Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki means grilled as you like, and in Osaka that is exactly how it works: a batter of flour, egg, and dashi crowded with shredded cabbage, then topped on the griddle with pork, sauce, and a mountain of bonito flakes. It started as a quick street snack after the war when flour was cheap and hungry crowds lined the stalls. Today it is the party food of Japan, cooked at the table and shared, and a squirt bottle of sauce and a spatula are really all the tools you need.

A sizzling cabbage pancake with a party on top

The pancake is crisp and golden outside, tender and cabbage-sweet within, with smoky pork tucked into every slice. Sweet-savory okonomiyaki sauce, cool ribbons of mayonnaise, and bonito flakes that dance in the steam make it loud, playful, and irresistible. It is messy in the best way and eaten straight from the griddle, with kids loving the flipping and adults fighting over the crispy edges.

Craving more? Explore all Japanese Kitchen recipes.

Japanese recipes →