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

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