UPDATED! Ajinoya Restaurant Osaka: Japan’s Best Okonomiyaki?

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Ajinoya restaurant in Osaka is a must-try spot for anyone interested in okonomiyaki.

The award-winning restaurant specialises in okonomiyaki and yakisoba dishes. Staff prepare, mix and then cook the food on a hotplate at your table in front of you.

There's likely to be queues outside, but its worth the wait!

Okonomiyaki - Japan's savoury pancake

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients.

The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "how you like" or "what you like", and yaki meaning "grill". Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan.

VIDEO: This Is How You Make Okonomiyaki! Ajinoya Restaurant

In this video you see how a seafood okonomiyaki is prepared and cooked. It includes a HUGE prawn and pieces of squid. Strips of bacon, some beef and, finally, an egg is cracked on top of it.

Topped off with a fried egg

Alongside is a traditional yakisoba dish made with noodles, pork, vegtables and ginger. At Ajinoya it is topped with a fried egg. Although literally "fried buckwheat," yakisoba noodles are made from wheat flour. It is typically flavored with a condiment similar to oyster sauce.

Optional bonito flakes can be liberally sprinkled on top of either dish if you want (I do).

Left: yakisoba, Right: okonomiyaki

Listed in the Michelin Guide to Osaka

There were four of us here, so these large portions serve four people!

Ajinoya is listed in the Michelin Guide to Osaka and rightly so. A terriifc place to go with a partner or a group of friends.

It's a popular place so book in advance if you can (bookings by telephone only in Japanese) or expect to queue before getting a table. The restaurant is upstairs on the 1st floor. But it will be worth it!

11 Unique things to do in Osaka

Aside from its incredible food culture, what I love so much about Osaka as a city is that it really stands apart from all other cities in Japan. It has its own vibe and way of doing things. Which, if you're looking for less obvious things to do on your travels, then Osaka has a seemingly neverending supply!

unique things to do Osaka featured The Real Japan

Honestly, I could write a dozen blog posts about unusual or unique things to do in Osaka (and given time I probably will!), but I started with this blog post that you might want to check out: 11 Unique Things To Do In Osaka.