Claro — Restaurant in Osaka

Tucked away in a quiet alley of Osaka, Claro is the kind of place you stumble upon and immediately know you’re in for something special. No flashy signage, no gimmicks—just sincere hospitality and a deep respect for ingredients and craftsmanship.

Our dinner on June 9th, 2025, was nothing short of extraordinary. It began with a green pea and sea urchin cold soup, silky and fresh, with a gentle sweetness that set the tone for the evening. The shrimp pintxos and Spanish mackerel with kiwi were clever, refreshing, and beautifully balanced.

The wagyu “spring roll” was crisp on the outside and meltingly tender inside, followed by asparagus with egg, and then snapper with Japanese pepper, each dish subtly elevating seasonal flavors. The venison with sweet potato and the grilled conger “paella” were comforting and deeply satisfying—earthy, smokey, and full of soul.

Dessert, a banana pudding, was the perfect end—nostalgic yet refined, rich but not overwhelming.

The open kitchen allowed us to witness the chefs in action—calm, focused, and meticulous, placing edible flowers one by one with precision. It wasn’t just dinner; it felt like watching an artist work.

Claro is not just a meal—it’s a quiet dialogue between nature, fire, and human hands. A must-visit for those seeking sincerity and depth in their dining experience...

My wife and I ate here during our two-week holiday in Japan and we can easily say that it was our best meal by far. That is a bold statement considering the number and quality of restaurants in Osaka, aka "The Kitchen of Japan." There are only ten seats, so the atmosphere is pleasantly intimate. The server was very attentive and alert to anything we needed, and the chef was painstaking in his focus to create a superlative meal. His creativity was evident and he clearly takes pride in his work, as he should. The ten course meal was perfectly paired with six wines, and we spent a lovely three hours at Claro. We would most certainly eat...

We completely messed up the timings and came at 7:30 instead of 6:30. Initially we were turned away however the chef allowed us to stay and he prepared all of the courses in a shorter space of time. Whilst very awkward and we could see they were upset with us, we appreciated that they made us our dinner and put in a lot of effort to do so. This is a very tiny restaurant with only 1 dinner time slot so we completely understand how much of a problem we had caused. Lovely spin on Japanese and...