Kworld Trend / 6 best okonomiyaki in tokyo that you should try, It’s hard to describe okonomiyaki in English accurately and succinctly. Common translations of both “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese pancake” don’t do it justice. Okonomiyaki literally translates to “grill as you like,” and it’s like a savory pancake with various ingredients, some of which are as popular as pork belly, cheese, cabbage, scallions, and seafood. It is then topped with bonito, seaweed flakes, mayonnaise, and okonomiyaki sauce.
Top 6 Okonomiyaki In Tokyo You Must Try
While its historical origins are unclear, a dish from the Taisho era (1912-1926) from Kyoto called isin yoshoku , a tender, savory crepe with a variety of ingredients and swimming in sauce, may have been its predecessor.
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Osaka vs. Hiroshima
It is claimed that no area makes okonomiyaki better than these two. However, both Osaka and Hiroshima have their own distinct ways of preparing okonomiyaki, which leads to a slight rivalry over which one does it right and best.
Osaka style is the most famous. It is prepared just like a typical pancake – the batter is mixed with the ingredients and then fried. Meanwhile, for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, the ingredients are cooked separately in layers, starting with the batter, which is thin and crepe-like. Pasta is also a staple. The end result looks more like a stack of alternating batter and ingredients. Also, while Osaka-style okonomiyaki can be grilled yourself, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is always left to the chef.
Nowadays, even Osaka-style okonomiyaki may have noodles. This type of okonomiyaki is called modan-yaki , modan meaning “modern,” so the main difference between these two styles, really, is the method of cooking. While methods vary, the end products are delicious anyway! However, many seem to prefer Osaka-style okonomiyaki.
Where to eat: Okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo
While Tokyo has mongayaki, its own style of okonomiyaki is runaway (try it on Tsukishima’s famous Monga Street), there are also restaurants where you can sample good old okonomiyaki in Osaka and Hiroshima. Here are a few (in no particular order):
1. Sakurati | harajuku
Tucked down a back alley from Harajuku, complete with some creative Sakuratei wall designs, is a great place to start if you’re new to Okonomiyaki. The restaurant has an English menu and has a relaxed atmosphere. It claims to owe its popularity to okonomiyaki’s delicate texture, as well as its secret sauce. For big eaters, they have all you can eat okonomiyaki courses. A 90-minute lunch course (available from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm) costs 1,060 yen on weekdays, and 1,200 yen on weekends. The two-hour course includes okonomiyaki, 22 layers, mongayaki, yakisoba, and yakudon.
2. Hanako | Idabashi
Added quite frequently to the Bib Gourmand menu (the affordable tier is less than a Michelin star), this place looks very unassuming, but the food certainly isn’t. Now with three restaurants in Hiroshima and two in Tokyo (the other being in Kanda), they seem to get their staple dish at this store in particular, so you’re in good hands. Try to grab a seat by the teppanyin table so you can watch the master at work.
3. Keiji | Marunouchi + Shinagawa
The famous okonomiyaki restaurant in Osaka has two branches in Tokyo: one in Marunouchi and the other in Shinagawa. Starting at 830 yen for an okonomiyaki buta tama (pork and egg), the prices are very reasonable. English menus are also available.
Since this restaurant is so popular, it’s best to arrive early and expect a line that can leave you waiting over an hour, at worst.
4. Subaru | Asakusa
Based in Asakusa, Subaru has been in business since 1937. This grilled okonomiyaki restaurant offers reasonable prices, with a very basic okonomiyaki (with only ginger and cabbage ingredients) costing 380 yen . Fillers with more fillings cost between 630 yen – 880 yen . Be sure to try the unconventional okonomiyaki: pizza (with peppers, bacon and cheese), curry and mochi (with cheese, bacon and mochi) and pork with kimchi.
5. Okonomiyaki Honjin
Another okonomiyaki BBQ place, this place has all you can eat and all you can drink. The lunch course is 90 minutes long and costs 1480 yen . A two-hour all-you-can-eat-and-drink course costs ¥ 3,000 and covers 18 types of okonomiyaki, 25 types of mongayaki, and a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
6. Suzume no Oyado | Shibuya
This restaurant has an old home atmosphere. It serves not only okonomiyaki, but also mongayaki. Prices are a bit higher compared to the above restaurants, but it’s still relatively inexpensive.
other places | Top 8 Okonomiyaki In Tokyo You Must Try
1 – Naniwa (浪花) [Nerima]
「Naniwa」 is a famous restaurant in Nerima, famous characters also come here to eat but don’t confuse the original Japanese characters with the Naniwa district of Osaka. At this restaurant you can get Osaka style okonomiyakis. The menu here offers a variety of okonomiyaki dishes to choose from and you can also eat some delicious takoyaki here as well.
2nd floor, Koizumi Building, 5-15-1, Toyotamakami, Nerima War, Tokyo
2. Okonomiyaki Kiji Shinagawa [Shingawa]
「Okonomiyaki Kiji Shinagawa「Okonomiyaki Kiji Shinagawa offers diners the opportunity to experience an authentic taste of Osaka kiji right here in Shinagawa. You can’t help but notice how delicious the okonomiyakis are, but don’t forget to try the generous portion of the beef cut called 「sugi yaki」, another popular dish at this shop.
Second floor, Shinagawa Front Building, 2-3-13 Konan, Minato Ward, Tokyo
3. Konamon [Setagaya]
「Konamon」 has an exterior that is not like other traditional okonomiyaki restaurants. Step through their sturdy entrance into the spacious dining area and you’ll be amazed at how this restaurant can seat up to 200 people at a time, but no matter how crowded the restaurant gets, you can still enjoy delicious okonomiyaki comfortably.
4-14-1 Tsurumaki, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
4. Okonomiyaki Fukutake [Yaguchinowatashi]
「Okonomiyaki Fukutake」 is a popular restaurant even though it’s located in a quiet part of town. Well, who can deny the popularity of this restaurant once they try the delicious okonomiyaki here! This restaurant also provides an interesting attraction to its patrons with costumed waiting staff.
1-17-11 Higashi Yaguchi, Ota Ward, Tokyo
5. Koinobori – Shimotakaido
For some Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, you should head to 「Kinobori」. This restaurant has been featured in some magazines and they serve high quality okonomiyakis. Hiroshima-style okonomiyakis differ from those in Osaka, in that they contain more vegetables, making them ideal for diners looking for a healthy option.
1-3-11 Shimotakaido, Suginami Ward, Tokyo
6. Sonia – Shinpachi
For a filling Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, make your way to 「Sonia」. You must try the ones that come with pasta and you can choose between two options; Udon or soba But for those who have never had this type of okonomiyaki before, we suggest you choose soba. Come here to satisfy your taste buds with those generously topped with Welsh onions that are also pleasing to the eye.
Floor B1 Le Gratte Ciel Building, 5-15-1 Shinbashi, Minato Ward, Tokyo
7. Pushiomaya | Shinjuku
One of the few Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo, the best-selling okonomiyaki is the usual okonomiyaki – nekotama (meat and egg) – and nekotama mochi cheese . This izakaya-like restaurant also has other dishes worth trying, such as the crispy squid snack. Prepare to spend between 815 and 1500 yen at this place .
8. Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Kurumi | Shinjuku
Also in Shinjuku, the name of the restaurant is self-explanatory. Inexpensive okonomiyaki ranges from 600 to 900 yen , and portions are large. The restaurant seems particularly generous with pasta.
