a frustrating lunch experience. Thank you for the meal.

Links Umeda is located on the basement floor of Osaka Station. You can enjoy a quick drink and some crispy kushikatsu at the counter or tables. It truly embodies the world of Osaka Minami's flour-based dishes. There are various lunch menu options available as well. Today, I tried the "Lunch Kushikatsu 5-piece set" which was the most affordable option. The eggplant, onion, squid, pork, and beef kushikatsu were crispy and delicious, but the oil drainage could be better. If you find it lacking, I recommend trying the 8-piece kushikatsu set.

The weekday lunch menu is full of fried dishes and reasonably priced. Choices include rice bowls like pork cutlet bowl, chicken cutlet bowl, pork cutlet with grated radish bowl, and sauce cutlet bowl. There are also three levels of lunch skewer sets, including a set for ladies. Set meals like oyster fry, jumbo shrimp fry, and pork cutlet are also available. There are a total of 9 options to satisfy your hunger. Skewers make a great side dish for drinking from lunchtime. The portions are generous for the price, making it perfect for a hearty meal. I decided to try the sauce cutlet bowl. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere that feels like a standing bar. The bowl is filled with layers of cabbage, providing a nice contrast to the fried food. The sauce doesn't make the cabbage soggy, so it stays crisp until the last bite. Especially with pork cutlet, cabbage is a must. Use your chopsticks to pierce through the layers of cutlet, cabbage, and rice in one big bite. This is a true hearty meal! Gold powder.

A creative deep-fried skewer specialty store, Kin no Ko, has opened on the B1F of Links Umeda. The stylish interior creates a casual atmosphere that is easy to enter. The menu includes skewers, doteyaki, rice bowls, and more, all at reasonable prices. I ordered the Ladies Lunch Skewer Set - Ume (880 yen). The set includes skewers (onion, chicken, shrimp, pork belly, lotus root), veggie balls, rice, and miso soup. You can enjoy unlimited cabbage and pickles. The batter is thin, crispy, and delicious. The sauce, which prohibits double dipping, also tastes great and goes well with the skewers. Freshly fried skewers are truly exceptional.

I stopped by with my colleague on the way home from work. Since it was Monday, the place was relatively empty everywhere, but it started to get somewhat crowded as it got closer to a reasonable time. I thought about ordering the 8-piece set with drinks to make it cheaper, but one drink wasn't enough and it ended up being a decent price. The skewers seemed to be priced relatively low, but since the pieces were small, if you really want to drink, it could add up to a reasonable amount. The fried food doesn't feel heavy, so it's easy to eat. The drinks are reasonably priced, but some people might find them a bit lacking. It's a good place where you can casually hang out at the counter.

Located in Links Umeda, just a 3-5 minute walk from Osaka Station, is the kushikatsu restaurant "Kin no Kona." This newly opened kushikatsu spot is nestled in the bustling underground of Links Umeda, where various dining establishments coexist. With a cozy counter-style setup, it's a great choice for when you want to grab a drink by yourself. For lunch, I ordered the assorted kushikatsu platter. While the kushikatsu here is the type that appeals to everyone without any misses, the generously sized chicken drumsticks marinated in curry powder were surprisingly delicious and paired well with the sauce! If you're looking for a place to enjoy some kushikatsu around Links Umeda, be sure to give this spot a visit. Bon appétit!

You can order freshly made skewers of kushikatsu that go well with alcohol.

After leaving Yodobashi Umeda Store, I headed to the underground drinking alley. Everywhere you go in Osaka, there are temptations for food. I was drawn in and ended up having the chef's choice dish and konjac doteyaki. Since there was alcohol involved, the taste of the doteyaki was enhanced by the alcohol. The skewers were small, but it was convenient to eat. Everything was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

As bad as Tonkatsu Tanaka.