Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch

If you’re looking for a place to eat okonomiyaki in Umeda, Osaka, where would you recommend? There are plenty of places that come to mind when asked that question, but personally, I can’t leave out a restaurant called Okonomiyaki Kiji, located in the Shin-Umeda Shokudogai. Not only is the okonomiyaki delicious, but I also love the atmosphere, which is full of that retro Showa-era charm. Just eating there makes the okonomiyaki taste twice as good.

That restaurant, Okonomiyaki Kiji, has also opened a branch inside the Umeda Sky Building, a short distance from its main location. One evening, I went to Umeda craving Kiji’s okonomiyaki, and since I was already there, I thought, “Why not check out the branch too?” So, this time, I decided to visit the Umeda Sky Building Branch. Well then…

Just like the main store, this place has a retro Showa-era atmosphere… Here’s what Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch is like…

Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch is located in the food court on the basement level of the Umeda Sky Building, a popular tourist spot that attracts large numbers of foreign visitors. This underground food court is called “Takimi-koji” and recreates the streetscape of Osaka during the Showa era. As a result, this Umeda Sky Building Branch, just like the main store, is thoroughly decked out in Showa-era retro style. It’s great to be able to experience something out of the ordinary at a reasonable price right in the heart of Osaka, isn’t it?

That aside, when I arrived at the restaurant one evening just past 7:00 PM, the place was packed, with two people waiting outside. It wasn’t as crowded as I’d expected, but the turnover seemed quite slow, and I think it took about 20 to 30 minutes to get a seat that day. Most of the customers that day were foreign tourists, so perhaps the slow turnover was because they weren’t used to eating okonomiyaki… While part of the appeal is fully enjoying the Showa-era retro atmosphere, I think it’s best to set aside a decent amount of time when you visit.

This really is addictive… How was the Mixed Okonomiyaki at Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch when I actually tried it?

So, let me introduce the Mixed Okonomiyaki (1,250 yen, tax included) that I ordered at Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch that day. Here’s a picture…

An okonomiyaki piled high with sauce, mayonnaise, and green seaweed on the griddle… Doesn’t just looking at this make you want to shout, “Beer, please!”? Plus, I waited 20 minutes for this Mixed Okonomiyaki to arrive, so while I was watching the okonomiyaki being cooked right in front of me, I felt like a dog waiting for a treat.

So, I immediately cut into it with a spatula and popped a piece into my mouth… Since it had been cooking on the griddle for quite a while, the surface was incredibly crispy. The pork was nicely browned and fragrant, offering a texture similar to crispy bacon, along with the aroma of charred bits wafting up to my nose. Inside, the batter—which includes yam, a signature feature of Okonomiyaki Kiji—has a crispy texture rather than a fluffy one. Inside that batter are a variety of ingredients like shrimp, squid, and konjac, giving you the feeling that you’re eating a super-rich snack. And as the finishing touch, the refreshing aroma of the single shiso leaf placed on top of the okonomiyaki… As expected, the okonomiyaki here is truly memorable in every way—taste, aroma, and texture.

So, I finished the “Mixed Okonomiyaki” at Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch in about five minutes and left the restaurant. Prices have gone up significantly since I visited the Kiji Main Store in Shin-Umeda Shokudogai, but I still think it’s well worth the trip. However, this is just my personal impression, but considering the location, it feels very much like a restaurant geared toward foreign customers. Additionally, watching the foreign staff (most of the staff were foreign) work, I had some concerns about hygiene, so honestly, I’d be happier if I could just go to the main store.

Other menu items at Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch (prices include tax)

• Oyster Okonomiyaki (Limited Quantity) 1,400 yen
• Beef Tendon Okonomiyaki 1,300 yen
• Naniwa 1,300 yen
• Seafood Okonomiyaki 1,250 yen
• Octopus Okonomiyaki 1,200 yen
• Modan-yaki 1,000 yen
• Pork Okonomiyaki 950 yen

You can actually enjoy it in Tokyo too… Okonomiyaki Kiji Umeda Sky Building Branch is a 10-minute walk from the nearest station, JR Osaka Station.

Speaking of Okonomiyaki Kiji’s okonomiyaki, did you know you can actually enjoy it in Tokyo as well? I only found out myself the other day while browsing the web to write this article, but it seems you can now enjoy Okonomiyaki Kiji’s okonomiyaki at three locations: Marunouchi, Shinagawa, and Roppongi (Sante Kan). I really hope people in Tokyo get a chance to try this okonomiyaki… If you happen to be near any of these locations, please stop by and give it a try. Now, here are the details of the restaurant…