Saranban at Umeda, Osaka

A Korean deli counter in Daimaru Umeda famed for freshly rolled kimbap and bulgogi seaweed rolls.

Saranban is a Korean takeaway deli on the basement food floor of the Daimaru Umeda department store, part of a small specialist group that also runs a sit-down Korean restaurant in Namba. The counter focuses on ready-to-go Korean dishes, with the kimbap - Korean seaweed rice rolls - the clear favourite among regulars. The bulgogi kimbap, filled with sweet-marinated beef, draws particular praise for its lighter, easy-to-eat style compared with Japanese rolled sushi, and the counter also lays out a rotating range of other Korean deli items. The format is quick takeaway, so it suits a grab-and-go lunch, a snack for the train or a picnic-style meal back at your hotel. The Go Umeda team always makes room for a kimbap run when we are passing through Osaka Station City. Stop off at the Daimaru basement, pick up a roll or two, and you have a proper Korean bite to carry into your Umeda day.