Amongst the different types of Japanese food, restaurants specializing in okonomiyaki may not be as common, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its fair share of fans! Commonly referred to as a Japanese pancake, ‘okonomi’ means ‘as you like’ and ‘yaki’ means grilled. So, have your grill however you like at these okonomiyaki restaurants in Singapore. Some of these places even allow you to cook your okonomiyaki yourself!
1. Seiwaa Okonomiyaki
Tucked away in Dunlop Street in Little India, craft your own rendition of the Japanese pancake at Seiwaa Okonomiyaki! Take your pick of seafood, meat or veggies before mixing it with the cabbage and green onion batter before grilling it on the teppan (hot plate). You can choose to self-cook, or have a teppanyaki chef cook it in front of you! Apart from okonomiyaki, you can also grill your own souffle pancakes here – the perfect way to end your meal on a sweet note!
2. Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant
Located near Beauty World MRT, Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant is another spot that allows you to cook your own okonomiyaki in Singapore. Try to sit at the counter if you wanna get hands-on! Okonomiyaki prices are between $14 - $17 and you can take your pick of the ingredients you like. Besides okonomiyaki, the restaurant also has other Japanese favourites such as homemade gyozas, garlic fried rice, miso soup and more. We love that dishes are unpretentious and down-to-earth, and how homey the whole place feels.
3. Tsuruhashi Fugetsu
If you’re in the city area, Tsuruhashi Fugetsu in Suntec City is where you can get your fix of authentic okonomiyaki. Unlike other establishments, here the cooking is done for you. The okonomiyaki is prepared and stir-fried in the kitchen, then served onto the teppanyaki plate at your table. Tsuruhashi Fugetsu also serves modanyaki, which is a different type of okonomiyaki with yakisoba and cabbage. We love the contrast of the crunchy cabbage and the QQ yakisoba, but the dish is quite heavy so best to share it with two to three friends.
4. Misato
Misato is a contemporary Japanese restaurant in The Centerpoint. Not only do they serve up authentic Japanese food, but many of its ingredients are also sourced and imported from Japan. They don’t specialize in okonomiyaki specifically, but they sure serve up a mean one! The okonomiyaki ($15.90) here is made of cabbage, egg and pork belly, then slathered with a tangy sauce and topped with dry bonito flakes. Even the cabbage used is imported from Japan! Misato is a great place to get top quality Japanese food at very reasonable prices, and you should most definitely visit when you can!