Osaka Belfast

First time trying Osaka as recommended by friends as it opened recently. The atmosphere was nice, clean and fresh with interesting decor. It wasn't too busy when we arrived so we were seated and served quickly by friendly staff. Overall the food was tasty and there were some dishes we hadn't seen in other places. However not outstanding compared to other Japanese restaurants in Belfast. The portion size was okay for the price, the Tonkotsu Ramen was the best in terms of flavour (the broth was 😍) although there could have been more pork as they were very thin. The Dragon roll had a good crunch but the sushi rice lacked seasoning so it needed a lot of soy sauce to improve the flavour. We enjoyed the potato tempura and salted chicken wings which were interestingly cut in half so looked smaller than expected.

The atmosphere is very nice and the food is delicious. I especially recommend the sushi, which is very authentic. Pandora who is very The atmosphere is very nice and the food is delicious. I especially recommend the sushi, which is very authentic. Pandora who is very professional and recommended s lot of food for us. We will definitely come again next time!

Went for a girly dinner with my mum and my sister. Food was great. The tempura prawns so delicious the batter was light and crispy definitely my favourite. The Japanese cheesecake was so light and fluffy. But the best thing about Osaka was the staff. They were super friendly, very accommodating and just make you feel so welcome. Thank you to Michelle and the whole team for making our night. Will definitely be back

Amazing food. Service was super fast and all the staff were super kind, attentive and went above and beyond for us! Sushi was best we have ever had it was so fresh ! Lovely atmosphere too

What an experience! Good and service was brilliant. You can tell they are getting to grips with having just opened but the service and food made up for anything else. Place is really nicely decorated and inviting!

Lovely venue and the staff were very nice going beyond the usual just pleasantries. The sushi all went down very nicely but the mains were very poor. Beef steak yakisoba and Particularly the so called Tonkotsu Raman, which was not authentic in the slightest - hard boiled egg was the first red flag, flavorless broth and noodles with the not so crowning moment was the thinly sliced ham which was not seared. The staff were very understanding and in agreement and we were given a free desert which was very appreciated. Raging ramen won’t need to worry about this competition

We stopped by Osaka on a weekday evening after work to see what all the hype was about. I was excited to try it, but by the end of the night I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. First Impressions The evening didn’t start well. When we arrived, staff at the entrance barely acknowledged us. After standing awkwardly for a few minutes, we went to the bar and mentioned our reservation, only to be told (not very politely) that “someone else” would deal with it. Ironically, the person saying this seemed to be front-of-house. Ten minutes later, still without being properly greeted, a woman finally checked for our reservation. The booking book wasn’t updated, and although we had email confirmation, she wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. Considering the restaurant was only half full, the lack of welcome stood out. After more waiting, we were eventually seated around 6:45pm. The space itself, however, was a pleasant surprise. It was spotless, neatly arranged, and stylishly decorated. Every table was already set, which gave an efficient impression. The one downside? The air conditioning. It was freezing inside. A jumper is advised. The Menu & Ordering The menu looked great on paper, with plenty of options. But appearances were deceiving. Several dishes didn’t match the photos, and the sashimi platter in particular was nothing like the image shown. Ordering was another challenge. We sat for 15 minutes before anyone came to the table, even as other diners who arrived later were served immediately. When our order was finally taken, we thought the worst was behind us, until our server came back 10 minutes later admitting she’d forgotten it entirely. By now it was 7:10pm, nearly half an hour since we’d been seated, and still no food or drinks. We reordered from memory (the menus had been taken away and not returned) but by this stage I skipped the Irish Wagyu I had been keen to try. Between the wait, the cold, and the service issues, our expectations had dropped. The Food Thankfully, the kitchen redeemed things. Food arrived within 10 minutes of reordering, and everything was served with care. Drinks – poured politely and with attention. Chicken karaage – crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with a punchy wasabi dip. Soft-shell crab tempura – generous portion, crunchy, light, and full of flavour. Beef ramen – excellent noodles, rich broth, but beef slices were overcooked and chewy. Allowing guests to choose doneness (like medium rare) would help. Rainbow dragon roll – fresh, well-portioned, with salmon belly richness balanced by chives. Sashimi platter – easily the biggest letdown. For £16, the serving was tiny: four thin slices of salmon, two of tuna, and three amaebi shrimp (not on ice). Definitely not worth it, and nothing like the menu photo. Service Recovery To their credit, once staff realised we weren’t happy, their attitude improved noticeably. Service became warmer and more attentive, and by the end of the night things felt a little smoother. When the bill arrived, we still left a 10% tip out of courtesy, though the start of the evening hadn’t exactly earned it. Final Thoughts Overall, Osaka was a mixed experience. The food was mostly enjoyable (except the sashimi), and the restaurant itself is one of the nicest in Belfast when it comes to design and cleanliness. But the service left a lot to be desired, and the freezing temperature didn’t help. Would I return regularly? Probably not, though I’d consider coming back to try the Irish Wagyu. Was the food worth it? For the most part yes, but skip the sashimi. Would I recommend it? Yes, especially if raw fish isn’t your main draw.

This has to be by far the best Japanese restaurant I have ever attended. The service was fantastic very kind and polite, the food was absolutely outstanding duck spring rolls where unbelievable I had went for the fillet steak with black pepper sauce and the steak was melting in my mouth it was cooked to perfection, I will most definitely be coming back here😍