VIDEO: Eating Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) in Tokyo

By Mark Wiens 14 Comments

(If you can’t see the video, watch it here: http://youtu.be/qg4G5y_0Bro)

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a popular Japanese food, that’s somewhere halfway between a savory pancake and a cheese-less pizza.

Though I wasn’t able to visit Osaka or Hiroshima, where okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is especially famous, I was able try it at a restaurant in Tokyo known as Sometaro Okonomiyaki (染太郎).

Overall, okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is not my favorite Japanese food. Most of the time I would prefer to eat an oyako donburi (chicken rice bowl), or a piping hot bowl of street ramen, but that being said, the restaurant was fantastic and the atmosphere was amazing.

Have you had okonomiyaki before?

14 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Mark Justin

    3 years ago

    5 star chef cooking street food? Would love to visit Sometaro Okonomiyaki next time I travel there.

  • luedna brown

    6 years ago

    Your food blogs make me want to look at more can you please put more up

  • Lissa

    9 years ago

    Hi Mark, just stumbled on your blog after a search on Chanko Nabe (the sumo hot pot). Gosh, can’t stop reading about the places you ate in Tokyo. We (family of four, 2 kids) will be in Tokyo in March. My 11 y.o daughter is big on japanese food, esp. Udon. We only have four full days, and look at all the food we have to try! I’m seriously thinking of not going to Mt Fuji but just go out to eat. 🙂

    P.S. I live in Canada now but my hometown is Penang, Malaysia. Can’t believe you haven’t gone there yet. Go!! 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Lissa, great to hear from you, thank you so much for reading my blog. Glad you and your family love Japanese food, hope you have a wonderful time there. I was in Penang about 8 years ago, before blogging much, and I loved the food… but I know I’m well due for another trip back. Do you go back often?

  • zoomingjapan

    10 years ago

    I love okonomiyaki, it’s one of my favorite Japanese dishes! 🙂
    Tokyo is not particularly famous for okonomiyaki, but Osaka and Hiroshima are.
    I love that in Japan each region has their own special dish.

  • Jen Seligmann

    10 years ago

    I quite enjoyed it. I only had a small slice as we were sharing it among friends with a few beers but it was certainly very tasty. We watched the lady make it to which was interesting.

  • Chris @ One Weird Globe

    10 years ago

    Sounds a bit like pajeon in Korea – a pancake where the ingredients make up the variants…

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Thanks for watching Chris, yup I think that’s the case. I think I’m a bigger fan of pajeon most of the time, because I prefer the fresh vegetables and kimchi, and the sauce.

  • Mike | Earthdrifter

    10 years ago

    I was in Okayama, between Osaka and Hiroshima where the two Okonomyakis are quite different. Residents of both cities think there’s is the best. I went to a place in Hiroshima called Okonomyaki Mura(Village). There are three floors of different little Hiroshima style Okonomyaki places, maybe 50 or so restaurants if I remember correctly, really fascinating.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Mike, very cool, thank you for sharing. That Okonomiyaki Mura sounds great.

  • Melissa | Suitcase and Heels

    10 years ago

    I wish I had gotten to try this when I was in Tokyo. I was only there 3 days and flying solo. I had a hard time finding restaurants with English or picture menus and I don’t speak Japanese. I only managed sushi at Tsukiji and a noodle bowl at a lunch counter in Asakusa.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Melissa, thanks for watching. Yah, it can be a challenge trying to find where to eat, especially in a short amount of time. If you go back, I can help you with some suggestions.

  • Panida

    10 years ago

    Hey Mark,

    What type of blogs do you recommend for beginners? This may seem like a stupid question, but what is this one you’re using?

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hi Panida, it’s a good question, I know how it is to start up a blog. I’m using wordpress, and from there I use Genesis framework for the design and theme. If you’re looking to start a blog, I would recommend you buy a domain name, find hosting, and then start to design. Let me know if you have other questions.