oKonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is known as a kind of Japanese-style pancakes or pizza. Okonomi means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked". thus, the name of this dish means "cook what you like, the way you like". In Japan, okonomiyaki is usually associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region. Okonomiyaki is usually made from flour, water, eggs and cabbage. The cabbage is chopped and mixed with the eggs, water and flour. To this is added pretty much anything you want. Common things to add would be thinly sliced chopped pork, thinly sliced chopped beef, chopped onions, octopus, squid, mushrooms.

In Japan, there are two areas where okonomi-yaki is very popular: Osaka and Hiroshima. Okonomiyaki is cooked differently in the two regions. In Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, chopped cabbage is cooked on top of thinly spread batter. Also, yakisoba noodles are usually added in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. In some okonomiyaki restaurants, customers cook their own okonomiyaki on the iron table. Also, okonomiyaki can be fast food, and there are lots of venders selling okonomiyaki in Japan.

In Osaka-style okonomiyaki, chopped cabbage is mixed with the batter and cooked together. It might be easier for beginners to cook Osaka-style okonomiyaki than to cook Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. To eat okonomiyaki, cut it into bite-sized pieces and eat with okonomiyaki sauce or worcester sauce and mayonnaise.