Brief profile
I often cut meat and do work in the back of the shop, but please feel free to talk to me.
A local butcher shop that supports everyday meals.
For locals, “肉の森田屋” is the kind of place that comes to mind when they think of meat. Rather than a constant turnover of new customers, it is a community‑rooted shop visited by familiar faces in their daily lives.
It was originally founded as a meat retail store in Nishinari‑ku, Osaka City. Later, it moved its store to Shonai and is now located in the 旭通商店街.
"Everyone around here has lived here for a long time, so the usual grandpas and grandmas come to buy meat. I don’t do anything special, but I treat them properly and hope they’ll come back," says the owner.森田さんHe is the third generation of a butcher shop beloved by the community for over half a century.
His cheerful conversations with customers, always with a smile, are memorable.
Even selling a single slice of meat
"The customer just now bought a single slice of meat, huh,"森田さんturns around.
When I wondered why just a single slice and asked what kind of customer it was, I was told it was a mother holding a baby. She seemed to be looking for lean meat for baby food, and after hearing that story森田さんapparently chose one piece of meat from the abundant selection and suggested it.
I also recalled that when my child was eating baby food, I wondered which ingredients to choose, especially regarding meat. Being responsive to any consultation with a smile probably contributes to the trust of local customers.
It's not uncommon for customers to order just a single slice of meat. They also accept orders like "just 50 grams of tripe." "Feel free to ask about anything, not only small purchases,"森田さんanswered with a smile.
—Meticulously processing each part—
We are very particular about the freshness that is crucial for meat. In addition to frequent purchasing, the way of cutting meat that we learned from the previous generation and senior craftsmen is careful and extremely speedy.
—A variety of types and cuts are displayed—
Among the many kinds of meat, pork has a richer selection compared to beef or chicken. We are particular about purchasing whole hogs directly from the auction market. You can easily ask questions like “Which meat goes well with ___ cuisine?” and we’ll gladly recommend the appropriate meat, which is a nice feature.
In fact, it’s a shop that does “unusual meat procurement”.
At Niku no Moritaya, we practice “whole‑animal buying,” directly bidding for pork at the auction market.
These days, not only in Asahi‑dori Shopping Street but also in nearby areas, meat retailers using this style are rare. The appeal of whole‑animal buying at the auction is, above all, “freshness.”
It’s not uncommon to purchase a pig that was alive just a few days ago. We select and buy meat of outstanding freshness and high quality. Because we bypass wholesalers, we can offer fresh meat at a lower, fair price. “We want to deliver fresh, high‑quality meat to local customers at the lowest possible price.”
It's the mindset of Niku no Moritaya inherited from the previous generation.
Cherish the customers in front of you.
Niku no Moritaya, which has been loved in the community for more than half a century.
In the author's hometown, there used to be several butcher shops, but now none remain. One reason is likely the construction of convenient shopping malls and supermarkets over time.
—So, why has Niku no Moritaya been able to endure this long in the community?—
He said, “It's not that we’re doing anything special, but when customers come to the shop and place an order, we try to serve them quickly and politely, and make sure they don’t have to wait as long as possible.”森田さんHe answered.
From his consistently humble attitude and his polite, smiling responses, it is evident that he has been attentively engaging with local customers every day.
The recommendation is “pork belly”.
Various types and cuts are available, but I asked what the recommendation was. It turns out the recommendation is, as expected, fresh pork purchased from Seri. Among them, “pork belly” is popular because it has many uses, and it receives many orders from local customers. When you stop by Moritaya, please be sure to buy it and try it.
StoreInformation
Niku no Mori-taya
> Access
〒564-0032
7-13 Motomachi, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture
6-minute walk from JR Suita Station
No dedicated parking
※There are paid parking ticket areas nearby,
as well as paid coin parking.
> Business Hours
9:00–18:00
Closed on Thursdays and the 3rd Wednesday
> Phone number
０６－６３８１－０２０２
Check with the Suita City Asahidori Shopping Street web app
VOICE interview article handled by "Suita Information Bureau" by Suita City Asahidori Shopping Street