Okonomiyaki – Japanese Savory Cabbage Pancake

Ingredients:

Preparation mode:

👉 Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) is a savoury Japanese pancake packed with shredded cabbage, cooked on a hot griddle and covered with sweet-savoury sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and seaweed. The name means “grilled as you like it” – you can add pork, shrimp, squid, cheese or anything you have. It is the famous street food of Osaka and Hiroshima, where whole restaurants cook it on tabletop griddles.

This is the Osaka-style version, where everything is mixed into the batter. It is quick, cheap and a great way to use up a cabbage.

How to Make Okonomiyaki

1. Make the batter. Whisk the flour and dashi until smooth, then whisk in the eggs.
2. Add the vegetables. Fold in the cabbage, green onions, tenkasu and pickled ginger. Mix gently – the batter should just coat the cabbage.
3. Start cooking. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Pour in half of the mixture and shape it into a thick round pancake, about 2 cm (¾ in) tall.
4. Add the pork. Lay the pork slices on top of the pancake.
5. Cook and flip. Cook covered for 5 minutes, until golden underneath. Flip carefully (slide onto a plate and turn back into the pan) and cook pork-side down for 5–6 minutes, until the pork is crisp and the center is cooked. Flip once more.
6. Top it. Brush with okonomiyaki sauce, drizzle with mayonnaise in thin lines, and sprinkle with bonito flakes and aonori. Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Tips for the Best Okonomiyaki

• Shred the cabbage very finely. Thin strips cook faster and hold together better.
• Don’t press it down. Pressing makes it dense; let it stay fluffy.
• Medium heat. The center needs time to cook before the outside burns.
• Squeeze bottles make the classic zigzag of sauce and mayo easy.

Okonomiyaki FAQ

What is okonomiyaki sauce made of?
It is a thick, sweet and fruity brown sauce. A quick homemade version: 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce and 1 tsp sugar.

What is the difference between Osaka and Hiroshima okonomiyaki?
In Osaka style, everything is mixed into the batter. Hiroshima style is layered – a thin crêpe, a pile of cabbage, pork and yakisoba noodles, topped with a fried egg.

Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes. Skip the pork and bonito flakes, use water or kombu dashi, and add mushrooms or cheese.

👉 More Japanese recipes: katsudon and yakitori. Discover more street foods from around the world.

Footnotes:

Where to buy: okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, bonito flakes and aonori are sold in Asian supermarkets and online.

Leftovers: reheat in a pan or air fryer and add the toppings just before serving.