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Thanks to its history and unique culture, the Kansai region offers an unparalleled variety of Japanese cuisine. In addition to the local specialties of Osaka, Kobe, and Nara, Kansai has the same inexpensive chain restaurants as Tokyo and a good variety of international food. Outside tourist areas, restaurant staff may not speak English but often exhibit Kansai’s signature friendliness, going out of their way to help.
Located on a quiet backstreet just a short walk south of Horyu-ji's Great Eastern Gate, this low-key yet stylish café offers delicious lunch sets, including very local specialties such as tatsuta-age (a type of fried chicken) and deep-fried ofu (steamed wheat gluten). The café also has its own woodwork studio and shop, with a number of robot-themed wooden toys on display.
Popular with tourists and locals alike, this bustling Japanese-style restaurant in the heart of the Umeda area specializes in sushi but serves a wide variety of reasonably priced set meals, including tempura, nabe (hot pot), udon, and various meat dishes. Service is fast and efficient, ingredients are fresh, and ordering is simple using tablets with ample English.
Kobe has many excellent bakeries, but this one, a Kobe institution since 1946 with its main branch a 10-minute walk north of San-no-miya Station, is notable for its fine selection of Japanese-style pastries and breads. Among its most popular items are the kare-pan (curry bread), crispy doughnut-like snacks filled with a mild curry sauce. Or try the kureemu-pan (cream bread), a much sweeter cream-stuffed alternative.
Even among Kobe's many excellent bakeries, Le Dimanche stands out. The owners bake some of the city's best artisanal bread, seamlessly integrating Japanese and European elements. Unique specialties include the renkon (lotus root) tartine, crème brûlée croissant, and signature viennois aux airelles (Viennese cranberry roll). The second-floor café is bright and airy, with rustic hardwood floors and tables. It's the perfect spot for a light snack while browsing the many boutiques along Tor Road.
This small and understatedly cool coffee shop serves the best coffee in town, and it's just a stone's throw from Kintetsu-Nara Station. This is a great place to grab a take-out cup before exploring the nearby sights. Super-friendly baristas speak good English, and there is (limited) window seating if you prefer to drink in.
An offshoot of the nearby Nadagiku Sake Brewery—one of Himeji's most prominent sake makers—this cozy izakaya-style restaurant a couple of blocks north of Himeji Station serves up the popular belly-warmer oden (fishcakes and vegetables in a broth), which pairs very well with their excellent varieties of sake (or a cold draft beer). Seating is limited, but wait times are usually short, and there is an English menu. Open for both lunch and dinner.
A hip hangout on the fringe of Amerika-mura, Planet 3rd is perfect for a quick snack or a full meal. The food is tasty—consisting mostly of sandwiches, curries, and sweets—and the atmosphere is cool and laid back. The café serves breakfast from 7 am. The computers at the front are free for customers to use.
This cozy little vegan café, tucked away on a side-street a few minutes walk from Nara Koen, offers a wide selection of vegan dishes, from ramen or Japanese curry to bento boxes and burgers. Every dish is made and served with real care and heart by the woman who runs the place, and the warm homely atmosphere, not to mention the delicious food, makes this one of the best vegan restaurants in the entire region. There's an English menu, but opening hours are fairly limited; it's usually closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
For a real taste of Osaka, line up for kushi katsu (skewered meats and vegetables) outside Shin Sekai's Yaekatsu. This no-frills, counter-only restaurant has the reputation of being one of Osaka's oldest and best places to get kushi katsu. At dinner the line stretches the length of the shop, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. Yaekatsu is in Shin Sekai's Jan Jan Yokocho shopping street. Coming from Dobutsuen-mae Station, the shop is halfway down the shopping street on your left. The large red-and-white sign is only in Japanese, but pretty easy to spot.
