Izakaya in Tenma: Old-School Sake Pubs Near Tenmangu

Looking for izakaya in Tenma, Osaka? This guide covers six old-school sake pubs and standing bars within a short walk of Tenma Station and Osaka Tenmangu Shrine — from ¥1-a-cup nihonshu counters to charcoal-grilled motsu joints. Whether you want to discover the best food in Osaka or just drink like a local on a Tuesday night, Tenma delivers.

MICHI’s Pick — Selected by our Osaka-based team, based on places we’ve visited and on research using Tabelog and Google Maps ratings. In Japan, a Tabelog score of 3.4+ is genuinely high — Japanese reviewers are famously strict, and most locals consider anything above 3.4 a place worth a detour. We feature venues meeting at least one of: Tabelog 3.4+, Google Maps 4.3+, or 100+ reviews — the kind of spots locals quietly trust.

Tabelog and Google Maps scores are accurate as of the time of writing.

1. Chutoro to Tonsoku (中トロと豚足)

• 📍 4-9-20 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Mon–Tue 12:00–01:00; Wed–Sun 24 hours (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥500–¥1,500 per person (food only) / ¥1,000–¥2,000 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenma Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) — 1 min walk
• ⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.5 / Google 4.1 (400+ reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Chutoro sashimi (¥300) / Nihonshu (¥1 Mon–Thu, limit 2 per person)

The sign outside says “probably Japan’s cheapest izakaya,” and it’s not far off — sake at ¥1 a cup on weeknights, draft beer under ¥200, and a standing-bar atmosphere where the whole room shouts “yoisho!” in unison when someone orders. The tuna sashimi is the real draw: thick, fatty, and absurdly priced for what you get. Come early or expect to wait outside.

2. Inada Saketen (稲田酒店)

• 📍 6-4-13 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Daily 14:00–22:00 (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥800–¥1,500 per person (food only) / ¥1,500–¥2,500 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome Station (Osaka Metro Sakaisuji/Tanimachi lines) — 2 min walk
• ⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.6 / Google 4.3 (200+ reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Seasonal nihonshu by the glass (¥450–¥550) / Oden (¥120 per piece)

A proper sake shop that also lets you drink at the counter — the wall behind the bar is stacked floor-to-ceiling with bottles from across Japan, each labelled by hand on a card that’s been there for years. The oden simmers all day, and the obanzai side dishes change with the season. Open from 2pm, which makes it the right call for an afternoon session before the evening crowds arrive.

3. Takeuchi (竹うち)

• 📍 2-1-2 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Mon–Sat 17:00–23:00; closed Sunday (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥2,000–¥3,500 per person (food only) / ¥3,000–¥5,000 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenma Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) — 5 min walk
• ⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.8 / Google 4.4 (150+ reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Sashimi moriawase (market price, typically ¥1,500–¥2,000) / Uoze no tempura (¥900)

Takeuchi is the kind of seafood izakaya that makes you wonder why you ever ate fish anywhere else in Osaka. The owner sources daily from the market, so the menu shifts constantly — but the sashimi platter and the uoze (Japanese butterfish) tempura are near-permanent fixtures for good reason. Book ahead; the counter fills up fast and the owner doesn’t rush anyone.

4. Motsuyaki Doppo Tenma (もつ焼き独歩 天満店)

• 📍 4-9-18 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Mon–Fri 17:00–23:00; Sat–Sun 15:00–23:00 (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person (food only) / ¥2,500–¥3,500 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenma Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) — 2 min walk
• ⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.5 / Google 4.2 (180+ reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Meat sashimi (liver or heart, ¥400–¥600) / Motsu-yaki assortment (¥200–¥350 per skewer)

This standing bar — formerly known as Toraya Tenma, now rebranded as Motsuyaki Doppo — specialises in offal grilled over a shichirin tabletop charcoal grill. The liver and heart sashimi, served simply with sesame oil and salt, are the reason regulars come back. It’s loud, smoky, and packed with salarymen by 6pm. Exactly what it should be.

5. Sushi-Izakaya ANABA Tenma (寿司居酒屋 あなば 天満店)

• 📍 4-12-7 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Daily 17:00–22:30 (L.O. 22:00); closed Tuesday (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥2,000–¥3,000 per person (food only) / ¥3,000–¥4,500 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenma Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) — 1 min walk
• 🗣 English menu: Not reliably available — bring Google Translate
• ⭐ Rating: Google 3.9 (572 reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Anaba Maki roll (¥800–¥1,000) / Sashimi moriawase (¥1,500)

ANABA translates loosely as “hole in the wall,” and the name earns its keep — the entrance is easy to miss, the room is tiny, and the handwritten order slips move fast. Over 570 Google reviews say the same thing: generous portions, fresh fish, and staff who have zero patience for dithering. Come with a plan, order quickly, and you’ll eat very well for the price. Non-Japanese speakers should use Google Translate on the menu.

6. Shin Jidai Osaka Tenma (新時代 大阪天満店)

• 📍 4-12-4 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
• 🕐 Daily 11:00–00:00 (as of May 2026)
• 💰 ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person (food only) / ¥2,500–¥4,000 (with drinks)
• 🚃 Tenma Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) — 1 min walk
• ⭐ Rating: Tabelog 3.45 / Google 3.8 (300+ reviews) (as of writing)
• 🗺 Open in Google Maps
• 📋 Tabelog

What to order: Charcoal kushiyaki skewers — negima chicken thigh (¥110) / Karaage (¥480)

Shin Jidai is a chain, but the Tenma branch earns its place on this list: it opens at 11am, the charcoal skewers are properly done, and the price-to-quality ratio is hard to argue with. It’s the right call when you want to explore more of Tenma across multiple stops without blowing your budget at the first one. Lunch crowds are lighter; evenings get rowdy fast.

FAQ

Q: What is the best izakaya in Tenma, Osaka?
A: For a pure old-school experience, Inada Saketen is the standout — a sake shop that doubles as a standing bar, with a wall of regional nihonshu and oden simmering from 2pm. If you want seafood, Takeuchi is the one to book.

Q: How many izakaya restaurants are in Tenma?
A: Hundreds, by most counts. The densest cluster sits in the narrow alleys just north of JR Tenma Station — the area known as Ura-Tenma — with more spots spreading south along Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street toward Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. You could spend a week here and not repeat a venue.

Q: Do Tenma restaurants have English menus?
A: Rarely at the old-school standing bars. Shin Jidai and a handful of newer spots have picture menus that help, but most places in Ura-Tenma are Japanese-only. Google Translate’s camera mode works well on handwritten menus, and pointing at what the person next to you is eating is a time-honoured strategy.

Q: What should I order at izakaya restaurants in Osaka?
A: In Tenma specifically, motsu-yaki (grilled offal skewers), fresh sashimi, and oden are the local staples. Nihonshu (Japanese sake) is the drink of choice at most of these pubs — the MICHI Osaka travel guide has more on pairing sake with Osaka pub food. A cold draft beer to start, then switch to sake once you’ve settled in.

Last updated: July 28, 2026 · Corrections: [email protected]