551 Horai Ebisubashi honten, Chinese restaurant in Namba district, Osaka, Japan
551 Horai Ebisubashi honten is a Chinese restaurant in the Chūō-ku district of Osaka, spread across several floors. The ground floor has a counter for takeout orders, while the upper floors offer seating for those who want to eat in, with a menu focused on steamed pork buns and dim sum.
The restaurant was founded in the years after World War II by a Chinese immigrant who settled in Osaka. Over the following decades it grew into a chain with several branches across the city, while staying closely tied to the Chūō-ku area where this main shop stands.
In Osaka, spotting someone carrying the red 551 Horai bag on the train or street is a common sight that locals instantly recognize. The steamed pork buns have become so tied to the city that many residents bring them as a gift when visiting friends or family elsewhere in Japan.
Visitors who only want takeout can order directly at the ground floor counter without needing to wait for a table. Queues tend to form during peak hours, especially on weekends and holidays, so arriving a little earlier or later in the day can save time.
A television advertisement featuring the slogan 'When you have 551' was broadcast so often in the Osaka region that the phrase became part of everyday speech for many locals. What makes this worth noting for visitors is that the products are not sold outside Osaka Prefecture, so trying them requires being in the city.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
