Okonomiyaki and Teppanyaki Izakaya KURIYA Okonomiyakihttps ://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/664c078fd3d2a

For foreigners visiting Japan, okonomiyaki is one of the most popular gourmet foods, alongside sushi and ramen. This soul food is a simple yet complex dish made by grilling a mixture of ingredients such as cabbage and pork. However, did you know that there are actually two main types of okonomiyaki in Japan? They are the Kansai style and the Hiroshima style.

These two types of okonomiyaki are completely different in appearance, preparation method, and above all, texture, and are like a mirror that reflects the culture and history of each region.

In this article, we will focus on Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, which has a particularly unique structure, and explain the crucial differences between it and the Kansai-style. We will also delve deeper into the appeal of the "okonomiyaki culture" that is widespread throughout the city of Hiroshima.

The crucial difference: blending or layering

Kansai style and Hiroshima style: both are called "okonomiyaki," but the cooking methods are fundamentally different.

Kansai style: Everyone mixes together to create a sense of unity

Yakiyakiya Okonomiyaki Mixhttps ://tenposstar.com/ja/merchant/64e589c048b0c

A distinctive feature of okonomiyaki in Kansai (mainly Osaka) is that all the ingredients are mixed together before cooking.

Koganemushi Okonomiyaki

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1. Ingredients: Add the ingredients such as cabbage, eggs, tempura scraps (fried tempura bits), and pork to the flour batter and mix thoroughly.

2. How to bake: Pour the batter into a round shape onto a griddle and bake, flipping over to cook on both sides.

3. Texture: The finished product is fluffy like a pancake, and you can enjoy the fluffy texture that comes from the ingredients and dough coming together.

Kansai-style cooking can be described as a sociable cuisine, where family and friends mix ingredients together and enjoy a sense of unity, saying, "It's all my favorite."

Hiroshima style: Layered "Mille-feuille"

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Teppanyaki Tesshin Kamata branch https://tenposstar.com/en/merchant/6503e6038d4ec

On the other hand, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is cooked by layering all the ingredients together, without mixing them together. This layered structure is the greatest appeal of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and is also what requires skill to make it.

1. Crepe batter: First, spread a thin, crepe-like batter onto a griddle.

2. A mountain of ingredients: A surprising amount of cabbage is placed on top, along with pork and bean sprouts.

3. Steaming: In Hiroshima, the cabbage is steamed using its own moisture without the use of a lid or water.

4. Adding noodles: Halfway through, add the separately fried *hanamen (or udon) noodles. This makes Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki more of a complete meal than just okonomiyaki, giving it volume and satisfaction.

5. Wrap in egg: Finally, place it on top of a thinly fried egg and wrap it all up to complete. The Hiroshima-style version is a "dish to enjoy the layers," with the sweetness of the cabbage, the savory aroma of the noodles, and the tenderness of the egg all trapped between the layers.

Hiroshima-style main ingredients: cabbage and noodles

Teppan Yakiyaki Hiroshima-yaki

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The two important elements that determine the flavor of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki are the cabbage and the noodles.

The sweetness of cabbage

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki uses several times more cabbage than Kansai-style okonomiyaki. By slowly steaming it on a high-temperature iron plate, the cabbage loses its moisture and its amazing sweetness is concentrated. The sweetness of this cabbage blends exquisitely with the spiciness of the sauce and the umami of the pork, creating the deep flavor of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

The presence of noodles

The addition of noodles makes Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki a unique dish that combines the delicious flavors of two cuisines: "okonomiyaki + yakisoba (or yakiudon)." Many restaurants fry the noodles on a hot plate after receiving an order, bringing out their delicious aroma. The crispy or chewy texture of the noodles is the true pleasure of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Hiroshima Food Culture: Okonomiyaki is "Rice"

Wataya Hiroshima-yaki Hibachi https://tenposstar.com/en/merchant/676e31a915605

It is not very common to eat Kansai-style okonomiyaki with rice or plain rice. However, in Hiroshima, okonomiyaki is a complete "staple food" and it is not uncommon to eat it with rice as part of a set meal. This is due to the historical background that okonomiyaki was cheap, nutritious, and filling, and was an important food that supported people's lives during the post-war period when supplies were scarce. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is not just a B-grade gourmet food, but a soul food that has supported Hiroshima's reconstruction.

Mastering Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima: A Tour of Famous Restaurants

If you want to eat delicious okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, there are two great spots you should definitely visit.

Okonomimura (Okonomimura)

This is a complex in the center of Hiroshima City. More than 20 small shops are crammed into the floors of the building. Each shop has its own unique cooking method and toppings, making it truly like an "okonomiyaki theme park." Eating okonomiyaki while listening to the sound of the iron plate cooking and the aromas of the various shops blending together is a lively experience unique to Hiroshima.

Okonomi Republic

This is also a famous spot on a par with Okonomimura, with multiple stores gathered here. Each store has its own unique style of noodles, sauce flavor, and cabbage cutting method, making it a fun place to try and compare different dishes. Another attraction is that the staff are close to you, so you can see the process of cooking up close. Tips for comparing different dishes

When you eat okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, try comparing the different types, paying attention to the following differences.

1. Type of noodles: Should the noodles be "soba (Chinese noodles)" or "udon"?

2. How to cook the noodles: Do you want them crispy or chewy?

3. Toppings: Try regional toppings like spring onions, squid tempura, and oysters. Oysters are a Hiroshima specialty and go perfectly with okonomiyaki.

Access to Hiroshima Prefecture

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Hiroshima Prefecture, we recommend the Shinkansen. If you take the Nozomi train that goes directly from Tokyo Station to Hiroshima Station, you can reach Hiroshima Prefecture in about 4 hours. If you are traveling from Osaka to Hiroshima Prefecture, we recommend the express bus. It takes longer than the Shinkansen, but it is a cheaper option. The journey takes about 5 hours.

Location of Hiroshima Prefecture

summary

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is not just made differently from Kansai-style; each layer is packed with history, ingenuity, and the love of the local people. While the Kansai-style is fun to "mix and unify," the Hiroshima-style is delicate, "layering to add depth." The differences between these two types of okonomiyaki teach us about Japan's diverse regional cultures and deep commitment to food. If you visit Japan, be sure to try okonomiyaki in both Hiroshima and Kansai, experiencing its depth and the charm of each region's food culture. And when you eat it in Hiroshima, savor its special flavor to your heart's content as you watch the chef carefully layer each layer right before your eyes.

Please also check out "10 Things to Do in Hiroshima (Hiroshima City)" ▼ https://tenposstar.com/ja/articles/r/3279