Food . Fun . Favorites
"Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind." -- Anthony Bourdain
We walked in without a reservation, which I wouldn’t recommend. The host had to check her book pretty carefully before finding us a spot, and I’m glad she did. We ended up in a small room overlooking the interior entrance, not the river view some of the other rooms offer, but it had a quiet,...
We got reservations here and took the train out from Osaka. The place was easy to find. Upon entering, we immediately noticed only 10 counter seats arranged around a single teppan grill. The setup felt immediately familiar — like sitting at a sushi bar, except instead of watching a chef work through fish, you’re watching...
This felt less like a traditional exhibit and more like walking through a park that just happened to come alive at night. You moved through it at your own pace, following paths that opened up into different sections of the garden, each one holding its own installation. It was not a single destination but a...
Hozenji Yokocho was a nice contrast to the Dotonbori crowds just around the corner. Quieter, more traditional feeling. The alley itself has that worn, old Osaka character to it — stone lanterns, moss-covered statues, the kind of narrow path that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back a few decades. Wabi Sabi fit right into...
A small soba shop that felt easy to miss if you were not looking for it, but worth slowing down for once you found it. It was a great spot when I wanted something on the lighter side, a break from heavier meals without feeling like I was compromising on flavor. The soba was the...
A classic spot right in the middle of Dotonbori, surrounded by the neon lights and constant movement of the canal below. It felt like stepping into something a bit more composed and traditional compared to the energy outside. I booked a private room in advance and ended up with one overlooking the river, which made...
This was one of those places where you committed before you even got there. The wait was long, and there was no way around it. A small counter, no reservations, and a steady line that did not really move quickly. It felt like part of the experience more than an inconvenience, especially knowing people were...
This was one of our first stops in Las Vegas, getting in close to 10pm and catching a bit of a break with seating. It sat inside the Venetian, tucked into the Grand Canal Shoppes area, which already set a different tone from the rest of the Strip. It felt more removed, a bit quieter,...