Bubba Gump Shrimp — Restaurant in Osaka

Bubba Gump --seriously speaking-- has always been one of the best chain restaurants around. Every one I've gone to from Times Square to the Bay Area to JAPAN have all been consistently solid seafood fare, and as usual, Japan's take on it is just a little bit better than everywhere else.

After a long day running around Universal Studios Japan in the worst of Japanese summer, my feet were destroyed, and the last thing I wanted to do after exiting the part a little before closing time was to immediately begin the trek back to Kyoto. So instead, I perused the offerings in the restaurant row leading back to the station near USJ. Bubba Gump! Sold!

Not only was the AC a godsend after walking around in 100 degree humidity all day, the drinks kept on coming, the food was fresh and tasty, and to be honest I kind of overdid it. I expected the portions to be on the smallish side, per Japan, but I was surprised when everything that came out was what one might expect at an American branch. Dessert was overkill, but I hung in there and finished it all.

The only downside is that they somehow don't have a bathroom inside the restaurant. You have to walk outside, down the hallway, make a right, make another right, and down that hallway a bit to find the restrooms to wash your hands, and whatnot. If you're like me, and hit the park solo, that means you have to leave your stuff at your table. In Japan, this is pretty much a guarantee that your bags of merch will be just fine, but it is still worth knowing about in advance if you plan to eat here. Best to wash up before settling in for some...

Date of visit 7 November 2024.

The review reflects my personal experience and honest opinion. It's available on both Google and Instagram.

Bubba Gump has to be one of my favorite restaurants, and I make it a point to visit every time I'm in the USA. So, when I had the chance to check out the Osaka location, I jumped at it.

The service was outstanding—friendly and informative. They explained the menu thoroughly, including the fun details behind the "Run Forrest" and "Stop Forrest" license plates.

Once we ordered, our drinks arrived quickly (and we got to keep the cups as souvenirs!), with the food close behind. The Shrimp Shack Mac and Cheese was divine. I could have eaten it all night; it was so cheesy, packed with flavor, and had a great texture.

I went for the Shrimpers Heaven (we call them prawns in Australia), and they were cooked to perfection. There were four different types, and I devoured them all. The chips were well-seasoned and paired perfectly. My partner ordered the "I'm Stuffed Shrimp," and wow—this dish was incredible! The little stuffed crab balls wrapped in the prawn tails were perfectly seasoned and just melted in my mouth (I had to try a couple for the review!).

I love how they’ve brought my all-time favorite movie to life, with Forrest Gump playing in the background and memorabilia everywhere.

You can even pick up some cool merchandise afterward.

I’d definitely go back!

Food Quality: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 Value for Money: 4/5 Cleanliness and Hygiene: 5/5 Innovation and...

I read a review here calling the staff degenerated, wonder whether the person been through the same i have. I was there yesterday with my kids and boyfriend celebrating my birthday. The food was a little pricey, but very tasty and the portions were not small. The staff was great overall, tho, there was a waitress named Karin who flirted with my boyfriend blatantly, not leaving us alone for longer than 5 minutes to engage several times in a flirtatious conversation with him - to the point she was telling him what time she was leaving at the end of her shift 😳 She asked for a tip, he gave her 2k ienes and we dont have a tip culture in Japan. I'm not a jealous person at all, but the situation was very, very embarassing, and made me and my girls really uncomfortable, to say the least. I worked in service before, and one of our main rules is: if there's a couple at the table, we always should talk to the same gender client. But she wasn't even trying to hide she was interested on my boyfriend in a romantic way, or at least she was expressing herself that way to get a big tip. I have details that would make us assume it wasnt only about...