Hokkyokusei - Shinsaibashi Main Shop — Restaurant in Osaka

The ambiance of this restaurant was lovely. Great traditional-style restaurant with comfortable tatami rooms for dining, which were beautiful and clean. The servers were very friendly and courteous, and they had English menus. 5 of 5 for service and ambiance.

The food itself was a 3 out of 5. The portions are large for Japan (normal size if you are accustomed to American portions), so you will feel full, however the flavor and toppings were very basic and flat compared to other omurice spots in Japan that I have tried. The sauce on the omurice tasted like tomato sauce from a can, with very little other seasoning. The amount of meat was also very sparse. We ordered 5 different omurice dishes however none of us got much meat. It was mainly rice and egg. However, the rice inside tasted like it had been seasoned and fried, as opposed to other places that use white rice inside, so that was a nice touch. However, I prefer my omurice with more complex, savory sauce, and more refined toppings.

The price was good, 4 out of 5. Not the cheapest omurice, however I wouldn't say that it was overpriced either. Dishes ranged from about 950 yen to 1350 yen, which would have been a little expensive for such basic food, however the pleasant dining experience and the good service justified the price for me.

Note to foreigners: the restrooms are also traditional-style, so if you are not comfortable using an Asian-style squatting toilet, then you won't want to use the...

Super fun to have omurice at the original omurice spot! Our dishes were super delicious and the portions were incredibly filling.

My significant other had the 50/50 omurice plate with curry and beef stew, which he felt was the best Japanese curry he ever had, I had the original on the mini plate with chicken karaage and tempura shrimp (a lot of food despite the name). The karaage was so tasty. The egg was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked — wonderfully savory. The tomato sauce was like a nice tomato soup. As a Westernized restaurant, you’ll find the egg is cooked more to Western liking, which is why I suspect some reviews state the egg is overcooked. It’s absolutely not.

This was one of the best meals we had in Japan.

The only thing I would say wasn’t top notch was the atmosphere. On one side there appear to be lovely private booths and on the other, a main dining room. Yes, you get a Japanese tatami mat experience and there is a nice garden in the middle, but the lighting in the main dining room is rather industrial and there are plastic dividers between dining areas… possibly remaining from the pandemic era. Nice to have the division, but I think lovely tapestries in between would be nice hanging...

Ok food, Service so so, and Superb environment.

The food at Hokkyokusei was just okay, to be honest. It didn't live up to the hype from the guidebook. When compared to other Omurice places, I couldn't really see much of a difference, except maybe the price, which was a bit on the higher side.

But to give credit where it's due, their dishes were well-prepared, clean, and delightful. However, the service could use some improvement. Especially in the hot Osaka summer, it's essential for the servers to pay more attention to customers and make sure they stay hydrated with plenty of water.

The real highlight of this place, besides their Omurice, was the incredible atmosphere and interior design. The traditional Japanese tatami and wooden floor seats were quite an experience. Though, I must admit, it's not the most comfortable way to sit and eat. Maybe that's why the place wasn't too crowded. It seemed like their clever way of getting customers to leave without saying a word. Smart move! ^^

All in all, Hokkyokusei is a good spot to drop by if you're in the neighborhood occasionally, but just be prepared to sit on the floor and embrace the unique...