Okonomiyaki @ Okonomimura, Shintenmachi, Hiroshima

 

Few foods define or relate to Hiroshima more than okonomiyaki. Literally translated to "anything you want and grilled", this is one of the few Japanese dishes where customisation is king. And when if you are unsure as to where you would like to go to get this local treat, Okonomimura would be the best bet. 

Cyberpunk feels

Okonomimura, which translates to "okonomiyaki village", is a 4 storey building food court in the heart of Hiroshim. It houses at least 25 shops that sells this amazing treat. Locals tend to have their own special favourite, but if it is your first time here, any shop will be fine as the quality will be on par to one another. And for me, it was Eegai (ええがい) after the friendly beckoning of its owner. 

Men at work

Japan has two types of okonomiyaki which is the Kansai style (click here and here for some references from my past eating adventures) and the Hiroshima style. The Hiroshima style is more complicated as it is more of a stack of various ingredients. Instead of ingredients being held onto by pancake batter, the Hiroshima style has multiple layers is various ingredients being cooked at the same time and then eventually stacked onto a neat package. 

Old faithful

There are various fillings that is in store and certain shops specialises on some more than others. And since the second most popular dish of Hiroshima is oysters, I got myself the oyster special, which costed a hefty sum of 1,500 yen. And to accompany my dinner, it was the ever reliable highball which stood for 400 yen. 

Step 1

Firstly, the owner chef fires up his teppan hot pan and started grilling the oysters. At the same time he sets up the first layer, which is the crepe part of the pancake. Once the oysters are ready, he then piles it with vegetables, pork strips and croutons. He then flips it over and let the ingredients render down while the crepe makes the whole thing hold its shape. At the same time, he took out some noodles and fried it with some sweet and sour sauce. 

Under construction

At another section of the hot plate, he cracks an egg and makes a layer of sorts out of it. Once the egg is done, he then stacks it on the rest of ingredients and breaks the thing down into bite size pieces. A good amount of sweet and sour sauce was lathered on the pancake.

Slushed. 

Finally, good amount of spring onions and sesame came down like a confetti in a wedding. With the finishing touches out of the way, he then pushed it to the part closest to me  for my consumption. Man that was a long process!

Finished product

With all that ingredients onto one dish, I was quite impressed as to how everything held up. The sauce did help in the adhesion though. When it comes to flavour, it was rich, homely and inviting. The cabbage and beansprouts in the middle gave it some crunch and keeps things fresh, while the pork strips gave some fattiness. The noodles in between provided some textural difference. The oyster bits did give like a Russian Roulette feel, you would not know when it will hit. But when it does, hot damn!

Close up of a smaller piece, you can really see layers!

This was an incredibly filling meal and I strongly propose that you come here where you are close to near hunger. The carbs and veggies will really fill you up in no time. However, do take note that the cooking time of about 10 mins or so. Also, as the dish is cooked directly in front of you, get ready to smell like your food for a long time. It was worth the trouble for me but you have been warned. 

Weapon of choice. Been a while since I used a spatula. 

Overall this was a great meal although I found it a bit pricey. Then again, it is a labour intensive meal so it is somewhat justified. Eegai is located in the 4th floor of the building and I do recommend it. However, feel free to try the other stalls. And if this place piques your interest (I mean how can you not?) then the address is as follows: 

5-13 Shintenchi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima

Unmistakable sign.