Japan is quite possibly the WORST place to be for anyone who’s dieting. It’s a good thing that word does not exist in my vocabulary. Imagine having to restrain yourself from giving your palate a workout when you’re in the land of the most amazing (and appetizing-looking) sweets, takoyaki, all kinds of sushi, taiyaki, and okonomiyaki, to name a few. It’s a crime, I tell ya. A crime, which is a punishment in itself.
Part of us intentionally starved ourselves over lunch so we can do justice to the okonomiyaki later, and we’re glad we did. We skipped lunch and, except for a couple of those ningyo-yakis we got from Nakamise-dori, we had empty stomachs while we went a bit around Akibahara. And when it was time to fill them up, fill-’em-up we did!!
Okonomiyaki is basically “Japanese pizza” or “pancake”, but I think pizza is more applicable. Okonomi literally translates to “what someone wants or likes”, and yaki means “grilled”. To say that I was excited to finally get more than a taste of this dish would be an understatement.
Ana led us to Akiba Square, where we had to take the lift to the 3rd floor (if memory serves me right). There were lots of restos inside, many of them serving okonomiyaki.
Okonomi Yukari is originally from Osaka, with its first store opening in 1953. I think this branch in Akiba is its only store in Tokyo.
The outer wall had photos of what’s on the menu. Mouth-watering, indeed! Ana pointed out one of the largest okonomiyaki offerings, costing a whopping 4400 yen! But we wanted to sample not just one flavor, so we agreed to get one flavor each and share it.
The place was relatively empty, with only about two other tables with patrons. Perhaps because it was already around 3pm and it’s super late lunch already? It was clean, and there were only about 3 staff members around, with two of them in the kitchen. We chose a table directly beside the kitchen.
Shown the menu, we honestly didn’t know what to order, so we had to rely on Ana’s “expertise”. She was particularly fond of the cheese one, so she got the Cheese okonomiyaki. Sil ordered the buta (pork/bacon and egg) one, and I had the Hiroshima okonomiyaki.
This is also where I was introduced to the addictive stuff called chuhai.
Chuhai is a contraction of the phrase shochu highball. (Read more about this drink here.)
I ordered the green apple one. AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. I’m a nonalcoholic girl. I don’t even drink beer, unless absolutely necessary. In fact, the first time I drank one tall glass of beer was when I visited Singapore. But here, in Japan, all my alcohol-inhibitions, I put on the shelf. (Hey, you only live once, might as well live it up, and in Japan, too!)
And now, we get to the better part.
The staff will whip up the okonomiyaki right in front of you! Adorbs Staff-san (let’s call him that, eh?) started it, and all three of us went quiet, our eyes fixed on what he’s doing. We must’ve made him nervous, because then his hands started trembling. He must’ve been thinking, “Uh-oh, what’re they thinking, why have they grown suddenly quiet?”
We were simply fascinated, that’s why.
We started with the cheese okonomiyaki costing 1450 yen (~Php 580 or USD12.50). He poured the batter/mixture and skillfully went at it. The thick slice of Formaggio cheese made my mouth water, and when it started melting, the aroma was heavenly.
Adorbs staff-san then started getting to work on the pork and egg okonomiyaki (900 yen, or Php 350 or USD 7.50)while the cheese is being cooked. The bacon strips were so lean~
I just went nuts taking photos. Haha! Can’t you tell? If I could do a blow-by-blow account, I would, but I will let the pix tell the tale.
When Adorbs Staff-san turned them both over, we knew we’re going to be eating soon! Then he started putting various stuff on them, like sauces and mayonnaise (for the record, let me just say I LOVE Japanese mayonnaise!).
While Adorbs Staff-san was hard at work at our table, someone in the kitchen was equally hard at work cooking the yakisoba or fried noodles that will serve as the base of my Hiroshima okonomiyaki (1550 yen, or Php600, or USD 13.50). Once it was cooked, it was brought to our table for the final touches.
Tada~~~~ Darn, but THIS WAS SOOO FILLING.
A~nddddd dekita~! They’re done!
And now we get to the BEST part!
The Cheese okonomiyaki was soooo rich! I loved how tasty it is. The pork and egg one was very good, too, but it paled in comparison with the Cheese and the Hiroshima-style one, which, as I mentioned earlier, is soooo filling. I recommend the Hiroshima okonomiyaki if you’re really, really hungry!
We just helped ourselves to everything, and piled tons of nori and bonito (and mayo!) on top of it.
I have no idea how the three of us managed to clean the table, but we did it!
I had another opportunity to have okonomiyaki in Osaka, but I think I lucked out, and it was not as good. This was definitely one for the books!!