Method
- Whisk flour, grated yamaimo, dashi and eggs in a large bowl into a smooth batter — about the thickness of pancake batter. The yamaimo gives it the airy fluff; without it the okonomiyaki turns dense.
- Add the cabbage, spring onion and tenkasu. Fold gently with a spatula until each shred is just coated; don't over-mix — the cabbage should still be loose and voluminous, not crushed.
- Heat oil in a wide non-stick or cast-iron pan over medium. Pour half the batter mixture in and shape into a round 2cm-thick disc. Lay half the pork slices flat across the top.
- Cover for five minutes. Lift an edge with a spatula — the bottom should be deeply golden, almost mahogany. Flip carefully; the disc should be solid by now. Press gently with the spatula to settle the cabbage.
- Cover and cook another five minutes pork-side-down. Flip back to pork-up for one final minute, uncovered, to crisp. The pork should now be browned and translucent at the edges.
- Slide onto a plate. Zigzag with okonomiyaki sauce, then mayo, in fine lines crossing each other. Shower with aonori and bonito flakes. Repeat with the second pancake. Eat with chopsticks straight from the plate, cutting into bites with the side of the chopsticks.
Common questions
Can Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) be made ahead?
Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) is best made and eaten the same day, but the components can be prepped earlier — chop and measure the ingredients up to a day ahead, refrigerated separately. Final cooking takes about 14 minutes.
Is Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) spicy?
Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) as written is mild to mildly warming — the heat comes from aromatics rather than chili. Add fresh sliced chili or chili oil at the end if you'd like to push it spicier.
Is Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) vegetarian or gluten-free?
This recipe is suitable for most diets. If you have specific restrictions, the substitutions section in each ingredient note covers the most common swaps.
How hard is Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) to make at home?
Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) is approachable for a home cook with basic stove skills — total time about 29 minutes, no special technique required.
Can Okonomiyaki (Osaka-style) be scaled up or down?
This recipe is written for 2 servings. To scale, multiply each ingredient proportionally; the cooking times stay the same up to about double the volume. Beyond that, expect to cook in batches because of pan size and heat distribution.
Cultural Note
Osaka-style okonomiyaki — 'as-you-like-it grilled' — is the all-mixed-together version, in contrast to the layered Hiroshima style with its separate noodle bottom and stacked cabbage. The Osaka school descends from yoshoku-era 'one-bite cake' (issen yoshoku) of the 1920s and exploded postwar when wheat flour aid arrived from the US. A Kansai household teppan (electric griddle) is built into the dining table — okonomiyaki is communal, made in front of you, a social food.
