eatravelove
After arriving late at night in Osaka and checking into our hotel, the Ibis Osaka Umeda, we were absolutely starving. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the energy to head out to the recommended kushikatsu restaurant that my friend had told me about (I’ll save that for next time—it’s a secret until I visit!). Instead, we decided to go to a sushi place right near our hotel. Our only guide? Google reviews!
The restaurant is located in the basement of a building next to the Ibis Osaka Umeda, and I was immediately impressed to find a Korean restaurant right in the heart of Osaka—만족오향족발 and 서백자간장게장 (Korean-style dishes like spicy braised crab)!
The sushi restaurant we visited, 大阪泉佐野港 活鮨, is right across from 만족오향족발. The place gives off a very “I’m a sushi spot!” vibe, with various sushi models displayed, letting you know exactly what you’re in for.
Even though it was late, the place had quite a few customers, and we were seated at a table for two. We were so hungry, so I was just relieved we didn’t have to wait!
목차
1. 大阪泉佐野港 活鮨
Location: 3 minutes walk from Osaka Umeda Station
Address: Osaka Tomikuni Life Building, Basement Level 2
Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last order at 9:30 PM)
Smoking: No smoking
Seating: 28 seats, including counter seating
Payment: Credit cards accepted
They quickly cleared the table and the vibe of the place was lively, with K-pop music playing in the background. I couldn’t help but hum along to the tunes.
2. What We Ordered
1) Kirin Draft Beer 580 yen
It wouldn’t be a proper first meal of the trip without a beer, right? My husband and I both ordered a draft beer.
2) Assorted Tempura (5 pieces) 880 yen
We decided to try a tempura set with five different types. Even though I had introduced this place as a sushi restaurant, I have to say, the tempura was unexpectedly amazing.
The tempura had the perfect balance of crispy coating and wasn’t greasy at all. If you had to choose between sushi or tempura, I’d confidently recommend the tempura!
They even served three different kinds of salt to dip the tempura in—though it might seem excessive, it really brought out the deep flavors of the ingredients.
After that, I couldn’t resist and ordered another beer!
3) Assorted Sushi (8 pieces) 2480 yen
For the main course, we ordered two assortments of eight pieces of sushi. The selection was decided by the chef, so we went with the flow and trusted the choice.
Each piece of sushi was beautifully presented, with extra toppings to enhance the flavor and texture, making each bite an enjoyable experience. It was the kind of sushi where each piece was a little different and delicious.
3. Osaka Umeda 大阪泉佐野港 活鮨 Final Thoughts
Honestly, I’m more of a meat person than a seafood lover, so I didn’t really feel a huge difference in the depth of the sushi’s flavor. But, based on the high Google ratings, I’m confident this place is at least above average.
One thing to note: after the meal, they offer a free sushi piece as part of a Google review promotion. Some people even speculated that this might be the reason for the high ratings on Google—if you leave a review, you get one sushi piece.
Though that could be true, I really enjoyed the tempura, so if I come back to Osaka, I’d definitely want to visit again. I’d probably have dinner at another place first and then come here for tempura as a second round.
Tomorrow, I’m planning to use the Osaka amazing Pass to explore the city’s top tourist spots, and I’m really looking forward to visiting Universal Studios Japan!
