Hiroshima Okonomiyaki
Most of you probably have heard about Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き). Some people call it the Japanese Pancake, others called it the Japanese Pizza. The name came from the word okonomi (to one's liking) and yaki (grill/cook). As the name implies, you could put whatever ingredients you want (cabbage, egg, cheese, meat, shrimp, scallop, pork, kimchi, etc) and cook it on top of an iron griddle called teppan.
Although there are many kinds of toppings and ingredients involved, you could separate okonomiyaki into two types, Osaka (or Kansai) Okonomiyaki and Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. In Osaka, we mix the batter and ingredients first inside a bowl and then cook it on the teppan. In Hiroshima, we layer the ingredients one by one on the teppan and then press it down together while cooking. If the Hiroshima okonomiyaki is served with a layer of noodles (either yakisoba or udon), the dish is called modanyaki (modern yaki).
Most restaurants in Tokyo serve the Osaka style Okonomiyaki.
If you're looking for a reasonable (read: cheap and delicious) Okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima, the Okonomi Monogatari Eki Mae Hiroba (お好み物語駅前ひろば) is my recommendation. It is on the 6th floor of Full Focus Building, across the street from JR Hiroshima station. There are around 20 okonomiyaki restaurants that you could choose. Price is around 900 yen.
Cooking time
First, put some cooking oil and batter on the teppan.
Add cabbage, bean sprout, meat, shrimp, scallop, etc.
Flip it, press it down.
Add some soba or udon.
Add eggs, lots of okonomiyaki sauce, and onion. Press it again.
And there you go, the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. What about the taste ?
It was soooo GOOD ! A must try if you go to Hiroshima. :)
Beautiful photos! I've never tried okonomiyaki but I definitely want to now!
you should try it !
Thanks for sharing these! I love okonomiyaki!! Had some Hiroshima style ones in Shizuoka but gotta say that I like the Osaka style better!! XD Gorgeous pics!
I like Hiroshima style better. :D
That looks just DELICIOUS! When I was in Tokyo last year (might go again in a few months), I was afraid to try too many different things as I did not know what I was ordering. I stuck with the AWESOME noodle place near my hotel and loved their food. Cheap, too. :D
if you come to Tokyo, contact me. I could bring you around. I know lots of good place to eat. :D
I am DROOLING!!!