Hiroshima Vs Osaka Style Okonomiyaki: what’s the difference?
Okonomiyaki gets its name from its ingredients, which is “anything you like, grilled.” The recipe originated in the 1920s and gained popularity as a diet Staple post-war.
In those times, the selection of ingredients wasn’t a lot, and the family would have to make do with whatever they had, giving birth to the Okonomiyaki.
This versatile and healthy dish made its way from being a sample diet staple to a novelty served in select restaurants nowadays.
There are various takes when it comes to making your own Okonomiyaki, but the two dominant style differences are the Hiroshima style and the Osaka style.
While they both use more or less the same ingredient, the process of construction is pretty different.
Today we’ll be looking at the differences between these two styles and if they change the flavor drastically. Let’s get started!
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The Basic Base of the Okonomiyaki
The Okonomiyaki’s essential base comprises three main elements; the flour, the egg, and dashi. This mix creates an omelet base, which takes the shape of a pancake.
You can then add any ingredient you want, which is where the pancake’s name comes into play. Some commonly incorporated elements include; cabbage and pork.
You can also add beef, vegetables, more egg, and even some seafood based on your preferences.
After incorporating all of the ingredients into a pancake-like shape, it is then topped with mayo, soy sauce, seaweed, and of course, the sweet and thick okonomiyaki sauce.
While this is the primary and essential process, both Hiroshima and Osaka styles add a flare of their own in the making process.
These technique differences ultimately add up to make a different experience for both kinds.
The Osaka Style Okonomiyaki
Let’s start with the vendor’s classic, the Osaka style okonomiyaki. This is the type you’re most likely to see on your trip to Japan.
From convenience stores to high-class restaurants, this style of Okonomiyaki is the most prevalent.
So, how is it different? Osaka style okonomiyaki is made by mixing up all the ingredients at once and then topping it off with the okonomiyaki sauce of your choice.
Most restaurants have individual grills at every table, so you get to cook your own Okonomiyaki.
This version combines and cooks all the ingredients at once, and you can cook at your own convenience. Osaka style is loved by many as the cooking process can be a fun activity to do with your friends and family.
The Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki
The Hiroshima style okonomiyaki has a bit more complicated cooking process. While the Osaka style piles up the ingredients into a big whole omelet pancake while the Hiroshima styles require layering.
In this style, the omelet pancake mix is cooked and then put on top of a combination of meat and preferred vegetables.
Both these components sit on top of yakisoba fried noodles. This makes a crispy layered mix of the Japanese classic.
This style is particularly perfect for those that love to have a variety of textures in their meal.
You can pick and choose whatever you want and easily customize this style according to your preferences.
Conclusion
The Osaka style offers a more clean eating experience when everything is mixed and cooked all together. This is an excellent option for messy eaters.
However, if you’re a picky eater or love to have a variety in your meal, the Hiroshima style takes the win. Either way, you can never go wrong with some good old Okonomiyaki.
We hope this article helped you in learning the differences between the two. Both make for a splendid treat!
Also check out these ways of making a delicious okonomiyaki yourself
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
