Sweet yet savory, Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), makes a delightful Japanese breakfast or side dish for your bento lunches.

Tamagoyaki and grated daikon on a white plate.

Tamagoyaki (卵焼き or 玉子焼き) is a sweetened Japanese rolled omelette that resemble mini bars of golden pillows. With a slightly sweet taste and custardy texture, tamagoyaki is well-loved amongst the Japanese children and adults alike. You’ve most likely tasted the rolled eggs as part of a Japanese style breakfast or as a side dish in a bento (Japanese lunch box) or atop of sushi.

Because of the artful presentation, tamagoyaki does look deceivingly difficult to make. The technique involves some careful rolling of thin omelettes and folding into a layered log, which is then sliced. But it’s not an impossible task for home cooks like you and me. In fact, it is a staple in Japanese home cooking. We love the eggy goodness so much that we even invest in a special pan just for making tamagoyaki at home! My children adore tamagoyaki so I make it regularly for their bento box. Let me show you how today.

Tamagoyaki and grated daikon on a black plate.

What is Tamagoyaki, Atsuyaki Tamago, and Dashimaki Tamago?

In Japanese, tamago means eggs and yaki means grill. There are actually a few versions of Tamagoyaki (卵焼き) or rolled eggs in Japanese cuisine, which can be confusing.

In general, you can find Atsuyaki Tamago (厚焼き玉子) and Dashimaki Tamago (だし巻き卵). Each variation uses slightly different ingredients, varying ratios of seasonings and cooking methods, but sometimes the names are interchangeable.

When Japanese people say Tamagoyaki, it typically refers to rolled egg or rolled omelette in a broad term. Atsuyaki Tamago (厚焼き玉子) refers to thick grilled egg, but we usually just call it Tamagoyaki. The texture of Astuyaki tamago is firm and dense, and it’s much easier to make.

On the other hand, Dashimaki Tamago (出し巻き卵) refers to rolled egg which includes dashi (Japanese soup stock). In the Kanto region (Tokyo area), Dashimaki is also called the Tamagoyaki. However, in the Kansai region (Osaka area), these two rolled eggs are considered totally separate dishes. The main difference lies in the use of dashi, which resulting in a much more refined, juicy, silky, and flavorful rolled egg. At high-end sushi restaurants, they use an even higher amount of dashi and sugar and sometimes by mixing seafood into the egg mixture. You’d get a really flavorful and elegant egg dish which is served toward the end of a sushi course.

Compared to Astuyaki Tamago, Dashimaki Tamago is a lot softer due to the higher liquid content in the egg mixture. You can easily tell both versions of tamagoyaki apart by the textures and flavors, but both are delicious in their own way.

Tamagoyaki, Japanese rolled omelette with green onion and salmon flakes. — Adding Salmon Flakes (recipe on the blog) and scallions.

How to Make Tamagoyaki

To make a basic tamagoyaki, you first beat the eggs just like you would with regular American-style omelette. Then season the whisked eggs with sugar, mirin, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt before pouring a thin layer of the egg mixture into a pan to cook. Once the bottom of the egg mixture is set, roll it up in multiple thin layers until the egg looks like a thick log. Finally, shape the egg and slice into thick pieces for serving.

The great thing about making Japanese rolled omelette at home is that you have the flexibility to experiment and be creative with the shapes and fillings. You can also add other ingredients such as seaweed, cheese, veggies, Salmon Flakes (picture above), and meat into tamagoyaki to change up the flavors.

The recipe that I am sharing today is called Dashimaki Tamago (だし巻き玉子) because of the addition of dashi. It’s fluffy, moist, and deeply flavorful. One bite you’d be very happy that you try it!

Tamagoyaki and grated daikon on a black plate.

Helpful Tips on Making the Best Tamagoyaki at Home

Tamagokayi might require some practice to get right, but it’s something you will get better at each time you cook it. Here are a few helpful tips from me:

The ratio of dashi to eggs – When we add dashi into the egg mixture, it enhances the overall flavor and texture, but the liquid does make the cooking trickier. I used 3 tablespoons of dashi to make it easier for everyone to try. As a rule of thumb, 1 tablespoon of dashi per egg is a good ratio, but you can definitely add more once you’re better at it.
Do not worry about the first few rolls. The inner rolls do not need to be neat at all, as you will keep rolling more layers on top. The first few rolls are the center of the tamagoyaki, so even if the layers are not perfectly lined up, do not worry!
Do not skip oiling the pan. I know you want to use less oil. Me too! However, make sure you coat the pan with oil very well. You don’t want your egg mixture to stick to the pan – even for a non-stick pan.
Wait till the pan is completely heat up. Test the temperature of the pan with a small amount of the egg mixture. You need to see the egg sizzle to confirm the pan is hot enough.
Don’t turn off the heat; instead, move the pan away from the heat source. Keep your heat at medium at all times. Thin omelette layer needs to be quickly rolled up before it’s completely cooked, so there is no time for you to adjust the heat. The best way to control the heat is to move the pan closer and away from the stove.

It’s also important to find the right ratio of each seasoning, creating a balance between sweet and savory. If you like, adjust the amount of sugar and salt until it suits your taste.

Tamagoyaki Pan

Typical Japanese kitchen has one set of Tamagoyaki pan because tamagoyaki is commonly enjoyed for breakfast and bento. It’s either square or rectangular so the Tamagoyaki will turn into a rectangular shape easily.

I used to use a non-stick T-fal Tamagoyaki pan (left on the picture below) but I switched to a 15 cm (roughly 6 inches) copper tamagoyaki pan (Silver Arrow/Endo Shoji brand) and I love it. Both of my Tamagoyaki pans were purchased at TokyuHands in Japan.

I personally recommend the copper tamagoyaki pan (nickel coating inside). The copper transfers heat so easily, and my egg never sticks to the pan (you will still need to grease the pan). The pan is very light that you can move the pan easily while cooking.

Tamagoyaki Pan | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com

Can I Use Round Frying Pan for Tamagoyaki?

My answer is yes! You don’t need a special tamagoyaki pan as long as you are not aiming for the classic shape. A tamagoyaki pan definitely helps to make the rolled omelette into a nice thick rectangular log; but a round frying pan will work just fine. You will see both methods demonstrated in my cooking video and the step-by-step pictures in the recipe below.

I recommend using a 9 or 10-inch non-stick frying pan for a thicker tamagoyaki. In the recipe below, I used my 12-inch pan which works as well.

As you can see with the result, it will be flatter when your frying pan is bigger. If you only have a 12-inch pan, you can solve the issue by doubling the recipe. If you don’t mind the shape too much, then don’t worry about it.

Now, if you’re concerned about non-stick coating, I recommend using a carbon steel pan that became non-stick. However, please remember that you will need to control the amount of heat by lifting the pan from the stove and a heavy skillet would be challenging.

I’ve tried using stainless-steel or cast-iron frying pan for tamagoyaki, but without adding a lot of oil, I haven’t been successful. Since I don’t like my tamagoyaki too oily, I steer away from using stainless steel or cast iron. For most of my cooking, I refrain from using non-stick cookware, but it is easier to make Tamagoyaki with a non-stick pan.

Cut each piece of tamagoyaki diagonally to create "heart" shape. — Cut each piece of tamagoyaki diagonally to create “heart” shape.

Easy Tamagoyaki for Beginners

If you’re a beginner cook or prefer to take a short cut, you can try my Quick & Easy Tamagoyaki recipe which takes only 3 minutes to make! It’s perfect to make just one tamagoyaki for your meal or bento box. I hope you enjoy making Tamagoyaki.

Tamagoyaki with nori seaweed in the middle served on a white plate.

Watch How To Make Tamagoyaki

Tamagoyaki is Japanese rolled omelette with dashi and soy sauce, enjoyed during Japanese breakfast or as a bento item.

Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.

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Hungry for More Tamago (Egg) Recipes?

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2012. The video and new photos were added in January 2016. The post content was updated in August 2019.