Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake of batter and shredded cabbage, mixed with your choice of fillings, griddled on a hot teppan and finished with sweet okonomi sauce, mayo, dried seaweed and dancing bonito flakes. The name means "grill what you like."
What it means
A soul food of Osaka and Hiroshima that's beloved nationwide — casual, communal, often cooked by you at a table griddle. It turns a meal into an activity.
Why it's wonderful
It's fun and deeply savory: crisp edges, fluffy cabbage-laden middle, the umami hit of sauce and bonito. Order it as a vegetable version, or load it with seafood and pork.
Batter contains wheat and usually egg; the sauce and bonito flakes aren't vegan. Vegetable versions suit vegetarians.
FAQ
What is Okonomiyaki?
The savory pancake you grill at your own table.
Is Okonomiyaki vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free?
Batter contains wheat and usually egg; the sauce and bonito flakes aren't vegan. Vegetable versions suit vegetarians.
💬Recipes and preparation vary by restaurant, so this is a general guide. If you're ever unsure, please confirm directly with the venue before you order — they'll appreciate the heads-up.
Where to try it — and book a table
Editor-picked spots for this dish. Each opens the listing we verified it against — hours, photos and how to get in touch.
★ Soba nikutama — layered okonomiyaki with a mountain of sweet steamed cabbage, crisp noodles and pork
Often called Hiroshima's greatest okonomiyaki, this tiny Yagenbori counter has earned a place on Tabelog's national 'Okonomiyaki 100' list for six different years. The Hiroshima style is built in layers — a crepe-thin batter, a towering pile of slow-steamed cabbage, fresh noodles griddled crisp and pork belly — so it is not suitable for vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free diets (wheat batter and noodles, pork, and a shared griddle). It opens late afternoon, closes Mondays, and queues form before opening.
★ Yamaimo-yaki — okonomiyaki bound with grated mountain yam
A Dotonbori okonomiyaki institution founded in 1945, now third-generation and a multi-year Michelin Bib Gourmand, famous for its 'yamaimo-yaki' bound with grated mountain yam. Long waits are common; it is not suitable for vegan, vegetarian, halal or gluten-free diets, as dishes use flour, egg, pork and bonito-based dashi.
★ Cook-your-own okonomiyaki with a gluten-free rice-flour batter option
A large, tourist-friendly DIY okonomiyaki spot in Harajuku that offers a gluten-free rice-flour batter on request, with an English menu and vegan/vegetarian options. You cook on a shared griddle where wheat batter is also used, so ask staff about cross-contamination if you are highly sensitive.
