Kushikatsu Daruma
Kushikatsu Daruma is a restaurant in Osaka that specializes in kushikatsu - meat, vegetables, and seafood on skewers coated in light batter and fried in oil. The simple building has an open kitchen where you can watch the preparation, and features seating at the counter, tables, and floor spots for about 96 people.
The restaurant opened in 1929 and has built a reputation for consistency and good taste over the decades. The method of preparing kushikatsu has remained the same throughout the years, maintaining its popularity in Osaka.
The name kushikatsu refers to the way the dish is prepared - meat and vegetables on skewers fried until crispy. In this restaurant, there is a special rule that each skewer is dipped only once in the shared sauce to keep it clean, and afterward guests use cabbage slices to scoop up more sauce instead.
The skewers are served piping hot, so it is best to take a small bite first to avoid burning your tongue. The restaurant accepts credit cards and stays open into the evening, so you can visit for lunch or dinner.
The restaurant's mascot is a stern-looking man holding skewers shaped like an X to remind customers not to double-dip in the sauce. The oil is flavored with prawn heads, giving the dish a subtle taste that many visitors do not notice at first.
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