Kushi Katsu @ Kushinotsuke, Hiranomachi, Osaka

 

Osaka is known for being a haven for various deep fried treats and if you want to have it done right, then this is the place to be. In fact, you will probably find the cheapest omakase in town. Standing at a feeble price of  870 yen, now that is a bargain. 

An omakase? With this price? 

There are many chain shops that sell such delectable fried goodies, with Daruma being one of them. it is one of the more popular restaurants and with good reason. The quality is astounding and the prices reasonable. But that should not be the reason to avoid smaller and lesser well known places. This is where Kishinotsuke comes in. Managed by an elderly couple, this cozy izakaya that specialises in deep fried skewers is a diamond in the rough. 

Golden beauty, and the first of many

Since this was the first time I visited this place, me and my friends got ourselves the aforementioned omakase which provides 6 skewers depending on the selection of the chef. And each skewer was just amazing. The batter outside was flaky and crispy and each skewer was fried to order. To start things off, we were served with a kizu or Japanese whiting that help cause this dinner to come off with a good start. The fish retained a very fresh taste and was flaky and tender despite being deep fried. If this was the first thing, then the rest would be amazing too. And that was definitely true. 

Shrimp never tasted this fancy.... Well deep fried ones at least. 

The next skewer was shrimp wrapped in perilla leaf. The chewy and sweet texture of the shrimp contrasted with the slight bitter an fragrant leaf. As you probably know, I like contrasts in my food as I feel that it gives more personality. The outer batter also gave it a contrast in texture which I really enjoyed. 

Succulent!

The next was shiitake mushrooms filled with minced meat. This was incredibly meaty and savoury. I am a fan of kushi katsu but this is the first time I had something like this. the chewy mushroom combined with the sausage like mince really provided again, amazing contrast which I really liked. It was very flavourful too, a thoroughly enjoyable specimen. 

This was rather interesting

The next entree was a bit unusual, being bacon and potato. it may sound odd but it somehow worked. The potato was soft and flaky, but it was able to retain its shape as the bacon was wrapping it like a jealous lover. The binding ability of the bacon allowed the potato to stay intact while at the same time, providing some fat and saltiness to the tuber. This is one of the more experimental pieces which i also liked. Then again, everything I had so far was good. 

Finally some green. But still deep fried. 

We also had Japanese piman peppers which help balance out the meal. They are smaller and less crunchy as compared to the western capsicum counterparts. Still an enjoyable item though. However, it was the fried cheese that took the cake. Literally a piece of block cheddar that is deep fried, my doctor will be angry if he sees this. But well, at least my most recent health check says all is green though! 

Surprisingly soothing.

To finish off the meal we ordered a serving of ochazuke each. This was not part of the omakase and stood at 430 yen. Loaded with smoked salmon, seaweed and a simple but beautiful broth, this soupy rice dish was able to push all the grease down with relatively ease. The warm and comforting bowl really helped in completing the meal. And of course, a lemon sour standing at 420 yen did help alot. 

Front of the house. 

This quaint and cozy establishment is definitely a must go if you are in the area. it should be noted that this place is quite the spartan environment and can be a bit rough on the edges. Also you may smell like oil and tobacco once you are done. But it is this kind of places which gives you the chance to experience the raw experience of Osaka. So if getting some great grub and cheap prices is your thing, then this is the place to be. The address is as follows:

〒541-0046 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Hiranomachi, 2 Chome−4−16 Hiranoyamanai Biru