Eat straight from the teppan with a hera, taste Otafuku vs. Carp sauce, and explore tasty local variants.
Okonomiyaki — often called “Japanese savory pancake” — takes many forms across Japan, but nowhere is it more unique than in Hiroshima. Here, this beloved dish isn’t just food; it’s part of the city’s identity.
Osaka-style mixes batter, cabbage, pork, seafood, and egg before cooking for a soft, fluffy bite.
Hiroshima-style is all about layers: a thin crepe base topped with cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, noodles (yakisoba/udon), and a fried egg. It steams on the teppan so the cabbage turns sweet and the sauce melds in.
In Hiroshima, people eat okonomiyaki directly from the teppan using a small metal spatula called a hera — no plates, no chopsticks. Slice off a bite and enjoy it hot and sizzling!
Both are proudly made in Hiroshima — trying both is part of the fun!
Most locals have a favorite neighborhood shop they’ve visited for years — which means many Hiroshima residents don’t know lots of shops outside their area. That’s how deeply rooted this dish is in daily life.
During the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tried making Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at Otafuku Sauce’s “Okosta” studio with guidance from local instructors (reported by Chugoku Shimbun).
Skip the tourist lines once and find a small, family-run okonomiyaki shop in a quiet neighborhood. Sit at the counter, watch the chef at work, and eat straight from the teppan with your hera — you’ll taste Hiroshima’s flavors and spirit.
SEO title: Discover Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki: Layers, Sauce Rivalry, and Local Love
Meta description: Explore Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — layered soul food. Eat with a spatula, compare Otafuku vs. Carp sauce, and enjoy local variants. Includes a G7 fun fact.