Kushikatsu Daruma Shinsekai Sohonten

Yummy! My first time trying kushikatsu. I didn’t even know it existed until I started doing research for our Japan trip. I am definitely a fan. I think we went a couple hours before the dinner rush and we still had to wait in line outside (about half an hour). They had english menus so we ordered a set of a variety of kushikatsu. The breading is not that thick and the dipping sauce is good. I haven’t been able to find many places in the states that make kushikatsu… I am on a search!

Wow this place is the Bomb! Best Kushikatsu I’ve ever eaten. This very famous chain is known for their deep fried skewers. Get almost anything you like veggies, pork chicken, cheese, mochi, ect. They are the BEST! What makes them so good is the crispy fried batter and the dipping sauce.
THE RULES. FOLLOW THEM AT ALL TIMES!
Rule #1 NO DOUBLE DIPPING!
They place whatever you have ordered on a tray in front of you as they come out of the frier. This is the clean tray. Pick up your skewer and dip it into the sauce then put it on your plate or your mouth, not back on the clean tray. If you plan to split or share a skewer, be sure to dip it first then put it on your plate, not on your dirty plate first then into the sauce. The sauce is a community sauce it gets used all day.
I had a few veggies, lotus root, okra, shiitake mushrooms, quail egg, and pork. So good! My aunty almost broke the rule when she wanted to split one with me, she was going to set it down on her plate to break off a piece, i had to push her hand up off of her plate before she made contact! Phew. its almost like Seinfield and the soup nazi! LOL but totally warranted and understandable.
If you look at the mascot for the restaurant, its the chef who has a very angry expression, and it’s because he’s mad at all the customers for double dipping! LOL. The sauce is truly delicious which is why people double dip. so don’t be shy on dipping your skewer all the way in and submerging it completely, because you can’t go in for more sauce after you’ve set it down or taken a bite!
This place is really popular and famous, especially this location because its the original shop. (i hope I’m writing on the correct location) and I’m told there are always long lines to get in. Luckily there was no line today because it was raining. Hurray!

Great fun for fried stuff on a stick!
It’s not greasy which is nice and cooked to order.
I really love the ginger chicken, mushrooms, and pumpkin.
There can be quite a long line at this location, so show up before you get hungry.
Do NOT double dip your stick in the communal dipping sauce.
English/​Japanese menus are available and some staff members speak basic English.

Represented by the fierce Japanese chef face logo, Kushikatsu Daruma is one of the most popular kushikatsu joints in Osaka and all of them hailed from this main branch in Shinsekai! If you want an authentic kushikatsu taste, Daruma is a good place to start!
Simply put, kushikatsu is fried skewer, but it’s not limited to just meat. Literally anything that could be breaded is fair game — anything including mochi or cheese! As equally important to the breading is the dipping sauce, and both elements are essential in determining whether this restaurant’s kushikatsu is a deal or a bust.
As testified by the large amount of chains around Osaka that often have ridiculous wait, Daruma is successful in delivering a great kushikatsu experience with its great breading and dipping sauce! You can choose to buy your skewer choices a la carte style or choose a pre-​selected assortment. Although the assortment does not offer discount from a la carte, it is nonetheless a good option for those (like me) who can’t decide and want to try something new!
What I really liked about Daruma compared to the other kushikatsu restaurants are the greater assortment choices and the staff who can take care of foreigners like me. You probably don’t want to eat just kushikatsu for a meal though, because it’s relatively pricy with each piece pricing about 100 yen each. However, especially for a late night snack, I definitely recommend Kushikatsu Daruma as a great start to try kushikatsu!
*By the way, the fierce chef’s speech bubble says «no double dipping»