Finding The Best Okonomiyaki In Osaka

Okonomiyaki is a type of Japanese savory pancake filled with cabbage and a topping of your choice. This is one of the most delicious types of Japanese cuisine; translated into English, okonomi mean ‘as you like it’ and yaki , means ‘grilled’. Okonomiyaki is thus a very personal meal, which you can really make your own and often even have a go at cooking yourself.

Okaru

Okaru is a typically small Japanese restaurant located in a side street in Namba. The restaurant is famous for its artistic nature: after your okonomiyaki is done, the chef comes around and draws a character, like Snoopy or a flower, on your okonomiyaki with mayonnaise. The restaurant has been around for over sixty years now and you can complete you okonomiyaki with two toppings.

1-9-19 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, +81 666 342 951

Houzenji Sanpei

Houzenji Sampei is famous for the fluffiness of their pancakes and the freshness of their ingredients. It’s recommended that you add yakisoba noodles to your pancake as well, making your meal even more filling. The restaurant loves to promote its draft beer, which is a great accompaniment to an okonomiyaki.

1-7-10, Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan, +81 662 110 399

http://instagram.com/p/5CdH7sAbtC/?tagged=houzenjisanpei

Fukutaro

Restaurant, Japanese, Sushi, Asian

A small traditional looking Japanese restaurant, Fukutaro is incredibly popular with locals. Okonomiyakiis usually topped with mayonnaise and okonomiyakisauce, which ressembles Worcester Sauce in both flavor and texture. Fukutaro is famous for their sauce own-brand okonomiyaki sauce, which uses a secret ingredient. The eatery is located right in the center of Namba, the shopping and entertainment district of Osaka, but is a little tricky to find, so make sure you’ve mapped out directions beforehand.

Mizuno

Restaurant, Japanese

Mizuno is a family-owned okonomiyaki place, which regularly has customers queuing out the door for a table. The batter is made with flour, egg, Japanese yam and a dashi broth. You pick which meat you would like to add, or alternative you can choose vegetables or seafood. The menu boasts plenty of options for toppings, fillings, sauces and you can also choose whether or not to add noodles. The menu also suggests some popular items to make your decision a little easier. The chef brings over the whole mixture so you can watch your okonomiyaki being cooked right in front of you at your table.

Kiji Sky

Restaurant, Japanese, Asian

Tucked away in the basement of the Umeda Sky Building, Kiji Sky is one of Osaka’s best okonomiyaki restaurants. From the minute you enter the shop you’ll be immersed in the glorious smells coming from the grill. If you’re new to okonomiyaki,or just cant decide, the chef at Kiji Sky is more than happy to help you decide. Expect to wait to get a table as the restaurant is a small, warm and cozy restaurant.

About the author

Prema Chablani

Born and raised in a small town in Japan with an Indian and Spanish background, Prema is now in her final year of an English Literature degree at the University of Edinburgh. With her parents both being ex-magazine writers, Prema developed a passion for reading and writing at an early age. When not in front of a kindle, she'll be jet setting and exploring the world soaking in all the new languages and cultures.