Friday, November 20, 2009

Okonomiyaki

(PICTURE: Okonomiyaki.)

As everyone knows, I'm a pretty big eater. One of my favorite things about living abroad is that I get to eat so much good food. As I've said to Paula a few times, "When I'm living in Japan I don't want to eat anything except Japanese food."

One Japanese food that I never ate prior to coming here is okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savoury "pancake" with a variety of ingredients. To be honest, taste wise, this is probably my least favorite dish I've had in Japan so far. That's not to say I think it is bad, I just think it is okay. The experience of going to an okonomiyaki place is worth trying it at least once though. As you can see from the picture, you get to cook your own pancake at your table. Generally I'm not a fan of cooking for myself because a) if I wanted to cook for myself I would have stayed home and cooked b) I'm scared that I'll mess up what I'm cooking.

My one okonomiyaki experience was perfect because the owner stood at our table and cooked for us. This meant a) someone was cooking besides me b) I'm assuming it was not messed up.

I should also mention that this is the closest thing I've seen to a "Japanese Hibachi" like the Benihana chain in the states. From what I've gathered there are no hibachis in Japan where a chef flips shrimp into his hat. Yes, I'm as sad at this as you are.

2 comments:

**Maria ** said...

OMG, Okonomiyaki is one of my most favorite foods in the whole world. Seriously. You can find them being made at street fairs and such in southern Japan... I like it with Kewpie mayo, some bonito fish flakes and the Okonomiyaki sauce. It's really good if you have a side of takuan (pickled daikon radish). A good blend of flavors and textures. So sorry you didn't like it that much...maybe you should try one of mine! My husband loves them!!!

Hannah said...

But you love hot pot!