All About Hiroshima Okonomiyaki: Layered Cooking and Noodles
A thin crepe topped with a mountain of cabbage, then noodles. Hiroshima okonomiyaki is steam-griddled by stacking, not mixing, and has become a local soul food.
Here we walk through the elements that make up Hiroshima okonomiyaki, following the order in which it is cooked.
It is also called 'Hiroshima-style,' but locals usually just call it 'okonomiyaki.'
The elements that build one plate
Layered cooking
Unlike the Kansai style that mixes batter and fillings, here cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, noodles and egg are stacked in layers on a thin crepe and steam-griddled while pressed down. Flipping it without collapse takes skill.
Source:徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ（広島県）
Soba or udon
Chinese noodles (soba) crisped on the griddle are the standard layer, though udon can also be chosen. Picking the type of noodle, or whether to include one, is part of the Hiroshima way.
Source:徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ（広島県）
Steam-griddled cabbage
A generous mound of shredded cabbage is steamed under a lid of batter, so it shrinks down and turns sweet. That sheer volume is the heart of the Hiroshima style.
Source:徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ（広島県）
Otafuku Sauce
An okonomiyaki sauce released in 1952 by a Hiroshima company. With its thick, sweet character, it spread alongside Hiroshima's okonomiyaki culture.
Source:オタフクソース
Issen yoshoku
Before and after the war, a humble dish of flour thinned with water and topped with green onion and the like was the prototype. Vegetables and noodles were later added, evolving into today's okonomiyaki.
Source:徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ（広島県）
Eating with a kote spatula
The authentic way is to leave it on the griddle and cut off pieces with a 'kote' spatula rather than moving it to a plate, so you can enjoy it piping hot.
Source:徹底解剖！ひろしまラボ（広島県）
FAQ
What is the biggest difference from Osaka okonomiyaki?
Osaka folds the fillings into the batter, while Hiroshima stacks them and steam-cooks. Far more cabbage, plus the noodles, also set the two apart.
What kind of place is 'Okonomi-mura'?
It is a building in central Hiroshima packed with dozens of okonomiyaki shops. It has become a sightseeing spot where you can compare and sample many styles.