Okonomiyaki = Pizza x Pancake !? Cook on a Table Dish


Okonomiyaki is one of teppanyaki (iron griddle) dishes. Since the word “okonomiyaki” literally means “cook what you like”, the idea is sometimes compared to pizza, but the look and the ingredients are more close to a pancake.

 

“Okonomiyaki”

okonomiyaki

"kina3" some rights reserved. flickr

 

 

 

The batter is made of flour, grated yamaimo (yam), water, dashi, eggs and shredded cabbage, and usually contains other ingredients such as green onion, and meat.

Again, it is “cook what you like”, you can put whatever you like; popular ingredients are, for example, pork, octopus, squid, shrimp, fish roe, vegetables, kimchi, mochi or cheese. Okonomiyaki is usually seasoned with sauce, mayonnaise, katsuobushi (dried tuna flake), and seaweed.

 

“Okonomiyaki ingredients in a bowl”

okonomiyaki

"june29" some rights reserved. flickr

 

 

In Japan, we have okonomiyaki restaurants, venders, and bento at convenience stores and supermarkets.

There are two types of okonomiyaki restaurants, one is where a chef cook the dish in front of the customers, and the other is where the customers cook their dish on an iron griddle equipped on a table. Most of them are the latter.

 

“A chef making Hiroshima style okonomiyaki”

okonomiyaki

"mattb_tv" some rights reserved. flickr

 

 

“Customers making their okonomiyaki on a table”

okonomiyaki

"Edz’sta" some rights reserved. flickr

 

 

Okonomiyaki is one of the Japanese dishes that foreigners try and say “good!”, so if you find it, please try it!

 

 

This is JAPAN Style!

 

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