okonomiyaki
A prodigal Taco Bell customer returns to the franchise and is surprised with what he finds.
When two loyal readers from Hawaii said they’d be in Tokyo for a few days, Mr. Sato sprang into action.
We’ve seen some strange pizza toppings in the past. From Kit Kats to squid ink, Japan certainly knows how to deliver when it comes to thinking outside of the box.
Now, there are two new awesome pizzas on the menu: Ramen Noodle and Natto Okonomiyaki. And that’s not all – both items are being offered as part of a collaboration using local ingredients that hark back to the 1960s. Available from Aoki’s Pizza from September 10, this is an opportunity that’s not to be missed!
If you’ve never had the pleasure eating okonomiyaki, you’re missing out on one of Japan’s greatest culinary treats. Sometimes referred to as “Japanese pancakes” or “Japanese pizza,” Okonomiyaki is a circular crepe filled with cabbage and other vegetables along with meat, seafood, or whatever else you want to put in it.
The whole thing gets topped with a sweet, reddish brown sauce which not only tastes great, but can also serve as a great canvas on which to create awesome-looking and edible okonomiyaki art!
Okonomiyaki is one of the most popular foods cooked at home in Japan. One of Japan’s Top 10 Comfort Foods, the dish is fun to make with family or friends and best of all, it’s easy! Okonomiyaki is also popular with foreigners who when visiting Japan can sample the dish at any of the myriad specialty restaurants dedicated to this vegetable-rich meal.
So, what exactly is okonomiyaki? And how do you make it? Glad you asked!
Read on to find out more about this simple dish: watch a how-to video showing you how to make it, check out photos that show you some unusual ingredients, and get inside tips from Kazuko who regularly makes the dish for her seven grandchildren.
Remeber Gudetama, the lazy egg character from Hello Kitty owner Sanrio? Well, it turns out that the unmotivated egg with an extremely unmascot-like personality has gained quite a following in Japan. Apparently, his soft appearance and to an even greater extent, his lazy disposition, which prompts him to mutter phrases like “I have no strength” and “I can’t feel motivated enough to do anything” have earned him considerable popularity. In fact, he’s popular enough to have had his very own character cafe for a limited time in the past, and recently, he’s been collaborating with Dotonbori, a chain of restaurants that serves okonomiyaki, which are Japanese pancakes containing various ingredients such as cabbage, meat and seafood.
That’s right, at Dotonbori, you can use actual eggs to add realistic Gudetama faces to your food. Now, that sounded like too much fun to pass up, so our reporters from our Japanese sister site went to one of the Dotobori shops and actually tried it! Read More
Traveling abroad can be scary at times, but for some people, the meals on the plane are the most dreaded part. Despite, or perhaps in reaction to, the bad reputation that airlines have received in the past for their in-flight meals, many have taken steps in the right direction, trying to please their customers with a variety of delicious in-flight foods.
Turkish Airlines is doing a great job satisfying palates of all kinds. But they might not always hit the mark with the names of the foods the offer…
“Comfort food” is traditional cooking that tends to have a nostalgic or sentimental connection, often one related to family or childhood: the grilled cheese sandwiches your mother used to make; the thought of your grandmother’s bread pudding makes your mouth water; the way the whole house would be filled with the intoxicating aroma of roasted turkey or ham at Christmas? Because of such memories, these foods comfort us, especially when we’re longing for home or feeling especially vulnerable.
Not surprisingly, the sentimental Japanese have their own comfort foods. While you might think they’d be waxing over the octopus tentacles of home, very few of the dishes we’re about to talk about have much to do with seafood. Many Japanese comfort foods have a rice connection and may even center around the unique relationship between mothers or wives and their role in family food preparation. And in Japan, make no mistake about it–her kitchen rules!
In a country filled with countless ramen, udon and sushi restaurants, it can be very difficult to choose. Which one is the most delicious? The most interesting? How do you find the restaurant where you can understand everything on the menu?
If you’re in Kyoto, look no further than Issen Yoshoku, the restaurant that covers all those bases, plus, you never have to dine alone!
Fans of all things delicious, rejoice! Japan has been blessed with a bottle of wine to pair with delectable rounds of grilled whatever-you-want goodness. We’re of course talking about okonomiyaki, the Osaka/Hiroshima specialty that consists of batter mixed with a variety of seafood and savory mix-ins. And although the dish traditionally goes down best with an icy cold beer (with just the right amount of foam), we’re already getting really excited for this new combination.
If you’re located outside of Japan, think of some Japanese restaurants around you and chances are their names contain easily recognizable, if uninspired, nouns like “sakura,” “Tokyo,” or “Fuji.” For instance, near me are eateries like Umi, Kaze, Samurai Boston, and countless Teriyaki House’s. One even contains my name, requiring me once in a while to explain that no, I’m not related.
Now, imagine the surprise of one Japanese Twitterer who stumbled upon an okonomiyaki restaurant in Berlin, Germany called “Hanage (はな毛)”, or nasal hair. Mmm, scrumptious!
At first glance, you’d think that this is simply another case of unfortunate word choices by a non-native speaker, like some kanji tattoos or English directions on Asian food packages. Almost as surprising as the bodily reference, however, is the fact that this restaurant was opened by a Japanese woman! To quote one Twitter commenter, “Why? Why? Why?”
A filmmaker based in Los Cabos, Mexico, is attracting attention online in Japan with his stunningly beautiful food video. Entitled “A Taste of Japan”, Mike Arce’s video features the food he fell in love with on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. In an impressively expansive gourmet tour, Arce sampled everything from Kyoto speciality tofu cuisine to delicious hot-plate favourites like okonomiyaki and sukiyaki, even squeezing in a trip to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Roppongi for some high-class sushi, too.
If you didn’t already want to go to Japan really, really badly, you will after you watch this!
MOST POPULAR
Now
Animal Crossing fan recreating all of Ghibli’s Spirited Away in New Horizons, and it’s incredible
Death of Terrace House star Hana Kimura prompts Yu Darvish to speak out against cyberbullying
Terrace House season cancelled, removed from streaming service after Hana Kimura’s death
Creative Japanese office installs awesome full-size vending machine made out of cardboard【Video】
Terrace House stars condemn cyberbullying after death of housemate Hana Kimura
Pikachu-shaped electric shock-flavor gummies are coming to Japan!
Japanese rugby legend questions reopening of pro-baseball, confuses everyone
Japanese bubble tea chain starts selling at-home tapioca drink kits
No screaming on roller coasters, please, say Tokyo Disneyland, other Japanese amusement parks
Gotta stamp them all! Collect your shrine stamps with this gorgeous new range of stationery
Weekly
- Terrace House stars condemn cyberbullying after death of housemate Hana Kimura
Department of Magic opens in Japan with cosplay and accessories for wizards and witches
What do Indian people think of Japanese curry? We investigate with the power of Pikachu
Ridiculous Japanese TV program says English pronunciation is to blame for coronavirus spread【Vid】
Spice things up at the dinner table with these kabe-don salt and pepper shakers【Pics】
Studio Ghibli releases last set of wallpapers to download and use as backgrounds for video calls
Japanese fruit sandwich store in Tokyo explodes in popularity, includes rare, expensive varieties- No screaming on roller coasters, please, say Tokyo Disneyland, other Japanese amusement parks
Listening to boys’ love during workout at gym causes strange problem in Japan
The time has come for us to eat Japanese squirrel hot pot【SoraKitchen】
Monthly
Beautiful Japanese swimsuit model performs knockout Tifa Final Fantasy cosplay【Photos】
Japanese restaurant chain shows us how to make katsudon in three minutes【SoraKitchen】
55-year-old anime voice actress does amazing maid cosplay of character 40 years younger【Pics】
How to make a mask out of a sock in two minutes with no sewing skills
Busty cosplaying pianist returns to steal our hearts with cover of one of anime’s greatest themes
90-year-old Japanese gamer grandma breaks world record, praises Grand Theft Auto 5【Video】
Gluttony has no limits with Costco fried chicken larger than our face【SoraKitchen】
Man finds adorable lost “puppy” on roadside in Japan, turns out to be adorable something else
Who is Final Fantasy VII Remake’s best female character? Japanese fans vote【Survey】- Terrace House stars condemn cyberbullying after death of housemate Hana Kimura
Yearly
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation- Japanese restaurant chain shows us how to make katsudon in three minutes【SoraKitchen】
Studio Ghibli releases free wallpapers to download and use as backgrounds for video calls- Beautiful Japanese swimsuit model performs knockout Tifa Final Fantasy cosplay【Photos】
One-Punch Man artist shares 10-year-old daughter’s drawings online
We order all four burgers from McDonald’s Japan’s Big Mac line and compare their…sizes
Thanks to the coronavirus over 450 manga volumes are now free to read online
Nara deer leave park, head to station for food as tourist numbers tumble due to coronavirus
What if One Piece was a girls’ comic? Shojo manga artist produces character redesign【Pics】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Pikachu-shaped electric shock-flavor gummies are coming to Japan!
Japanese rugby legend questions reopening of pro-baseball, confuses everyone
Japanese bubble tea chain starts selling at-home tapioca drink kits
No screaming on roller coasters, please, say Tokyo Disneyland, other Japanese amusement parks
Gotta stamp them all! Collect your shrine stamps with this gorgeous new range of stationery
Tokyo Tower reopens after coronavirus closure, but now you have to take the stairs 150 meters up
Jilted Chinese woman sends 1,000 kilograms of onions to ex-boyfriend’s doorstep
Survey ranks the most desirable neighborhoods to live in Japan’s Kansai region
Got a collection of anime clear files? Then you need these super-cheap frames from Japan’s Nitori
Department of Magic opens in Japan with cosplay and accessories for wizards and witches
All 558 chapters of Inuyasha manga free to read online to celebrate announcement of sequel series
Japanese government to subsidize domestic travel this summer to boost the ailing tourism industry
Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish a hot topic on Japanese Twitter with frank reply to fan’s request
-
