Local Japanese dishes should be tried in whichever part of the country you’re visiting and the must-eat in Hiroshima is its okonomiyaki. Head over to Okonomi-mura, a whole area dedicated to the nation’s much celebrated, delicious savoury pancakes.
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Okonomi-mura is found just a 15-minute walk east of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and is undoubtedly the place to go to try the famous Hiroshima okonomiyaki. This okonomiyaki town was developed after WWII when the city of Hiroshima was still getting back on its feet. It became a popular spot for enjoying Hiroshima cuisine and remains a favourite to this day for both tourists and locals alike.
The bustling streets that make up Okonomi-mura are referred to as a food theme park, lined with vibrant stalls and restaurants that are solely devoted to taking your tastebuds on a sensory rollercoaster while you sit back and soak up the exciting local atmosphere. The reputable restaurants in this area have even got their hands on a unique okonomiyaki sauce recipe which can’t be found anywhere else.
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Okonomi-mura
If you’re yet to experience the joys of okonomiyaki, you’re in for a treat. Okonomiyaki is a thick savoury pancake packed out with varying ingredients, most commonly cabbage, meat and seafood and finished off with a generous smothering of addictive okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. Okonomiyaki, which translates more or less as “grilled food you love”, is one of the nation’s favourites and it seems a fitting name considering it is hard to come across a person that doesn’t love this comforting dish.
![Okonomi-mura]()
Okonomi-mura
There are two main types of okonomiyaki; one that is associated with Osaka and one which has its roots in Hiroshima. The more common Osaka version of the pancake mixes the ingredients all together, whereas the Hiroshima version consists of layers of the typical okonomiyaki ingredients with extra servings of cabbage and a bonus layer of noodles thrown in for good measure. Naturally, the two variations on the Japanese pancake have caused a rivalry between Osaka and Hiroshima who both claim that their dish is the superior of the two.
![Okonomi-mura]()
Okonomi-mura
While several okonomiyaki joints around Japan offer the do-it-yourself option where you grill the pancake on a hot plate at your table, Hiroshima okonomiyaki is best left to the pros. Settle down in front of your chefs while they throw together your pancake in just minutes right in front of your eyes. Our suggestion is to have a little explore of the streets before picking the spot that takes your fancy. You’re pretty much guaranteed a good, filling meal wherever you go.
![Okonomi-mura]()
Okonomi-mura
You’ll also find fresh oysters on the stalls, which are another specialty from Hiroshima and a perfect appetiser once grilled up on a hot plate. As well as being able to taste both Hiroshima and Osaka’s standard okonomiyaki, you can also try out variations on the ingredients which include the likes of squid and kimchi (spicy pickled chinese cabbage). One okonomiyaki pancake normally comes in at around 800 yen but prices range from 600 yen to 1300 yen. Once your chef has sliced your okonomiyaki into chopstick-ready chunks, this is a perfect meal for sharing so order a few different flavours and pass them around.
![Okonomi-mura]()
Okonomi-mura
KIRO Hiroshima by THE SHARE HOTELS
3-21, Mikawacho, Naka-ku Hiroshima
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