An Okonomiyaki restaurant or okonomiyaki-ya is a restaurant serving the Japanese dish okonomiyaki (meaning cook what you like). Diners choose their favorite ingredients and the okonomiyaki is prepared to order, much like at an omelette bar. At most restaurants though, the diners themselves cook their own okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki restaurants can be found throughout Japan, and ingredient choices vary from location to location, most common are pork, seafood, and vegetables.

The Procedure

If the okonomiyaki restaurant is "self-serve," upon ordering a diner will be given a bowl of batter, diced vegetables and meats, and often a small amount of wheat flour. The diner can then go to the cooking surface, brush some oil on it, mix all the ingredients together and pour the batter onto the hot griddle.

Though lumpier than pancake batter and the resulting product thicker and larger than a pancake, the cooking procedure is roughly the same.

Experts advise that for best taste, pressing down on the okonomiyaki with the spatula while it is cooking is to be avoided.

When cooked thorougly on both sides, a variety of toppings may be added ranging from aonori (powdered nori), katsuobushi, even mayonnaise.