Kushikatsu Daruma - Dotombori

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Kushikatsu Daruma, widely spread as a chain in Japan, is said to be the originator of kushikatsu (串カツ: deep-fried skewers of various ingredients, a specialty of Osaka, Japan). Located in Shinsekai, besides the Kushikatsu Daruma main store, there are two more branches in the area, so people often visit a branch if the main store is full. The ordering is done by scanning a QR code leading to a web menu. Having come all this way, we ordered the 'zoo set' (15 types of skewers + doteyaki) and draft beer. The set menu doesn’t come all at once but is divided into halves, allowing you to eat the fried food while it's warm depending on your eating pace. The set starts with doteyaki, food prepared by simmering beef and konjac in miso, reminiscent of braised foods. The sauce is contained in a large tub in the front, and since you can only dip your skewer once, it feels like it's shared. Kushikatsu restaurants in Japan mostly reuse their sauce because the oil that drips from the skewers into the sauce supposedly enriches its flavor. The provided cabbage at the beginning is for those who wish to dip the sauce again, soaking it up and sprinkling it over their skewers. Needless to say, dipping just the cabbage in the sauce is also tasty. The place, being quite famous, raises high expectations, but it's more about experiencing the food for its value rather than its exceptional taste. Initially created for the common folks, it's a food accessible to everyone without much burden. Rather than expecting an extraordinary taste, visiting for a meal to experience a famous place would be more appreciated. Photos, article by: Jung Seyoung (se_0.0)