Niku-sui is a local B-class gourmet food in Osaka. Some people may not be able to imagine what kind of dish it is just by hearing the name. To put it simply, Niku-sui is a dish that removes the udon from meat udon.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Nikusui.

Characteristics of Niku-sui

Nikusui is a dish made with a Kansai-style dashi stock based on bonito and kelp, topped with slightly sweetly seasoned beef and chopped green onions. Depending on the restaurant, it may also contain soft-boiled eggs and tofu.

The meat soup stock and the sweet and spicy meat aroma will whet your appetite. Although beef is used, there is no bitterness. The sweet and rich stock is so delicious that you will want to drink it all up. It has a gentle flavor, but once you try it, you will be hooked. It goes perfectly with soft-boiled eggs and tofu.

Niku-sui is typically eaten with rice topped with raw egg. It is also delicious to put the meat from Niku-sui on top of the rice topped with raw egg. It is a way of eating that you should definitely try.

How to make meat soup

There are various ways to make Niku-sui, but here is a simple way to make it. First, make udon soup, simmer the beef in it, and add green onions to complete the dish.

Because it is such a simple dish, it is important to season the stock and prepare the beef carefully. The beef should be boiled briefly to prevent odor and scum from coming out, and if there is a lot of scum, it should be drained in a colander and rinsed with water.

Of course, you can make this without boiling it first. Bring the udon stock to a boil over medium heat, then add the beef. Bringing it to a boil thoroughly will allow the scum to collect and make it easier to remove. Turn the heat to low and continue skimming the scum. If you skim off not only the scum but also the cooking liquid, you can remove excess fat. Once the beef is cooked through, the scum will stop coming out.

Once the scum has stopped coming out, add eggs or tofu as desired. Finally, add green onions and simmer for about 10 seconds. Serve in a bowl and top with green onions to finish.

History of meat sucking

Niku-sui originated at Chitose, a restaurant known for its delicious meat udon. Founded in 1949, Chitose is a long-established restaurant that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Sen Tose is a restaurant that is loved not only by locals but also by comedians affiliated with Yoshimoto Kogyo. The restaurant is located very close to the Namba Grand Kagetsu Theater, so comedians often visit the restaurant.

The origin of Nikusui was Kyo Hanaki, an actor from Yoshimoto Shinkigeki. He visited a restaurant after suffering from a hangover and wanted a light meal, and ordered "meat udon, but without the udon." Nikusui has a mild flavor and can be eaten even when you're not feeling well due to a hangover.

At Sen Tose, the combination of Nikusui and Kodama is extremely popular. Kodama is a small bowl of rice topped with a raw egg. There is also Otama, a large bowl of rice. It is served with a special soy sauce made from carefully selected soy sauce and dashi.

Niku-sui is also popular among big-name comedians, and Downtown and Sanma Akashiya have spoken on TV and radio about how it is "a udon restaurant that doesn't serve udon." It has spread by word of mouth and become a signature dish at Chitose. There is even a superstition among Yoshimoto comedians that "if you eat Niku-sui, you will become popular."

Nowadays, nikusui has become known outside of Osaka as well, and various arrangements have been made, such as restaurants using pork or oil residue.

Osaka tourist information

Osaka, one of the largest cities in the Kansai region, has many tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots.

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan is a Hollywood movie-themed theme park with a wide variety of attractions, rides, seasonal events and shows.

Both adults and children can lose track of time as they become absorbed in the park. It is popular and gets particularly crowded on holidays, but there is also a "Universal Express Pass" that can shorten the waiting time for attractions. There are also limited-time events such as Christmas and Halloween, making it a dream theme park that you will want to visit again and again.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

"Kaiyukan" is an aquarium that has one of the world's largest tanks where whale sharks can swim freely. In this magnificent 8-story aquarium, you will be greeted by the tunnel-shaped "Aqua Gate" where you can observe various fish as if you were walking through the ocean. You will have a mysterious experience surrounded by colorful fish such as blue and yellow fish and large shrimp.

This is a popular aquarium where you can enjoy a fantastical space. There is also a "New Experience Area" where you can interact with seals, and the sea creatures are soothing.

Expo Memorial Park

Expo '70 Commemorative Park is a cultural park built on the site of Asia's first World Expo, which was held in 1970 with the theme of human progress and harmony.

The Tower of the Sun, designed by artist Taro Okamoto, has an overwhelming presence, and if you make a reservation by the day before, you can tour the inside. Currently, there is also a Natural and Cultural Garden where you can enjoy nature, a Japanese garden area, and the National Museum of Ethnology.

There are also a variety of leisure facilities, including one of the world's largest athletic towers, "Expo Beast," the forest aerial observation walkway, "Solado," a gigantic three-dimensional athletic maze, and more, all of which are extremely popular with children.

How to get to Osaka

There are various ways to get to Osaka. If you are travelling by plane, Itami Airport (Osaka International Airport) is popular as it has many domestic flights and has excellent access to Osaka city. If you are heading from Itami Airport to Osaka city, we recommend using a limousine bus. The travel time and fare of the limousine bus may be subject to change.

Limousine buses heading to Osaka city depart every 10 to 15 minutes. The fare to Osaka Station (Umeda Station), Namba Station, and Abenobashi Station (Tennoji Station) is 650 yen for adults and 330 yen for children. It is convenient because you can choose from pick-up and drop-off locations around Osaka Station, such as Osaka Marubiru, New Hankyu Hotel, Herbis Osaka, and Hotel Hanshin.

There is also a direct limousine bus to Universal Studios Japan. The fare is 940 yen for adults and 470 yen for children. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Universal Studios Japan.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Osaka. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Osaka Prefecture

summary

Niku-sui, with its mild flavor and comforting taste, is loved by many people. It can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as with rice and raw egg for lunch, or as a standalone dish to finish off a night of drinking. Niku-sui is a dish that can be made at home, but it is definitely one to try in the original location.

If you visit Osaka, be sure to try Niku-sui.

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