Okonomiyaki Japanese Pancake

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)

Okonomiyaki or the “As-You-Like-It pancake” is a staple of Japanese cuisine. The pan-fried dish mainly consisting of batter and cabbage is hugely versatile, with an array of different ingredient options from pork to squid, to vegetables! “Okonomiyaki” literally means “to one’s liking, gilled” and is even lovingly referred to as the Japanese pancake or pizza due to the flexibility of ingredients.

Cooked in Front of You

Cooked on an iron griddle called a “Teppan”, it’s fairly common to come across restaurants in Japan where the teppan is at your table, and you can cook your own okonomiyaki to taste while you sit and chat. You can even eat it directly from the griddle to maintain its freshness! If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, there are also many restaurants where the okonomiyaki is prepared by a chef and either cooked in front of you or brought to your table.

Okonomiyaki is an extremely popular street food option, especially in Osaka and Hiroshima. Not only can you customize it to accommodate dietary requirements such as allergies, vegetarianism, and even just healthier eating, it’s also quick and cheap. Okonomiyaki from street food stalls is only around 400 yen (around £3.00), with the option to add extra toppings for a small fee. Usually, you can also buy other popular street foods at these stalls such as takoyaki (fried octopus) and yakisoba (fried noodles).

Kansai Vs. Hiroshima Style

There are two types of okonomiyaki that you can try, Kansai style and Hiroshima style. The difference? The Kansai style dish mixes all the ingredients and tends not to include noodles, whereas the Hiroshima style one favours a more layered approach. Where the Kansai style is usually topped with spicy mayo, the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki may include a thick sweet sauce called Otafuku. Both styles of okonomiyaki are delicious and you should try them both if you have the chance

Due to its simplicity and versatility, you could also make tasty okonomiyaki easily at home. If you’re interested in making the Kansai style variation, check out this recipe by foodrepublic. For the Hiroshima variation, you can try japancentre’s recipe.

Regional variations on the dish are also super tasty and fun to try too, for example, “kurukuru okonomiyaki” and “dondon-yaki” are popular in areas like Sendai, and are made by rolling the dish onto wooden skewers to make it easier to walk and eat.

Okonomiyaki Origins

An early version of okonomiyaki became popular during and after World War II due to a short supply of rice. It could be made out of available ingredients and was healthy, filling, cheap, and a delicious treat for children.

It was named okonomiyaki in Osaka during the 1930s, however, the Hiroshima style was popularised after the atomic bombing since food was in short supply.

Where Can You Eat It?

This dish is huge all across Japan, and so finding a decent okonomiyaki restaurant won’t be difficult. However, if you’re in Tokyo, why not try Sakuratei in Harajuku? Famous for their secret sauce, this ambient store offers English menus and all-you-can-eat courses!

If you really want to go for the original in Osaka, Ajinoya Honten is a great spot that locals love. And in Hiroshima, you should try Micchansou.