Dining with Dylan

Hungry for a little rock’n’roll? My Back Pages is the perfect spot. Named after a 1964 Bob Dylan song, this casual subterranean eatery serves kushikatsu, a homely Osaka specialty, with a classic rock soundtrack.

The food on the bilingual menu is also a treat. Chicken, beef, pork, chillis, quail eggs, baby tomatoes, wieners, camembert cheese – if it can be breadcrumbed, skewered and deep-fried, it can be kushikatsu. Most cost 126 yen, maxing out at 315 yen, with preset assortments of five, seven or 10 skewers available at a slight discount. Whatever you order, these wooden sticks proffer a crispy coating with succulent innards, each cooked to perfection and served with tangy tonkatsu dipping sauce and crunchy leaves of sweet lettuce.

Other dishes include white gyoza (round, crisp, moist pork dumplings) and a selection of salads, stir-fries, chips and spicy foods such as mapo dofu.

My Back Pages serves Asahi Super Dry at 525 yen a glass, or the tastier Bass Pale Ale at 735 yen for a pint. There is also a large variety of spirits and wine, with a bottle-keep system for whiskey, shochu and others. Mixed drinks start at 525 yen, and soft drinks at 420 yen. Happily, music requests are absolutely free.

For an interview with the owner, click here.