Okonomiyaki – Japanese Soul Food at Its Finest

Your first few experiences with food in Japan will probably be the usual: sushi, ramen, udon. But when you want to dig a little deeper, it’s time for Osaka soul food. Okonomiyaki. With a history as rich as its flavor, Japan’s “pancake/pizza/crepe/omelette” will fill you up and ensure you come back for more.

What is Okonomiyaki?

  Okonomiyaki is described many ways. “Crepe” and “omelette” are two common comparisons. But you’re bound to hear “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese pancake” most often. These descriptions are all true to an extent but basically wrong.

Okonomiyaki’s is a flour based mixture cooked on a griddle. Thus a cake from a pan, or “pancake.” But it doesn’t have the sweetness of fluffiness the name connotes (at least in the American sense).

Its pizzaness comes from the various ingredients. Just like you can have whatever you want on your pizza, you can have whatever you want on (or in) your okonomiyaki.

In fact, the name okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) means “whatever you like grilled.” The first part of the word “okonomi” (お好み) means “choice” or “preference.” If you use the word “konomi” (好み) in a sentence, it can mean “one’s type.” As in “He is my type.” The second part, “yaki” (焼き) means “cooking,” “frying,” or “heating.” It’s the same yaki in teriyaki, yakisoba, and yakiniku.

As the name insists, you can do what you like. But there are some differences in ingredients that change the style of the dish depending on the region of Japan.

The two main styles are Osaka (or Kansai) style and Hiroshima style.

Read more: http://www.tofugu.com/2015/10/08/okonomiyaki-osaka-soul-food-at-its-finest/