Hiroshima Okonomiyaki: Layered Savory Pancake Piled with Ingredients, Soul Food on the Iron Plate

Hiroshima's "okonomiyaki" features a "layered grilling" style completely different from Osaka's mixed-batter style. This hearty dish of thin batter, heaped cabbage, pork, soba (or Chinese noodles), and eggs layered and grilled has been loved by common people as a nutritious meal since the postwar era of material scarcity.

Characteristics of Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki

The biggest characteristic of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the "noodles inclusion." While Osaka style mixes ingredients into the batter before grilling, Hiroshima style finishes by layering batter, cabbage, pork, noodles, and eggs in sequence on the iron plate. Special okonomiyaki sauce is generously applied before eating.

Okonomimura (Hiroshima City)

"Okonomimura" in Shintenjichi, Hiroshima City is a building with approximately 25 okonomiyaki restaurants from the 1st to 6th floors. Each restaurant competes with its own unique taste and style, popular with tourists enjoying comparison dining.

Hatsukaichi, Onomichi, Kure Local Okonomiyaki

Throughout Hiroshima Prefecture, slightly different style okonomiyaki exists in Hatsukaichi, Onomichi, Kure, and elsewhere. Comparing flavors at local teppan restaurants in various locations is also fun.

Access

Okonomimura in Hiroshima City is about 15 minutes by tram from JR Hiroshima Station (alight at Hatchobori stop).