Kushikatsu Tanaka opens its first outlet in Kagoshima – Offering traditional Osaka dishes in Li-Ka

PUBLISHED May 6, 2021

Inside Kushikatsu Tanaka – Kagoshima Li-Ka branch

Kushikatsu Tanaka, a restaurant specializing in Osaka’s famous kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), opened its Kagoshima Li-Ka branch on April 23 on the first floor of the commercial facility Li-Ka 1920, in front of Kagoshima Chuo Station.

The restaurant is managed by Kushikatsu Tanaka Holdings, which operates nationwide, and is the first of its outlet in the prefecture. The 67-square-meter restaurant has regular tables, repurposed oil drum tables, and a counter, and a seating capacity of 48 people. Kushikatsu Tanaka is known for its “no double-dipping” policy, but in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the style of dipping food in the sauce provided at the table has been changed to pouring the sauce from bottles. For customers who prefer to dip their kushikatsu in the sauce, the restaurant provides the sauce in a bottle and a container for them to use.

In addition to the standard menu items such as beef fillet (280 yen), kushikatsu beef (150 yen), pork fillet (170 yen) for meat; prawns on a giant skewer (330 yen), cod roe (150 yen), and kisu, or sand borer (240 yen) for fish; red ginger (150 yen), shiitake mushrooms (150 yen), and lotus root (100 yen) for vegetables, seasonal items such as sawara, or Spanish mackerel (150 yen) and butterbur sprouts (280 yen) are offered. There are always over 30 types of deep-fried skewers available.

Side dishes include potato salad (490 yen), which customers can mash potatoes to their desired size; saiboshi (650 yen), smoked horse meat which is a specialty of the Kawachi region; and niku-sui (540 yen), which is said to bring success to those who eat it. For weekdays only, it also hosts a Happy Hour where drinks such as highballs and Japanese lemon sours are offered at 99 yen each (for orders placed before 6 p.m.).

The batter, oil, and sauce are all the company’s original blend, and the recipe is closely guarded. “The taste is consistent throughout our restaurants,” said the spokesperson. “Besides kushikatsu, we also offer a variety of Osaka favorites such as niku-sui, kasu-udon, and takoyaki, which you can make at your table. We hope that many people will come to us not only for a drink, but also for lunch on weekends or for a family meal.”

Opening hours: 11:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

  • Kushikatsu Tanaka’s method of serving sauce

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