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With a range of natural New Zealand bee products, CLOCKWISE: An edible work of art at Sydney's Jugemu & Shimbashi, making including our award winning okonomiyaki is a labour-intensive affair, MGO™ Manuka Honey, the finishing touches. BIO30™ Propolis and MGO™ Manuka Honey Drops. Discover why people around the world are choosing Oko- -iyaki 27 Manuka Health. “ ” Move over ramen, nom-nomThe bare bones Kansai-style stand aside sashimi, Sometimes referred There are two main styles to as 'Japanese pizza', of okonomiyaki, each okonomiyaki okonomiyaki is often originating from different deserves its time likened to a savoury regions. Kansai style, also in the spotlight pancake or an omelette. known as Osaka style, is Yaki means 'cooked the most common across WORDS LACHEAN over direct heat' – as Japan, and abroad. HUMPHREYS in yakitori (grilled The savoury batter is skewers) and yakisoba made up of flour, water, A traditional and long- (fried noodles) – while eggs and shredded time favourite dish across okonomi means 'to cabbage, while fillings Japan, okonomiyaki is yet your liking'. often include octopus, to see the same recognition In Japan, you’ll outside of the country that find the dish at other iconic dishes have dedicated okonomiyaki received. But while katsu, restaurants, where chefs sushi, bento and even often cook in front of onigiri (rice balls) have diners on a large iron earned themselves emojis, griddle, or teppan. Some okonomiyaki brings its own restaurants offer a DIY talents to the table – it’s scenario, where the diner variable, often inexpensive, is given a bowl with the sometimes an interactive raw ingredients to mix experience and, most and grill at a table with

JUGEMU & SHIMBASHI, Y. SHIMIZU / JNTO Y. JUGEMU & SHIMBASHI, PHOTOGRAPHY importantly, delicious. its own teppan fitted.

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Toppings are of utmost importance, and applied generously

CLOCKWISE: Eat out counter style in Hiroshima, a fried egg topping at Jugemu & Shimbashi, convenience Try it here store food isn't to be sniffed at in Japan, Hiroshima-yaki. In the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood, Papirica is led by Yutaka “Matsu” Head to Hiroshima Hiroshima-yaki). Matsuda from Osaka. The humble menu offers Hiroshima-style Some of the city's most pork, vegetarian or vegan okonomiyaki, or popular okonomiyaki okonomiyaki, and Matsu Hiroshima-yaki, is a shops are located inside makes his own okonomiyaki sauce with natural little harder to find this Hiroshima Station and ingredients. side of the equator. The Okonomimura – a food park in the city centre. In In Sydney, head to Jugemu 28 key difference is that & Shimbashi, specialising in ingredients are layered, times past street vendors teppanyaki, and specifically would gather here, but shrimp, pork or beef (or instead of mixed in with Osaka-style okonomiyaki. now you’ll find more than Seat yourself at the counter all of the above). the batter. a dozen bricks and mortar to be front and centre for Toppings are of The batter in this case the cooking process. okonomiyaki eateries. utmost importance, is more like a thin crêpe, and applied generously. and cooked separately Wait … monjayaki? First on is a thick brown to the toppings, which If you’re in Tokyo, you’ll So if you’re short on glaze of okonomiyaki include double the find okonomiyaki shops time or are eating on sauce, followed with cabbage of the Kansai- in Shibuya, Harajuku and the run then pop into a zigzags of local Kewpie style. All the elements Shinjuku in particular, convenience store and mayonnaise, finishing are placed on top of mostly serving up Kansai check the fridge for with aonori (seaweed the cooked pancake, style. What you’ll also find packaged okonomiyaki, flakes) and katsuobushi before the whole thing is monjayaki, sometimes which can usually be (dried fish flakes), is flipped onto a sizzling nicknamed 'monja'. This heated up on the spot. which dance on top pile of yakisoba noodles variety is referred to as Keep in mind, walking through the heat. (an element distinct to 'liquid okonomiyaki', and eating is considered thanks to its runnier batter. quite rude in Japan. The Tsukishima district There are many other is home to Monja Street, regional variations – which (surprise!) has many such as hirayachi in monjayaki shops. In these Okinawa – and countless restaurants, you’ll often restaurants delivering find regular okonomiyaki their own take on this on the menu, too. dish outside of Japan.

If you’ve been to Japan And who knows? GETTY IMAGES JUGEMU & SHIMBASHI, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, before you’ll know some Okonomiyaki may just of the best food is found be part of the next emoji

in convenience stores. update. PHOTOGRAPHY