Okonomiyaki

by Yoshiko Imura

Okonomiyaki is a beloved Japanese savory pancake made from a batter of flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, and various mix-ins such as seafood, pork, or vegetables. The name comes from “okonomi” (as you like) and “yaki” (grilled or cooked), highlighting the dish’s customizable nature.

It is cooked on a flat griddle and topped with a glossy, sweet-savory okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, seaweed flakes (aonori), and dancing bonito flakes (katsuobushi). The combination of textures—crispy edges, a fluffy interior, and rich sauce—makes it a true comfort food favorite.

Don’t have a flat griddle or okonomiyaki sauce? Don’t give up! I always use a frying pan, and you can try your favorite sauce instead.

Ingredients

Servings: 2 people

  • ½ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons of soup stock powder
  • 1 egg
  • 3 1/2 oz of water
  • 7 oz of cabbages (shredded)
  • 3 ½ oz of ground meat of your choice
  • 1 oz of cooking oil
  • Okonomiyaki sauce (or any sauce)
  • Mayonnaise
  • Seaweed flakes (optional)
  • Bonito flakes (optional)

Instructions

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

  1. Put the flour, eggs, and water into a bowl and mix well.
  2. Add the shredded cabbage and ground meat to the bowl from step 1 and mix thoroughly.
  3. Heat a frying pan with cooking oil, pour in the mixture from step 2, shape it into a round form, and cook over low to medium heat. To cook two okonomiyaki, prepare two frying pans—one for each.
  4. Once the bottom browns, flip it over with a spatula and continue cooking slowly over low heat until it’s cooked through. Don’t press down on it—doing so will make it tough.
  5. When it’s cooked all the way through, it’s done! To remove it easily, place a plate against the frying pan and flip the pan over so the okonomiyaki lands on the plate.
  6. Spread sauce and mayonnaise on top, and sprinkle with seaweed flakes or bonito flakes as you like.

Serving Suggestions

As its name suggests, okonomiyaki can be enjoyed with your favorite ingredients and sauces. Try using sausage or fried tofu instead of ground meat, or use your favorite BBQ sauce in place of okonomiyaki sauce.

Okonomiyaki Dish