Evening food tour of Dotonbori and Shinsekai

The evening food tours of Dotonbori and Shinsekai are one of the best ways to get to know the culinary scene of Osaka with context and without the effort of searching. A local guide takes you for about three hours through the most authentic corners of these two areas, with stops to eat takoyaki (crispy octopus balls), okonomiyaki (the Osaka omelette-pizza cooked on a griddle), kushikatsu (fried skewers of meat, seafood and vegetables typical of Shinsekai) and other street bites. The route usually begins in Shinsekai to escape the tourist bustle of Dotonbori and ends in front of the illuminated canal with the Glico sign. Most tours include tastings at three or four stops, water or a drink and historical commentary on each district. Prices are around 60-80 euros per person depending on the operator; check whether the tour includes all the tastings or there is an additional cost. Bring comfortable clothes and an appetite: the amount of food included is roughly equivalent to a dinner. There are options in English with small groups of six to ten people available on platforms such as GetYourGuide or Viator.