Last updated: July 3, 2026
This article reflects information available at the time of writing. Check Google Maps for the latest hours and availability.
Introduction
Tenma doesn’t get the tourist buses that Shinsekai does, and that’s precisely why it’s worth your time. Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street — the longest covered shopping arcade in Japan — runs straight through the neighbourhood, and tucked into its side streets and under its awnings is one of Osaka’s most concentrated clusters of no-nonsense drinking spots. Kushikatsu here isn’t a performance for visitors. It’s Tuesday-night food for the people who live here.
The four shops in this guide sit within a short walk of JR Tenma Station. Each one is different: a counter-only local institution with oden on the side, a creative skewer bar that pairs its kushikatsu with wine and Japanese sake, a serious craft-focused spot run by a chef who trained for over a decade at one of Osaka’s most respected kushikatsu kitchens, and a standing-bar chain outpost that keeps the first beer at ¥100. Between them, they cover the full range of what Tenma’s kushikatsu scene actually looks like — from ¥130-a-stick casual to ¥5,000 omakase courses.
One rule applies everywhere: no double-dipping in the communal sauce pot. Dip once, eat, move on. The locals will notice if you don’t.
1. Shichifukujin Tenma Ekimae (七福神 天満駅前店)
- 📍 Kita-ku, Osaka (Tenma area — confirm exact address via Google Maps link below)
- 🕐 Daily 12:00–23:00 (L.O. 22:30) (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥1,500–¥2,500 (food only) / ¥2,500–¥4,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Tenma Station (1 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Ebi mochi (shrimp and rice cake skewer) (¥~180), kushikatsu from ¥130
Shichifukujin is a counter seat-only kushikatsu restaurant in Tenma that’s genuinely popular with locals — the skewers are solid, the beer is cheap, and they serve oden alongside to balance out all that fried food. The first draft beer of the night is ¥100, and skewers start at ¥130. It’s the kind of place where you sit down intending to have three skewers and leave two hours later.
2. Kushikatsu-ba Shotendo Tenma (串かつ場ぁ 聖天堂 天満店)
- 📍 2-6-2 Doshin, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0035 (Yoshioka Building 1F)
- 🕐 Tue–Sun & holidays 17:00–23:30 (food L.O. 22:30) | Closed Monday (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥3,000–¥4,500 (food only) / ¥4,500–¥6,000 (with drinks or course)
- 🚃 Tenma Station (4 min walk) / Ogimachi Station (3 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Hamburger kushikatsu set — cheeseburger, fillet-o-fish, and teriyaki burger skewers (¥550 for 3), or the Shotendo course (¥5,000 with 120-min all-you-can-drink)
Shotendo uses fresh-ground breadcrumbs made daily, a proprietary batter blend, and a house sauce built on chicken stock — every element is made in-house. The standout order is their TV-featured hamburger skewer set: three skewers modelled on a cheeseburger, fillet-o-fish, and teriyaki burger, served as a set for ¥550. It sounds gimmicky; it tastes better than it has any right to. The creative kushikatsu course — 10 skewers plus five side dishes with 120-minute all-you-can-drink — runs ¥5,000.
3. Kushidokoro Kariya (串処 かりや)
- 📍 2-1 Yamazakicho, Kita-ku, Osaka
- 🕐 Mon, Wed–Sun & holidays: Lunch 12:00–14:30 (L.O. 14:00) / Dinner 17:00–midnight (L.O. 23:30) | Closed Tuesday (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥2,500–¥4,000 (food only) / ¥3,500–¥5,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Tenma Station (3 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Omakase kushikatsu (chef’s selection, priced per skewer from ~¥400) / Lunch omakase 13-piece set (¥1,980, limited to 20 daily)
The owner trained for 12 years at the renowned kushikatsu restaurant Yaekatsu — one of Shinsekai’s most serious institutions — before opening this counter in Tenma. The menu runs from meat and vegetables to seafood and even dessert skewers like strawberry, with a light batter that lets you keep going well past the point you expected to stop. The lunch omakase set — 13 skewers with rice, salad, and soup for ¥1,980 — is one of the better-value meals in the neighbourhood, and it sells out most days.
4. Shichifukujin Tengo (七福神 天五店)
- 📍 Kita-ku, Osaka (Tenjinbashi 5-chome area — confirm exact address via Google Maps link below)
- 🕐 Daily 12:00–23:00 (L.O. 22:30) (as of May 2026)
- 💰 ¥1,500–¥2,500 (food only) / ¥2,500–¥4,000 (with drinks)
- 🚃 Tenma Station (5 min walk)
- 🗺 Open in Google Maps
- 📋 Tabelog
What to order: Kushikatsu from ¥130, Shichifukujin curry (lunch)
The Tengo branch of Shichifukujin sits a few minutes further up the arcade from the Ekimae location, making it the better pick if you’re already deep into Tenjinbashisuji and don’t want to backtrack. Same format — counter seating, oden alongside the skewers, cold beer at a price that doesn’t sting — but with a lunch curry that’s developed its own following among the office crowd. An English menu is available, which makes it a practical first stop if you’re new to the kushikatsu ordering ritual.
How to Order
At most Tenma kushikatsu counters, you order skewers individually or in small batches — there’s no pressure to commit to a set upfront, though courses are available at places like Shotendo if you want the decision made for you. Point at the menu or hold up fingers for quantity; staff are used to it.
The sauce pot on the counter is communal. Dip once, eat, done. If you want more sauce, use the cabbage leaves (always free) to spoon it over — never re-dip a half-eaten skewer. This is the one rule that matters, and locals take it seriously.
At counter-only spots like Shichifukujin and Kariya, solo diners are completely normal. Pull up a stool, order a beer, and start with three or four skewers. You can always add more. Skewers come out one or two at a time, hot from the fryer — eat them immediately. A skewer that sits for two minutes loses half its appeal.
For lunch, Kariya’s omakase set (¥1,980, 20 daily) is the best value in the area. Arrive by 12:15 or it’s gone. Shichifukujin’s branches open at noon daily, making them rare options for a kushikatsu lunch without planning ahead.
FAQ
Q: Is kushikatsu in Tenma expensive?
A: Not particularly. At Shichifukujin, individual skewers start at ¥130 and a full evening with beer typically runs ¥2,000–¥3,000 per person. Kariya’s dinner counter averages ¥3,000–¥4,000 with drinks. Shotendo’s creative courses start at ¥5,000 with all-you-can-drink, which is the top end of the range here.
Q: Do shops in Tenma have English menus?
A: Shichifukujin provides an English menu. Kariya and Shotendo are Japanese-only menus, but both have picture menus or visible skewer displays that make pointing straightforward. Staff at all four shops are accustomed to non-Japanese-speaking customers.
Q: When is the best time to visit?
A: Weekday evenings from 18:00–20:00 are the sweet spot — busy enough to feel alive, not so packed that you’re waiting for a counter seat. Friday and Saturday nights get crowded from 19:00 onward, especially at Shichifukujin Ekimae. For lunch, Kariya’s omakase set is worth the early arrival; aim for 12:00 sharp. Shotendo doesn’t open until 17:00, so it’s strictly an evening option.
Information is accurate as of May 2026. We recommend checking Google Maps for the latest hours and prices before visiting.
