The “what you like” pancake

What’s Cracking Good — Okonomiyaki

One of my favorite meals to come out of my student exchange trip to Japan: okonomiyaki.

Most people’s response when I tell them my favorite Japanese food is, “okonomi-what?”

On many a Sunday, my host mother would pull out the giant round skillet and start mixing unlikely ingredients together: yam flour and cabbage created the batter that went atop yakisoba noodles. There was some pork involved, a pile of bonita (fish) flakes, some green onions, and a fried egg. Oh, and a drizzling of mayo and a special sweet sauce. The translated meaning of okonomiyaki is something like “what you like.” And I do like all those things.

I later learned that her style of pancake was from Hiroshima. Tokyo has it’s own version. As does Osaka. As popular and prevalent as the street food was in Japan, for a long time, it was nearly impossible to find stateside.

I had to go to Otafuku, a tiny grill in New York City or drive 30 minutes south of L.A. to a spot called Gaja in Lomita.

Now, it’s in Phoenix.

It’s a sometimes-special at Phoenix’s Hana — and now it’s a lunch item at the new Nobuo at Teeter House menu, which begins its soft launch today.

Hana Japanese Eatery
5524 N. 7th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013

Nobuo at Teeter House (map)
622 East Adams St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Okonomi-what?

Whenever I tell people I spent a year in Japan, people ask, “Oh my gosh, did you lose so much weight?”

Actually,  I gained 20 pounds.

I blamed my second chin on my host family who fed me a steady stream of fried food, but the start of the third could have been a result of Okonomiyaki.

Even just saying it is a mouthful.

What is it? A Japanese pancake made from cabbage and flour, smothered in “Okonomiyaki sauce,” mayo and fish flakes…and if you’re lucky, paired with noodles and a fried egg. It’s considered street food throughout Japan, but to me, it was a giant plate of wonderful.

After my return home, I was saddened to find that virtually NO ONE serves Okonomiyaki in the states. In L.A., I had to drive nearly an hour to Lomita to find a place that serves it. In New York, there is a tiny stand in the East Village that sells it. But I’m not in the East Village all that often.

My husband and I have tried making it, with some success, but still, it would be nice to be able to stop in somewhere and get the real thing.

Sigh.

Today, my husband told me about a Tweet from Hana:

Say it all together now…Okonomiyaki! You asked for it, get yours tonight at Hana Japanese Eatery.

Elastic pants…here I come!