Aozora Blue: Hand-made udon with a soba inflection
At Aozora Blue, chef Hirofumi Matsui draws on his soba-making experiences to offer an exquisite, handmade udon noodle in an elevated setting.
Rakushin: Some food can't be improved upon
At Rakushin, kaiseki chef Shintaro Katayama's cuisine is flexible and curious even as it pays respect to the genre's historic canon.
Dinner and conversation with Tsutomu Nakajima
Chef Tsutomu Nakajima of Sato no Ie Hanase on the importance of umami and why the flavor is at risk of vanishing.
Kawahara: Thrilling, exciting, game-changing kaiseki
At Kawahara, expect a multi-course kaiseki meal that presents seasonal foods in unexpected, playful ways.
Otto Knot: Italian food, sailing knots and great waffles
When visiting Otto Knot, a cozy neighborhood cafe in the city of Takatsuki, don't miss their homemade raspberry sauce and ice cream-topped waffles.
Beignet: Earnest French fusion with a sleek streak
Beignet's French-style kushiage skewers are served bite-sized, elegantly plated and with an Asian twist.
Bistro de Yoshimoto: French cuisine with some flair
It was only after lunch was fully served and I was sipping on my digestif that I noticed the name on the painting hanging on the wall beside me: Yoshimoto. The watercolor next to it, a neat recreation of Le Mont Saint-Michel, bore the ...
Hood by Vargas: Whimsy, Americana and sandwiches
Just behind Nakatsu Station, there's an old residential pocket located within a warren of narrow alleyways. Here, change is in the air. There is the sound of construction, old houses are being transformed into cafes, restaurants and hip little boutiques, and new ventures seem to ...
Liaison: Flair and performance from kitchen to table
Despite the unassuming setting, chef Hideyo Dezaki delivers seasonal, creative fare at Liaison.
Critters Burger: Serious people making serious burgers
Critters Burger may be turning 10 but their burgers are as on-point as ever.
Taiwan Tanpao: A quick visit for a dumpling or six
You could easily pass a whole day as a flaneur in Osaka's Tenjibashi-suji Shotengai, the longest shopping arcade in Japan. Unlike its southern counterpart, Shinsaibashi-suji, there is still room to breathe in Tenjinbashi-suji and it's not (yet) full of tourist-traps masquerading as historical shops. Recently ...
Sushi Chiharu: In delicacy lies the art of sushi
For the 90 minutes that lunch played out at Sushi Chiharu, the smallest upscale-sushi restaurant I've ever eaten at, there was a steady stream of jazz hits underscoring the sushi shokunin (artisan) who catered to the full house. There were seven of us, seated close ...
