So, lets start with the basics:
Q: What is Okonomiyaki?
A: The best way to describe it would be that Okonomiyaki is Japanese savory snack/food that is somewhat like a pancake containing a variety of ingredients. These ingredients being along the lines of cabbage, meat, egg, etc. So not a sweet pancake, a savory pancake. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning something along the lines of grilled or cooked.
Now, maybe you are wondering why I should now decide to post about Okonomiyaki?
And the answer would be because Okonomiyaki tends to be made in two different styles: Hiroshima okonomiyaki or Kansai okonomiyaki. And seeing as I just spent a fair amount of time in Hiroshima (nomming on Hiroshima Okonomiyaki) and Kansai area (nomming on more Okonomiyaki) I figured now was a decent time to go about writing up a blog about this delicious food.
So like I said, Okonomiyaki comes in two different distinct styles, and I personally feel that there is some unwritten law that you MUST prefer one over the other (Note: I have no proof that such a law exists, but I am sure it does). Before I tell you which I prefer best, I will tell you a bit about Hiroshima and Kansai okonomiyaki and also through in some photos for visuals.
So Kansai Okonomiyaki is prepared with a batter containing flour, water, some chopped up cabbage and a egg scrambled into the mix. Then other such ingredients as meat (pork or beef) octopus, green onion, squid, shrimp veggies and maybe some cheese and mochi are also thrown in and mixed into the batter. Of course, being "As you like" you can choose to opt out of any undesirable ingredients. After getting thoroughly mixed the entire gloopy mess is thrown down onto a hot flat surface and cooked up. Once cooked the top of the okonomiyaki is then covered in a delicious okonomiyaki sauce (i'm not sure what is made of, but it tasted pretty sweet but salty all at once...Amaaaaze-ing) and topped off with some seaweed flakes, bonito flakes, pickled ginger and a lite mayonaise. Delish.
Hiroshima Okonomiyaki on the other hand is made by layering the ingredients, versus mixing them all up. The layers generally go something like this: batter, cabbage, pork, and your other optional ingredients (such as shrimp, octopus, scallops, etc) followed by noodles (either soba or udon) and a fried egg (and of course, as you like it with the ingredients). Topping all of this is again the delicious amazing okonomiyaki sauce with seaweed flakes and pickled ginger. It is also important to note that this style of okonomiyaki tends to use at least double the amount of cabbage that is used in the Kansai style.
Check out some visuals:
Yum Yum Yum, can you tell which is which?
The top is Kansai Okomomiyaki and the bottom is Hiroshima Okonomiyaki.
Although both are really delicious, I can only like one, so can you guess which I like best?
And the answer is....drumroll please! (insert drumming sounds). By a landslide, (not that the other one isnt good, but that this one is just so GOOD!) my favorite style of Okonomiyaki is Kansai okonomiyaki!
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