Momen

Momen is a superb little Shinsaibashi counter restaurant serving some of the most sublime dishes you’re likely to encounter anywhere. It’s usually described as kaiseki, but kappo is probably a better word for it — a flight of wonderful and artistic creations made from the freshest Japanese ingredients.

[Momen - image © Florentyna Leow]

Kyoto is associated with kaiseki - seasonal fine dining - while Osaka tends to be associated with kappo-style cooking. The latter is also considered seasonal fine dining, but the meal itself tends to be more casual and more flexible in the way kaiseki - which usually has a fixed course menu - isn’t.

Located down a narrow side alley in Shinsaibashi that’s all too easy to walk past, Momen is widely agreed to be one of the best kappo restaurants in Osaka. Everything is cooked with love and care by Chef Momen. Don’t expect culinary fireworks or wacky dishes like, say, Alinea or Noma. It’s simple but utterly memorable cooking, and it’ll be different every day. Imagine some of the best crab sashimi you’ll have in your life, homemade sesame tofu, crab dumplings in crab broth, slow-simmered daikon radish accented with yuzu citrus.

Momen is a tiny restaurant with just 10 seats, and its reputation for excellent food is well-deserved. Unsurprisingly, this means that a meal here will set you back at least JPY10,000 per person if not more; and reservations are essential. Make one through your hotel concierge. It’s entirely worth planning in advance for a meal like this.

For more Osaka kaiseki, kappo and other haute cuisine choices, see our Best Kaiseki, Kappo and Other Haute Cuisine In Osaka page.

English name:
Momen

Japanese name:
もめん

English address:
2-1-3 Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, 542-0085

Japanese address:
〒542-0085 大阪市中央区心斎橋筋2-1-3

Opening hours:
5pm-10pm
Closed Sunday and national holidays

Price:

Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking

Reservations:
Necessary

Nearest Transport:
Subway: 4-minute walk from exit 6 of Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Lines.

Telephone:
+81-6-6211-2793

Website:
none

Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Momen on TripAdvisor.

Near To Here:
Momen 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.

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