Okonomiyaki (savory pancake with toppings like meat, seafood, and vegetables) is a representative gourmet food of Osaka. After you have tasted and enjoyed the classic okonomiyaki, though, how about challenging yourself to try some unique okonomiyaki variants? Here are five shops in Osaka where you can eat okonomiyaki that is a little different from the usual.
1. Bonkuraya Dotonbori Shop
Bonkuraya Dotonbori Shop is a famous restaurant with window seats overlooking Dotonbori. It offers a highly original menu, including the Puchiyaki (1,166 JPY (incl. tax) for six flavors, and 1,706 JPY (incl. tax) for nine flavors), a set of various kinds of small okonomiyaki that will let you enjoy different tastes and flavors in small doses. Try the Gekikara Russian Roulette Puchi Okonomiyaki (1,058 JPY (incl. tax) for Russian 6, and 1,588 JPY (incl. tax) for Russian 9), too, as it will surely become a lasting memory of your trip as a group. Have fun finding out who among you will hit the jackpot (the okonomiyaki with super spicy habanero chili)! This shop is not only famous with tourists, it is also frequented by locals.
※Foreign language menu available: English and traditional Chinese
2. Kyo-Chabana Kitashinchi Shop
Kyo-Chabana is a shop where you can eat okonomiyaki with a new taste and sensation that is created under the concept of putting a new twist to the conventional okonomiyaki. Its specialty Tomato no Okonomiyaki (780 JPY (excl. tax)) is its biggest bestseller, something that can be enjoyed with wine. The sweetness of the sauce and the sourness or acidity of the tomatoes are a great match, making it a refreshing dish that will make you feel like you’re eating a salad. Meanwhile, the Tenshi no Ebi no Avocado Okonomi (1,480 JPY (excl. tax)), whose homemade sauce and delicious vegetables are perfect with white wine, is a powerful combination of shrimp and avocado that is famous among women. Here, you can relish extremely unique okonomiyaki inside a fancy space.
3. mo-ri
Mo-ri is a Western-style izakaya (tavern) where guests enjoy creative dishes cooked on a hot iron plate at very reasonable prices. Its specialty Mo-ri Yaki (980 JPY) is a cute okonomiyaki that is 5cm thick and looks like a cake, and has been featured in magazines. The batter is put in a mold and baked for about 30 minutes, giving it a fluffy texture like a sponge cake. The subtle flavor of tomato is truly refreshing. Note that it takes some time before this dish is cooked, so make sure to order it right away.
4. Hatsuse
Hatsuse is a shop where you get to cook your own okonomiyaki. You will be given a batter mixture that even first timers will be able to cook properly to create an okonomiyaki that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside (there is a manual for making delicious okonomiyaki). Its original dish Gensen Wafu MIX (carefully selected Japanese-style mix) (1,050 JPY (excl. tax)) is a delicious dish thanks to the unexpected great combination of ume (plum) and oba (perilla leaves). All rooms in this restaurant are private spaces, so you will enjoy your time here, from cooking up to eating.
※Foreign language menu available: English, Foreign language spoken by staff: English
5. Yukari Sonezaki Main Shop
Established in 1950, Yukari Sonezaki Main Shop is a place where you can dine on okonomiyaki that uses the shop’s proprietary flour, sauce and mayonnaise. The ridiculously huge Osakajo (4,400 JPY (incl. tax)) has a diameter of about 30cm and weighs an unbelievable 1 kilo, so it is good for 3-4 people. You should try the Tokusen Mix Yaki (1,220 JPY (incl. tax) that best represents Osaka, of course, as well as innovative dishes such as the Fromage Yaki (1,450 JPY (incl. tax)) that is filled with five types of cheeses. Visit this spot to enjoy various kinds of okonomiyaki, from the classic type to progressive variants, inside a space with a casual vibe reminiscent of olden days.
This is a list of specialty and original okonomiyaki dishes that you can only find in the shops that serve them. Make sure to try them together with the standard okonomiyaki.
*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.
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