Welcome to Sumiyaki-Shoten Yo Namba

“ Come Osaka should be here !I ate twice already! The waiter said it’s full at 7pm ,then we finally went there after 9pm. The environment and services actually was fine and I knew they were so busy . The chicken skewers were so juicy and delicious! Thanks the chefs gave us the unforgettable meal that night.Fortunately we waited until 9pm ,it’s satisfied. ”

“ I kept on joking when we were walking around the Osaka streets that I could recognize hidden gems - this izakaya is truly an example of this. Couldn’t even find it on Google Maps at first unless you specifically search for it, the rating suggests nothing special yet it was probably my favorite meal in Osaka. Sure the English menu does not have everything, but that’s how izakayas work, they have a rotational daily menu that they cannot translate every time. Use google translate to get a rough idea of the daily specials and be prepared to try new things. We had a little bit of everything- squid tempura, various chicken skewers, beef tendon, sashimi and everything is super fresh, well-seasoned and tasty. The atmosphere feels super authentic and cozy. Thank you for the hospitality ”

“ This izakaya took us by surprise and we will definitely visit again before we fly back home. The food was well seasoned and perfectly charcoal grilled. Staff are all attentive and friendly, though very limited English speaking, smart to use Google translate on their phones. Yes they have English menu. ”

“ The place is so cozy and amazing for an Izakaya experience! To the extent that we went twice! ”

“ When I was researching my trip, I stumbled across a blog that recommended this restaurant and said that they offered “Japanese home-style dishes,” something that I was very curious about. I’m glad I acted out on that curiosity because it turned out to be my favourite izakaya. My only regret is trying it out so late into my trip because I would have liked to have gone more often! It was a bit difficult for us to find the shopfront as we had to weave through some alleyways in the rain; however, it seems to be a hotspot for locals. Walking in from the cold, we were greeted with an interior reminiscent of a treehouse and felt so cozy, safe, and welcoming. It made me so happy! Our waiter sat us down at a table that required us to take off our shoes. We were happy to comply as it amplified the cozy feeling. One of my only complaints with this restaurant is that they don’t seem too equipped to handle foreign guests (which, to be honest, is totally fair!). We were given a Japanese menu at first; however, it was written in calligraphy so even Google Translate couldn’t help us. When we asked for an English menu, the waiter came back with an “English menu” with three items, while the Japanese menu clearly had way more items than that. The waiter couldn’t help us much either as he spoke very limited English; thankfully, someone from the table beside us was able to translate. However, if not for that guest, we would have been left very sad wondering what we were missing out on, especially since we saw other people eating things not on the three-item English menu! That being said though, the waiter, despite not speaking much English, was attentive, kind, and polite! When we miscommunicated and the wrong dish was brought out, he was quick to replace it and ask the kitchen to make the one I had asked for. I really appreciated his efforts. Now, to the food. The food was delicious and plentiful. We ordered two lunch sets - one karaage set and one mapo tofu set - as well as a chicken skin skewer and pan-fried mentaiko. I specifically ordered the mapo tofu set because my mouth watered, smelling it come for the guest sitting next to us. My next choice would have been the oyako-don which they seem to be famous for; the smell of that mapo tofu was just too enticing. When everything arrived, I was not disappointed. The mapo tofu set smelled as delicious on my table as it did on the other guest’s and tasted even better. It was able to capture “wok’s breath,” something that I haven’t experienced in other stir fry's in Japan. Happily, it came with side dishes as well that paired well with the set, although I don’t think they vary between different sets. The karaage, skewer, and mentaiko were flavourful and expertly executed as well; however, that mapo tofu set is what is most memorable to me. I can almost still smell/taste it if I close my eyes... For the amount and quality of food we had, we expected a hefty bill comparable to the other izakayas we visited but it turned out to be quite a bit less, making it not just a delicious meal but a cost-effective one as well. I highly recommend you giving this place a try and hopefully, you’ll learn from my mistakes and go early on in your trip so you can go multiple times!! ”

“ Super nice and delicious food. So far the best food we've had on our trip. English menu available. The staff don't have much English but are really friendly and happy to use Google translate. ”

“ We stumbled upon this tiny Izakya while winding our way through Osaka. We were about to find another place because their sign said sorry we are fully booked, but a sweet little waitress rain out and quickly google translated asking us to wait just a minute and she will happily seat us. Everything is in Japanese and the menu isn’t even translated through google but the staff there is amazing. We asked what they recommended, looked at other tables and saw what they ordered, and were just adventurous. The entire time every waitress didn’t hesitate to use google translate to explain the dishes, ask us about our meal, tell us about the different kinds of sake they had and were just over all so welcoming. Even with the language barrier they made us feel so welcomed, safe, and at home in their little izakaya! Don’t be afraid that their is no English menu…take a chance it was all delicious and such an awesome experience. ”

“ Wonderful staff. One who had been a student of one of the people on our party. Good English, beautiful presentation and great Food. ”