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The story
On 5ch’s “Nandemo Jikkyo” (Anything Live) board, a thread about how Osaka has no go-to souvenir the way Tokyo has Tokyo Banana spiraled into a full-blown debate. Ginza-dako versus real takoyaki, whether 551’s infamous lines are actually worth it, and the Shiroi Koibito vs. Omoshiroi Koibito copycat wars — clashing opinions poured in from every direction.
What people said
So what am I even supposed to buy?
Real takoyaki beats Ginza-dako any day
that's Osaka for you
that's Osaka for you
Re: #2
Koga-ryu was genuinely amazing — I finished mine and went straight back for more
Koga-ryu was genuinely amazing — I finished mine and went straight back for more
Re: #2
Maybe it's because I was born and raised in Osaka, but I still don't get the appeal of Ginza-dako
Maybe it's because I was born and raised in Osaka, but I still don't get the appeal of Ginza-dako
Re: #2
Maybe it's because I was born and raised in Osaka, but I still don't get the appeal of Ginza-dako
Maybe it's because I was born and raised in Osaka, but I still don't get the appeal of Ginza-dako
Don't bother bringing back 551 buns
they're only good fresh, not after they've sat around
they're only good fresh, not after they've sat around
Wait, do Osakans actually think Ginza-dako is "fake" takoyaki lol
Re: #14
lol the Ginza-dako faithful are seething
lol the Ginza-dako faithful are seething
Rikuro's cheesecake
551 buns
Tenten-yu's frozen gyoza
you can grab all of that right at Shin-Osaka station
551 buns
Tenten-yu's frozen gyoza
you can grab all of that right at Shin-Osaka station
Re: #20
Pretty sure none of that actually works as a souvenir though
Pretty sure none of that actually works as a souvenir though
Re: #20
I'd be thrilled if my family brought that home for me, but it doesn't really scream "souvenir," does it?
Not enough Osaka in it
I'd be thrilled if my family brought that home for me, but it doesn't really scream "souvenir," does it?
Not enough Osaka in it
The point is there's nothing as iconic as Tokyo Banana
Re: #30
Wait, Tokyo Banana? Isn't that the one that tastes awful?
Wait, Tokyo Banana? Isn't that the one that tastes awful?
Stuff like Omoshiroi Koibito ("Funny Lover") or Kuroi Koibito ("Black Lover") — both spin-offs riffing on the Shiroi Koibito cookie brand
Re: #48
And I hate the copycats that piled on after that too — "Dotonbori no Koibito," "Tsutenkaku no Koibito," that whole crowd with no clever twist, just shameless imitations
And I hate the copycats that piled on after that too — "Dotonbori no Koibito," "Tsutenkaku no Koibito," that whole crowd with no clever twist, just shameless imitations
There's Ajari Mochi though
Re: #55
That's from Kyoto
so is Yatsuhashi
That's from Kyoto
so is Yatsuhashi
Tokyo doesn't really have one either
I live in Tokyo so I struggle whenever I have to send souvenirs to people elsewhere
I live in Tokyo so I struggle whenever I have to send souvenirs to people elsewhere
Re: #60
Hiyoko is fine
quit overthinking it
Hiyoko is fine
quit overthinking it
Re: #63
That thing isn't even tasty though
That thing isn't even tasty though
Re: #64
Your taste buds are just broken
everybody loves Hiyoko
Your taste buds are just broken
everybody loves Hiyoko
Re: #66
It's dry and bland
It's dry and bland
Don't confuse "something I personally can't stand" with "something other people would love to receive"!!!
Re: #67
You wouldn't give someone something you yourself wouldn't be happy to get, right?
You wouldn't give someone something you yourself wouldn't be happy to get, right?
Re: #71
That's just your opinion so far though, no?
That's just your opinion so far though, no?
Re: #73
I'm saying I'm not gonna hand my friends something I wouldn't want myself
why should I have to approve of it just because you happen to like it
and apparently it's a knockoff of a Fukuoka snack to begin with, so knowing that makes me even less inclined to buy it
I'm saying I'm not gonna hand my friends something I wouldn't want myself
why should I have to approve of it just because you happen to like it
and apparently it's a knockoff of a Fukuoka snack to begin with, so knowing that makes me even less inclined to buy it
If you want an Osaka souvenir, I recommend this
it's ridiculously good
https://kishibura.jp/blog/realize/files/2013/03/DSC_1042.jpg
it's ridiculously good
https://kishibura.jp/blog/realize/files/2013/03/DSC_1042.jpg
Re: #72
Looks delicious
I hate how the lesser-known souvenir sweets are often weirdly over-sweet
Kyoto, Nagoya, and Hokkaido are the real heavyweights for gift sweets
I'm so over chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread cookies) at this point
Looks delicious
I hate how the lesser-known souvenir sweets are often weirdly over-sweet
Kyoto, Nagoya, and Hokkaido are the real heavyweights for gift sweets
I'm so over chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread cookies) at this point
Forget the lame stuff — Osaka's fine with Omoshiroi Koibito. Sure it's a Shiroi Koibito knockoff, but it's actually good!!!!!!
Rikuro's and 551 aren't even that special but people line up forever for them lol
standing in a line that long, there's no way it lives up to the hype
standing in a line that long, there's no way it lives up to the hype
Re: #91
551's sold at basically every station anyway, doesn't matter which one
551's sold at basically every station anyway, doesn't matter which one
Omoshiroi Koibito (so cringe)
Re: #95
By the way, Shiroi Koibito itself is named after a French film called "The White Lovers"
a lot of people don't know that
By the way, Shiroi Koibito itself is named after a French film called "The White Lovers"
a lot of people don't know that
551's fine I guess, though I don't even think it's that tasty
Re: #106
The filling is very meat-forward, so it feels richer than your average meat bun, but taste-wise it's nothing special
The filling is very meat-forward, so it feels richer than your average meat bun, but taste-wise it's nothing special
The souvenir shop at Osaka Castle was straight-up trash
wall-to-wall cheap, random ninja merch
plus a bunch of Naruto and Detective Conan stuff
wall-to-wall cheap, random ninja merch
plus a bunch of Naruto and Detective Conan stuff
Re: #110
Well, the castle itself is basically a concrete reconstruction anyway…
Well, the castle itself is basically a concrete reconstruction anyway…
※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo) thread ““Osaka souvenirs” — seriously, there’s genuinely none lol.”
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