The characters on the deep blue noren curtain flying over the entrance to Oku spell out taishu sakaba – translating to ‘public tavern’ or ‘people’s pub’ – and that sort of down-to-earth, no-frills vibe is exactly what this classic, family-run boozer embodies.
In business since 1977, when Suminoe ward was the heart of Osaka’s shipbuilding industry and the streets teemed with exhausted and thirsty labourers every night, Oku has changed little in the intervening decades, still filling up with patrons in search of cheap but tasty tipples.
Besides its old-school atmosphere, this joint’s prices also feel like a throwback: heaping plates of izakaya staples such as potato salad, deep-fried kushikatsu skewers and super-fresh nigiri sushi go for a mere ¥200–500. The ancient-looking blackboards behind the bar list more than 200 menu items – the result of catering to regulars’ every request over the years – and all dishes are made to order.
The clientele nowadays is an eclectic mix of local old-timers, families, and out-of-towners on the hunt for a nostalgia fix or a retro-tinged experience, with everyone being made to feel right at home by the friendly proprietors.