At Wood Egg Okonomiyakikan you can learn everything about Hiroshima’s soul food, okonomiyaki. In the previous article, we learned and watched. Now it’s finally time to make.

With room for 26 participants to study simultaneously, the lesson room is spacious. I’m going to be taught how to make authentic okonomoyaki by an Otafuku employee.

This is Mr. Kato. He works at the okonomoyaki department, and their mission is to spread the word on okonomiyaki around the world. With light banter, he gently takes us through explanations on how to hold the spatula properly and clean the teppan.

Hiroshima okonomiyaki is thin and has lots and lots of cabbage and meat on top. It must be difficult for first-timers to flip over, or….

Here we go!!

Yes! I did it! Some of the cabbage flew around, but that won’t put a damper on my day. Next, let it cook for a little while until cooked through. After that, put noodles on top. Let me now teach you the secret to making yours more delicious than your friends’. If you are cooking on a hot plate, they usually take time to heat up, so be sure to turn the heat up to high from the get-go. When you flip your okonomiyaki over, the meat on the underside will be nice and cooked and the cabbage soft.

After your okonomiyaki is ready, drizzle some Otafuku sauce on top. There are 6 different flavors, including regular, hot and premium, as well as 2 kinds of mayonnaise, so be sure to try them all. You can use as much as you like!

True happiness! Some said it was easier than they thought, others said they felt a sense of achievement. By taking this lesson, not only will you be able to make amazing okonomiyaki for your family, but it will also be more fun going to okonomoyaki restaurants.

My okonomiyaki is nice and hot, and tastes really great! Especially since I made it myself! (Thanks, teacher!)

I even got my very own personalized spatula! You can order these at the showroom next door.

The facilities were fantastic and the hospitality impeccable here at Wood Egg Okonomiyakikan. As I cannot possibly describe all its charm and appeal in words and pictures alone, please come and experience it for yourself! You will definitely never forget it (nor the scent of the delicious sauce).

Wood Egg Okonomiyakikan
Address: 7-4-5 Shoko Center, Nishi Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Open: 9:00 – 17:00 ※ Booking required for tour & lesson. Sign-up at the homepage below
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, end-of-year, Obon-holiday, Nov.1st
Tel: 082-277-7116 (Wood Egg Okonomiyakikan information department)
Admission: Tour Only – free of charge. Okonomiyaki Cooking Lesson – Hot plate 700 yen, Teppan 1000 yen
https://www.otafuku.co.jp/corporate/woodegg/

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Izumi Furukawa