Daruma Kushikatsu Osaka

If we tell you there is a kind of fried food that you can eat a lot without feeling sick from the grease, will you jump in joy? And if we top that up with Japanese beer, will life be a bed of roses?

Now, please do yourselves that favour and go to Osaka for Kushikatsu. If the Japanese term is baffling, well – think skewers of all sorts, coated with light batter, then deep fried to something even lovelier than golden brown. And we swear it is not like your usual fried food that is always overly oily and sickeningly fatty. Okay, we cannot promise it is not fattening but if you want to do fried food, do it in an enjoyable way, yes?

Kushikatsu is famous in Osaka and is known to be one of the identities of that city’s food scene. A typical outlet is usually simple and fuss-free, and usually nothing else but skewers and drinks. You have your chicken and beef, vegetables like brinjal and capsicums, eggs and mushrooms… and the list goes on. Almost anything that can be skewed will taste awesome. Even better when downed with a glass of icy cold beer.

Daruma is a popular chain in Osaka and every branch is always packed with loyal patrons – locals and tourists alike. Nothing too fanciful about the place, just your regular fast food lookalike, with a team of exuberant youngsters, and a fuss-free ordering and serving system that is quite an eye-opener for first-timers. Well, actually, the technology in Japan is eye-opening to say the least, and the world should be inspired.

Every table comes with an attached electronic system and an iPad for ordering. The interface is user-friendly, and displays clearly in tabs the various sets that are available. And there is a conveyer belt that connects the kitchen to all the tables. Your food will be dispatched from the kitchen, and “travel” on the conveyer belt to reach exactly where you are. And you are free to dip your skewers in the sauce bowl. No actual manpower is involved, and you know the thing about machinery – there will be no human errors. No more wrong orders! And from a business owner’s point of view, does this not mean cutting down on unnecessary labour costs and maximizing your efficiency?

We have never seen something like this in Singapore before, and boy were we impressed! And if you are wondering if there ever is human touch, the answer is yes. Despite the heavy usage of technology, the team of waitstaff is ever ready to lend their service. Their presence is always felt, and upon sitting you, they prep you on how to place your order so that no one feels intimidated by the system. And Japanese being Japanese, you can count on them for always being warm, polite and ever ready to serve.

Japanese hospitality, called omotenashi, or the active sensitivity to other people, anticipates the needs and desires of other people. F&B businesses anticipate that customers want convenience and less hassle when ordering food, hence they are quick to adopt technologies that facilitate this desire.

This frees up staff to perform higher order responsibilities such as interacting with customer to make them feel welcome, which value-adds to omotenashi.

Japanese companies also invest in workers who are better trained, more loyal and more informed. Likewise, unions in Singapore are pushing for companies to invest in workers to be better skilled, more productive and able to handle higher order responsibilities, via a Progressive Wage Model which rewards staff for being better workers.

Ever innovating Japan is, and we really hope to see Singapore adapt similar technologies that not only improve customer service, but enhance staff career fulfilment.

On a side note, when at Daruma, an average set is ¥1,800 for 12 sticks and a side. If you ever find yourself in Osaka, this is a place that you must have a meal at.

This message is part of a ladyironchef x Labour Movement project where we seek to share with you insights on the different initiatives by the Labour Movement to give workers in Singapore better jobs, better pay and better work-life balance.

Daruma Kushikatsu
1-6-4 Dotonbori Chuoku
Tel: +81 6 6213 8101