More than a food court: Time Out Market curates Osaka's best flavors
Emerging from the Umekita underground passage from Osaka Station, I pause to take in the scale of the new Time Out Market Osaka. Opened March 21, the space reveals itself in dramatic fashion: a staggering 3,000-square-meter food hall with a cavernous interior bathed in ambient lighting. One wall features a colorful, street art-inspired mural by local artist Shun Nakao, while illuminated posters display iconic Time Out magazine covers featuring David Bowie and Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup cans — subtle nods to the brand's cultural legacy.
Time Out Market Osaka is a milestone for the London-based media and hospitality business — it's their 11th food and cultural market worldwide but their first in Asia. The concept began in 2014 with the original Time Out Market in Lisbon where the company transformed the historic Mercado da Ribeira into an upscale food hall. It has since expanded globally, with markets in Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Dubai and now Osaka.
The Osaka market represents a significant partnership with real estate developer Hankyu Hanshin Properties, one of the driving forces behind the ambitious Grand Green Osaka development. The urban renewal project has transformed a former cargo yard into a multipurpose complex of offices, hotels, commercial facilities and the Umekita Park — 45,000 square meters of greenery featuring 110 cherry trees and an artificial pond. Time Out Market Osaka is a permanent tenant located beneath Grand Green Osaka's South Building.
"After visiting the Time Out Market in New York, we chose it as a key tenant for Grand Green Osaka because it aligned with our global theme while showcasing Kansai and Osaka's culinary strengths," explains Kei Okutsuchi, general manager of Hankyu Hanshin Properties' urban management division and CEO of Time Out Market Osaka.
The 17 food outlets offer a wide variety of cuisines, from Japanese staples to Hong Kong fare. |
TIME OUT MARKET OSAKA
At the heart of the market, wide communal tables invite visitors to gather and share meals. Wooden-slat fixtures, designed specifically for the Osaka location, adorn the venue's 17 food outlets, where open kitchen designs allow diners to witness the culinary action firsthand.
What distinguishes Time Out Market Osaka from an ordinary food court is its thoughtful, curatorial approach.
"It is not a food court," explains marketing director Elena Iriyama. "It is a place that you come not just to eat because you're hungry; you come to experience everything the chefs took the time to think about — the concept and presentation of the dishes as well."
The selection of vendors for the market showcases the city's vibrant food culture, with an emphasis on emerging talent. The atmosphere blends urban sophistication with Osaka's trademark style of casual dining.
Kaori Funai, a local restaurant consultant who helped curate the market's offerings together with general manager Taro Kobayashi, says a particular point about Osaka food is 'it's very tanoshii (fun).'
'We wanted to find vendors who convey a sense of fun; skilled people (who) have a unique and interesting character or personality,' says Funai.
Tacos and more: Saboten Taqueria is showcasing delicious Mexican bites created by one-Michelin-starred chef Willy Monroy. |
TIME OUT MARKET OSAKA
The 17 food outlets span from beloved local specialties to international cuisines. Osaka staples are well represented, albeit with creative twists: Koala Shokudo serves hearty black pork okonomiyaki (savory pancake) paired with natural wine, while Kushiage 001 offers a refined take on deep-fried skewers, including breaded beef dotted with yuzukoshō (Japanese citrus and chili paste). The line-up also embraces diversity with Hong Kong-style crispy roast pork at Gihan Siumei, comforting Korean ginseng chicken soup at Kankoku Shokudo and authentic Mexican flavors at Saboten Taqueria.
Willy Monroy of Saboten Taqueria represents the rising-star chefs the market aims to promote. His Mexican fine-dining restaurant, Milpa in Osaka's Horie district, earned a Michelin star in the restaurant guide's 2025 Osaka edition — the first Mexican restaurant to receive the accolade in Japan. His offerings at the Osaka market include perfectly executed tacos topped with pork carnitas (slow-cooked pork infused with citrus and spices) and rich lamb birria (braised lamb stew).
Those with a sweet tooth should look out for Julian Sucre Acid. The dessert outlet, says Funai, showcases chef Masuhiro Yokota's "playful character" and "modern approach to classic Japanese coffee shop desserts.' Yokota, who owns Julian Ice Cream, has collaborated with bakery Le Sucre Couer and patisserie Acid Racine — and thus the amalgamation of their shop names — to create special items available exclusively at this location, including the signature Pudding a la Mode, which pairs creme caramel with vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce and waffle cones.
Even the market's sushi vendor was chosen with careful consideration. Kitaro Sushi was selected to evoke "the feeling of a neighborhood sushi restaurant" rather than an upscale establishment, explains Kobayashi. "We wanted to create an approachable atmosphere where visitors can enjoy high-quality sushi at a reasonable price."
Beyond food, Time Out Market Osaka features two bars and hosts regular events. DJs are brought in on Friday nights to play Latin music and create a festive atmosphere, while acoustic performances and family-friendly activities during holidays round out the programming. Future plans include hosting magic shows, bartending contests and workshops.
"When you (think of) a market, you visualize a place where people gather to come together,' says Iriyama. 'We have everything under one roof — it's a space of togetherness.'
Time Out Market Osaka, B1F, Grand Green Osaka, South Building, 5-54, Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011; visit timeout.com/time-out-market-osaka
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