Cui-daore

Frommer's Review

Cui-daore is famous for its clown model outside the front door, which began beating a drum and wiggling its eyebrows shortly after the place first opened in 1950. The restaurant's name means to "eat your way to bankruptcy" in reference to the Osakan joy of eating, but a look at the prices in the extensive plastic-food display case shows you can dine very reasonably here on a great variety of food ranging from tempura and yakitori to sushi, shabu-shabu, kaiseki, and even Western food. What's more, the restaurant is very user-friendly; items in the display cases are identified in English and by number for easy ordering, and there's also an English-language menu.

There are eight floors of dining, and prices increase the higher you go. On the ground floor is a modern, family-style dining area, serving Western dishes. From the clown outside to the food inside, this is a great place to bring youngsters; a child's set meal (¥840/$7/£3.50) includes a pair of black glasses just like the clown's. On the second floor is an izakaya, or Japanese-style pub, open from 5pm, where you can order a beer, yakitori, and snacks. In winter, the third floor serves nabe (one-pot stews) in a quiet and comfortable setting, while the top floors have higher priced meals such as sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and kaiseki starting at ¥5,000 ($42/£21).

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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