Dotombori Imai

Dotombori can overwhelm with the crowds, chaos, and colours - but classic soba and udon purveyor Imai is a calm refuge right in the middle of the arcade. The noodles are merely average, but the setting is very nice.

[Dotombori Imai - image © Florentyna Leow] Dotombori can be overwhelming for first-time visitors to Japan. It’s chock-full of stimulation - crowds, colours, and general consumerist chaos. If you’re wandering around and need a quieter place for lunch, head over to soba and udon purveyor Imai.

[Dotombori Imai - image © Florentyna Leow]

Dotombori Imai is located smack bang in the middle of Dotombori arcade, but it is surprisingly serene inside, in contrast to the chaos outside. It’s almost as though you’ve stepped into a different town. Established in 1946, it’s one of the areas oldest and most famous noodle specialists. Their famous dish is kitsune udon - chewy wheat noodles topped with sweet, juicy slices of fried tofu in a flavourful dashi broth.

We wouldn’t overstate Imai’s noodles - they’re decent, but nowhere near the best in town. Still, its location makes it a very convenient stop on your explorations of Dotombori, and it’s worth a quick meal to enjoy the atmosphere. Don’t expect the best meal of your life.

For more Osaka udon choices, see our Best Udon In Osaka page.

English name:
Dotonbori Imai

Japanese name:
道頓堀 今井

English address:
1-7-22 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, 542-0071

Japanese address:
〒542-0071 大阪市中央区道頓堀1-7-22

Opening hours:
11am-10pm
Closed Wednesday except national holidays

Price:

Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking

Reservations:
Possible

Nearest Transport:
Subway and Train: 4-minute walk from exit 14 of Namba Station.

Telephone:
+81-6-6211-0319

Website:Official website (English)

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Dotonbori Imai on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Dotonbori Imai is located in Osaka’s Minami district. See our complete list of things to do in the Minami district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Best Osaka Restaurants
See our list of the best Osaka restaurants for even more ideas about great places to eat in Osaka.

Where Are These Places Located?

• Open the Osaka map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

---