Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake with cabbage, bean sprout, noodles, sliced pork belly, and a fried egg, topped with savory sauce and Japanese mayo. Watch the video tutorial for step-by-step instructions!
Have you tried Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) before? It’s a Japanese savory pancake that contains a variety of ingredients. “Okonomi” in Japanese means “as you like it”, so it’s a savory pancake that contains whatever ingredients you like.
Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki (広島風お好み焼き) is a type of Okonomiyaki that originated in Hiroshima, Japan.
Two Styles of Okonomiyaki
1. Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki
Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki is made of batter, which includes flour and water or dashi, shredded cabbage, egg, and green onion along with the protein of your choice, such as pork belly slices or seafood.
You can find my Osaka-style Okonomiyaki recipe here.
2. Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki
Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki uses almost the same ingredients, but they are layered rather than mixed in with the batter like Osaka-style. Not only that, fried egg and yakisoba noodles (or sometimes udon noodles) are used as toppings.
When you are in Hiroshima and order “okonomiyaki”, this layered okonomiyaki with noodles and fried egg would come to the table instead of Osaka-style Okonomiyaki.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki has been around since the 1950s. At that time, the country was quite poor and people only used a little bit of flour and vegetables to make Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
The current Hiroshima Okonomiyaki with meat, egg, and noodles is a version that has evolved throughout the years. Nowadays there are over 2,000 restaurants within the Hiroshima area that specialized in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki!
Osaka vs. Hiroshima
Which one is tastier? Well, that’s really up to your preference. If you like fried noodles and less doughy texture, Hiroshima okonomiyaki is definitely your choice.
I like both styles of okonomiyaki, so it’d be very hard for me to pick just one! At home, I just cook them alternatively.
3 Okonomiyaki Toppings
1. Okonomi Sauce
I would say the important and delicious element for both Hiroshima- and Osaka-style okonomiyaki is the Okonomi Sauce (お好みソース).
Originally, Worcestershire sauce was used but throughout the years the flavor has evolved to the current flavor. Okonomi Sauce has a sweet and sour flavor that’s slightly different from Tonkatsu Sauce and it’s thicker consistency so it goes well with Okonomiyaki. Oh so delicious!
2. Japanese Mayonnaise
Some people would call Japanese mayo Kewpie Mayo. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that is well-balanced.
Many JOC readers have told me that they haven’t gone back to the original mayo they had been using since they tasted Japanese mayonnaise!
3. Aonori (dried green seaweed):
It is dried green (Ao) seaweed (Nori) flakes/powder. This umami-rich seaweed has a bright intense green color and has a unique fragrant.
Japan has many types of seaweed from wakame, nori, to kombu. We use the specific name for each type of seaweed instead of just calling them “seaweed”. It helps identify which is the correct seaweed for a different type of dishes.
You can buy Aonori from Amazon and Japanese/Asian grocery stores. Or you can substitute with regular nori if you can’t find it.
Itadakimasu!
I hope my tutorial video and step-by-step instructions with pictures would help you achieve the delicious Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki! If you haven’t tried Osaka-style, give it a try next!
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Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki
Video
Ingredients
- 150 ml water (⅔ cup minus 2 tsp)
- 1 tsp mirin
- 100 g cake flour (¾ cup + 1½ Tbsp; you can make homemade cake flour; or substitute all-purpose flour in a pinch)
- 8.5 oz green cabbage (about 3 large cabbage leaves)
- 1 green onion/scallion
- 2 Tbsp katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes)
- 4 Tbsp tenkasu/agedama (tempura scraps) (12 g)
- 2 oz bean sprouts (about 1 handful)
- 2 Tbsp tororo kombu (optional; you can buy online)
- 6 slices sliced pork belly
- 2 servings yakisoba noodles
- 2 large eggs (50 g each w/o shell)
Toppings
- okonomiyaki sauce (you can also make my homemade okonomiyaki sauce recipe)
- Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise
- aonori (dried green laver seaweed)
- pickled red ginger (beni shoga or kizami beni shoga) (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- In a large bowl, add 150 ml water (⅔ cup minus 2 tsp) and 1 tsp mirin.
- Add 100 g cake flour (¾ cup + 1½ Tbsp) and whisk until combined. Chill the batter for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator so the texture will become smooth.
- Meanwhile, cut 8.5 oz green cabbage and 1 green onion/scallion into thin slices. A good sharp knife will help you cut the cabbage into thin slices.
- Grind 2 Tbsp katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) in a mortar and pestle until it becomes fine powder.
- After chilling in the refrigerator, the batter will become smoother.
- We will make one Okonomiyaki at a time (unless you are comfortable making two at the same time). Keep in mind the ingredients are for 2 servings so divide all the ingredients into 2 equal parts.
- Heat a large non-stick griddle (I use this electric griddle at home) to 340°F (170°C). Pour about ¼ cup batter onto the hot griddle. Immediately using the back of the ladle, move the ladle in a spiral motion from the center towards the edge of the batter (see the video). This process will make the batter thin out and maintain a nice round shape. The width of the “crepe” should be about 8–9 inches (20–23 cm).
- Sprinkle 1 Tbsp ground katsuobushi on the batter and place the cabbage on top.
- Next, put 1 Tbsp tenkasu/agedama (tempura scraps), some of the scallion, and 1 oz bean sprouts on top.
- Then, put 1 Tbsp tororo kombu (optional) and 3 slices thinly sliced pork belly without overlapping.
- Pour 1 Tbsp batter on top (this will act as glue). Using two spatulas one on each side, carefully and quickly flip. Turn the heat to 390°F (200°C) to cook the meat. Don’t press down the “crepe” with the spatula yet (you will do it so on Step 13). When the pork belly is no longer pink, turn the heat down to 340°F (170°C) and move the Okonomiyaki to the side. If you are using a frying pan instead of the griddle, start heating up another frying pan.
- Separate 1 serving yakisoba noodles with your hands and place them in the open space on the griddle (or the 2nd frying pan). Stir-fry the noodles until they are coated with oil. Add 1–2 Tbsp okonomi sauce and coat the noodles.
- Make the noodles into a round shape similar to the same size as the “crepe”. Now using two spatulas, transfer the Okonomiyaki on top of the noodles.
- Heat the oil in the open space and crack 1 large egg. Quickly spread the egg into the same size as Okonomiyaki.
- Before the egg is completely cooked, place the Okonomiyaki on top of the egg (see the video).
- When the bottom of the egg is cooked, using the two spatulas, flip the Okonomiyaki for the last time.
- Drizzle okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise and sprinkle aonori (dried green laver seaweed) on top. Garnish with pickled red ginger (beni shoga or kizami beni shoga), if desired. Serve immediately.
To Store
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for a month.
Nutrition
Other Pancake Recipes on Just One Cookbook
- Korean Pancake (savory)
- Osaka-Style Pancake (savory)
- Red Bean Pancake (sweet)
- Fluffy Japanese Souffle Pancake (sweet)
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is it possible to prep this ahead of time? how long can you keep the batter and everything else in the fridge? One thing I loved about the Osaka style one was how easy it was for meal-prepping a busy week at work!
Hi Jessie! You can prepare all the ingredients (chop cabbage) and make batter ahead of time. I’d say one day is totally okay… but 2 days… I’m not too sure/comfortable. Probably okay… but I won’t go more than 2 days. I had never kept it for a long time, so it’s hard to tell. Sorry….
Hi Nami
We are just back from a trip to Japan visiting my sister and her family who live in Tokyo. While in Hiroshima we REALLY got into okonomiyaki and today (in the Sydney summer heat – 99 degrees!) we cooked your Hiroshimayaki recipe on the barbecue. Thanks SO much, it was awesome.
Will definitely be doing it again.
Alex
Hi Alex! I’m so happy to hear you tried this recipe and enjoyed it (wow 99F! I’m jealous… it’s cold and rainy here everyday!). Hope you had a wonderful trip to Japan too. 🙂 Thank you for your kind feedback. xo
This looks delicious!!! Do I have to use the mirin though? Thanks.
Hi Anna! You can omit it. 🙂 Hope you enjoy! 🙂
made this over winter break (college kid traumatized by dorm food decides to start cooking) and I made this with two nonstick griddles! Flipping was a tad tricky but overall delicious and the perfect present to my parents before going back to school. thanks for this recipe, it’s awesome!
Hi Hairol! Haha, that’s a great way to start cooking and appreciate the home cook meal! Glad to hear your parents enjoy this recipe too! Hope you can keep cooking when you have a chance. I had a lot of bagels in college. 😀
I tried this interesting variation of the standard okonomiyaki recipe. It’s very tasty. I have made it a few times and I have found that I like it better with Polish smoked pork slices rather than pork belly. I also use about double the cabbage. As a matter of fact, your Hiroshima okonomiyaki has become my favourite cabbage recipe.
Hi Ernst-Udo! Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I’m so happy to hear you like this recipe! I’d LOVE to try the polish smoked pork slices… that sounds wonderful!! I put more cabbage too. It’s easier to flip when it’s less cabbage, so this recipe shows slightly less (not overwhelming amount haha). 🙂
Thank you so very very much! I may bot be able to make this at home yet but it looks so Yummy I need the noodles and the sauces.
You are so awesome to do this!
Hi Tania! Hope you enjoy this dish! 🙂
Just made this. Had to use two pans, but it turned out great!
Very tasty, though it doesn’t come close o the pros in okonomiyakimura.
Hi Aaron! Yeah if you don’t have griddle pan, two big frying pans are necessary to make the process faster. 🙂 Oh yes, Okonomiyaki made on Teppan is definitely the best. Home frying pan can’t replicate the taste and heat! 🙂
I really love your recipes 😉 Keep posting more goodies.
Thanks so much, John! 🙂
112g All Purpose Flour with 8g Corn Starch = 1 cup of cake flour. From what I understand is that the corn starch helps stop a lot of the gluten from forming in the dough/batter. I’ve used it a few times in tempura batter, muffins and cakes and it works great.
Love the recipe by the way, great use of extra cabbage!
Hello! Thank you for sharing the tip! I use cake flour often too! Thank you for checking my recipe. Oh yes, for me, this is a great way to feed the children lots of veggies. 😀
Thanks for the recipe. I wanted to eat it for lunch, but didn’t want to ask my wife to do it (nor how to do it, as she was busy with our child), so your recipe was exactly what I needed.
I made a few modifications: added some dashi to the batter (as my wife always does, that I remembered); used shrimps instead of pork (we both prefer it) and I added some shichimi – seven spice mix – to mine for some spiciness [for those who don’t know, it, or ichimi – crushed chili peppers – is often on the table in okonomiyaki restaurants)].
And the result? My wife said it was very delicious… and she’s from Osaka (though we both prefer Hiroshimayaki)!
Hi Jyves! I’m so glad to hear you and your wife enjoyed this recipe, and yeah the dashi always makes it more flavorful! My husband prefers to use ichimi togarashi too as he loves spicy food. 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind feedback! 🙂
Dear Nami,
I just want to clarify something — on step 11 of the recipe, it says “Don’t press down the “crepe” with the spatula yet (you will do it so on Step 11).”
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but based on the pictures shown, I think you pressed down on the “crepe” on step 13 instead of 11.
As always, your dish looks so delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Cheers.
Hi Angie! Thank you for catching my mistake. I was at Step 11 when I said “do it in Step 11″… 😀 It’s step 13 like you mentioned. I just updated my recipe. Thank you sooo much!
My friend and I went to Okonomimura and had a hard time choosing a restaurant and then the okonomiyaki. I went with a buta kimchi okonomiyaki with soba and my friend some American style one with udon. Both were delicious but man, the noodles definitely filled me up! But I have to say, I prefer Osaka-style okonomoyaki. I
Hi Asami! American style! Wonder what’s in it. 😀 It’s true, it’s almost like yakisoba, but eating crepe and eggs together. I actually like Modernyaki the best. 🙂 It has Osaaka style okonomiyaki with Yakisoba together! <3
wow i can’t believe it i actually made okonomiyaki once with noodles and it was delicious XD and i never knew that it was actually a recipe XD
Hi Abdul! Regular Osaka style okonoimyaki + noodles is called Modern Yaki. When you make crepe with batter and make layered okonomiyaki, it’s Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. 🙂