Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya ‘Shoku Mashika’

Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'

Greetings From Kyoto

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

I was in Osaka everyday for a week helping out on a story for Wall Street Journal Magazine about culinary trends in Osaka. Via interviews and photo shoots, I got to meet a number of really great chefs, visit their restaurants and become familiar with their cuisine.

One of the places we visited was ‘Shoku Mashika’ (食 ましか), which is a very unique place. By day it is a cigarette shop, run by grandma and by night it is a very popular Italian-style izakaya, run by the grandson – quite a combination!! The cuisine is Japanese-Italian fusion and the atmosphere is very casual. Drinks and appetizers are self-service. The other dishes are prepared in the open kitchen which is about one half of the floor space of the tiny establishment.

During the interview with the owner and chef, I knew that I had to try this restaurant — and soon — and went back that evening for dinner.

The food is inventive and excellent, the atmosphere, unlike stuffy old Kyoto, is very friendly and casual. Dinner was reasonably priced.

I will definitely be hitting this place for dinner when I am in Osaka!

Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
Hakusai (Chinese cabbage) Lasagna
Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
The ‘Osaka Spirited’ Staff of Mashika
Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
Grilled Wagyu Beef Streak
Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
Horse Tartar
Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
Prosciutto and Mango with Balsamic
Osaka Restaurant: Italian Izakaya 'Shoku Mashika'
Draft Beer and Mackerel and Carrot Appetizer

Shoku Mashika 食 ましか
website: none
tel: 06-6443-0148 (probably they don’t speak English)
address: Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, Edobori 1-19-15 (大阪市西区江戸堀1-19-15)