Osaka, Japan - Experience the First Clam Specialty Restaurant in Kansai: Hamaguri-an はまぐり庵

Hamaguri-an is a special clam specialty restaurant, boasting to be the first of its kind in Kansai. The menu is entirely themed around clams, offering a variety of dishes. Clams have been a luxurious ingredient favored by the nobility from the Jomon period to the Heian period. Grilled clams and clam hot pot are more common preparations. The grilled clams are huge and can be paired with various seasonings. Opting for the simplest flavor, a serving of three, one can only say that the freshness is immediate upon tasting, allowing one to savor the plumpness and rich ocean flavor of the clams—this dish is quite flavorful. For the main course, I tried the clam ramen, which I had never eaten before. The ramen uses thin noodles, and the clams are of normal size, not as tender and delicious as the grilled ones. However, the essence of the dish lies in the soup base, which is rich in flavor. If you don't soak the noodles in the soup, it tastes more bland. There are actually quite a few special dishes, such as clam pot-cooked rice, clam sea bream rice in tea, clam broth omelet, clam potato salad(?), and so on. In any case, no matter what dish you order, it should be accompanied by a draft beer. The interior of Hamaguri-an is designed in a lecture hall style, allowing every seat to enjoy the beautiful high-rise view from the 28th floor of the Hankyu Grand Building. The prices are on the higher side, as the restaurant is located in a shopping mall and has to pay rent, making it more expensive than street-side shops. Hamaguri-an Business Hours: 1100-2300 Address: Hankyu 32nd Avenue SORANIWA Dining, Hankyu Grand Building, 28F, 8-47 Kakudacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0017 Japan