Hard Rock Cafe Universal Citywalk Osaka — Restaurant in Osaka

I recently had the pleasure of visiting my daughter, who lives and teaches in Japan. During my visit, we passed by the Hard Rock Cafe - Osaka, and when Beth told me she had no idea what that was, I told her we were going to have dinner there. Once we got seated, I explained some of the history of the Hard Rock and pointed out some of the memorabilia hanging in the walls.

Our waitress spoke very well in English and asked us where we were visiting from. When Beth told her, in Japanese, that she lived in Yokkaichi and worked there as a teacher, the waitress was thrilled! When she heard that I was there visiting, she seemed very touched.

After taking our order, the waitress came over and talked with us for a bit because they didn't have much business. She asked what my favorite music was, and I told her that I grew up loving Kiss, and she got so excited because that was her favorite band. She told us that she had even designed her eye makeup, which was very exotic, based on some of the designs that Kiss used. Beth then told her that my favorite song of theirs was titled "Beth," which also happened to be her name, and the waitress thought that was awesome!

A few minutes later, our food came out, and as we started eating, all the televisions in the restaurant, which had been playing music videos since we walked in, started playing "Beth", performed by Kiss. The waitress came over and asked if it was okay that she had requested this song for us, and we both were laughing and smiling and told her it was absolutely amazing! Beth was laughing and crying as the waitress and I both started singing along with the video, and then Beth joined in as well. That was such a beautiful and moving experience for both of us.

A short time later, the manager came by and introduced himself, and speaking to Beth in Japanese, carried on a conversation with her asking about her experiences in Japan. It was so satisfying to watch the joy on her face and the delight on his as they were able to converse in his language.

The customer service that we received there was hands down the best I have ever had anywhere. Our waitress, Naru, was so attentive and seemed so genuinely happy to get to know us, and it turned a long and exhausting day into a beautiful and satisfying evening. What a wonderful way to end the...

My wife and I are currently travelling around Japan with our daughters, and on Thursday 30 Jan, 2025 we went to USJ Osaka. Before entering USJ we stopped for a bite of lunch at Hard Rock Cafe Universal City Osaka which is at the entry to USJ. Service was like 99% of Japanese service, friendly and welcoming with meals coming out fast. Not the most interesting HR Cafe we’ve been to as a bit lacking in some of the rare music memorabilia that other locations have been able to score for their walls. My wife and I ordered their nachos, I went for regular size and my wife ordered entry size. My daughter ordered a French fries. Nachos came out and apart from the plate for my wife’s being round and mine square, the amount was the same and a generous serving. Flavour of the nachos and amount of jelapenos chillies on our plates was a bit over the top, and just a poor example of nachos in our opinion. My daughter’s fries were not French fries, instead a bowl of what looked like the cheapest frozen oven chips we stick in the oven back home in Australia. I think they were air fried as they were dry, tasteless and disgusting, not even a dash of salt and no salt at the table either. Wife and daughter ordered a cold icy fruit drink each and they both say they tasted nice. It was 4 degrees outside and I ordered a hot coffee to warm up. The coffee, serviced with two tiny long life milks was probably the worst coffee I’ve ever had. Biggest disappointment was the final bill. Eating in Japan has been amazing and very cheap, usually about half of what we’d spend in Australia to dine out. But our bill came to 9180 yen which is roughly $95 AUD and they added 10% for some charge they couldn’t clearly explain and then some other charge for using our credit card which we haven’t encountered anywhere else. Overrated, and should have walked away when we saw how empty the restaurant was. Give it a miss and just buy yummy...

Literally go anywhere else on the Citywalk. This is the second time that I’ve been to a Hard Rock. I went years ago to one in Chicago. I remember not liking it but I decided to give it another try. Now, I remember why I didn’t like it.

It is insanely overpriced and, even if they had had live music, the cost would not be worth the ambiance.

I went there with my wife and son. I got a beer and my wife got a non-alcoholic cocktail. Her drink was literally just mango juice and Sprite and we paid 2000yen for it. Strike one.

We got a kids meal for my son. My wife and I each got burgers. We also ordered an appetizer.

The burgers were good but I think they would have been just as good at the Wolfgang Puck restaurant that is just a couple doors down. They also would have been more than half the price (I checked after we left). Strike two.

The nachos were good. I liked the steak on them but once again I don’t think the price was really in line with what we got.

The final strike was that there is a 10% service charge added to your meal. This isn’t done in Japan but it’s a cheap addition to the ticket that some unsuspecting tourist will assume is just normal. If there was live music, I wouldn’t have had an issue with the service charge but there wasn’t so it felt like more money wasted on a mediocre meal.

All said, I spent 14,000yen on this meal. Sure, we were full but we also could have gotten yakiniku tabehodai (all you can eat) and nomihodai (all you can drink) for less than we spent at Hard Rock and been just as satisfied.

I’ll say it again. Go literally anywhere else but here.

There is a McDonald’s on Citywalk. There is a Mos Burger - get yourself a Japanese style hamburger if you’ve never had one. Go to the Wolfgang Puck restaurant. I didn’t go there but I’d have to assume even if the burgers weren’t as good then it would at least be better to not get bent over like at Hard Rock.

Avoid...