Good Eats: The Onion Burgers of Awaji

Posted on 09/29/2020 Last updated on 11/06/2020

Works of antiquity such as the Kojiki and Nihonshoki describe Awaji Island as the “birthplace of Japan”. In addition to its place in Japan’s creation mythos, Awaji is famous for something else. Something that, in the hands of a skilled chef, becomes a tasty delight and well worth a trip to the island.

Located in Hyōgo Prefecture, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku, Awaji is a one-of-a-kind locale. When visiting the island, there’s something that you’ll notice right away: there’s a lot of onions! Awaji Onions are considered among the best in Japan, and the island’s beef is said to rival even the world-famous Kobe variety.

So for those planning to make a trek out to this wonderful little island, we highly recommend trying some of the dishes made with these delicious ingredients. One place that we can personally recommend not only has some of the best burgers in the world, but also a one-of-a-kind view.

Who’s up for some tasty burgers and onion rings?

For gourmet enthusiasts, burger lovers and those who just and want to see one of the most unique restaurants around, the Awajishima Onion Kitchen is the place to go. The Onion Kitchen is best-known for its Awaji Beef Burger, once selected best burger at the Tottori Burger Festa. Made with local ingredients (the aforementioned beef and onions) and smothered in an onion and tomato sauce made specially to highlight the beef and fried onion ring, this mouth-watering specialty is topped off by a fluffy bun of home-made dough.

The Awaji Beef Burger is joined by various other burger types, some of the best onion rings around, and an indescribably unique desert item: onion ice cream, a unique flavor that makes use of the sweetness of Awaji Onions.

To compliment the taste of this delicious food you can enjoy a great view, as one of the best things about the Onion Kitchen is it location. It’s situated close to the Ōnaruto Bridge, home of the famous Naruto whirlpools. Thus while enjoying the beef burger you can also feast your eyes on the view of the giant Naruto whirlpools under the bridge.

Fun fact: the whirlpools are a result large volumes of water moving between the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean between high and low tide, combined with the unique underwater geography of the narrow strait.

The Ōnaruto Bridge

The whirlpools appear twice daily in the morning and afternoon, so we recommend checking the times before planning your trip to maximize the experience. The whirlpools can grow to up 20 meters in diameter during their peak, and can be viewed from the balcony of the restaurant.

Does all this make you want to hop in the car (or local train) and head on over? The Awajishima Onion Kitchen is an amazing hotspot that combines a true gourmet experience with the wonders of nature. Definitely a destination for food and nature enthusiast alike- try it for yourself!

Photo Credits:

Top Image: yhp511 on Pixabay

Additional photos provided by Naveed Hussain