The Best Okonomiyaki in Tokyo: 10 Restaurants With Authentic Flavors

Osaka-Style and Hiroshima-Style Okonomiyaki in Tokyo

Okonomiyaki, meaning 'to one's liking' in Japanese, originated in Osaka post-World War II. It's a versatile dish categorized into Osaka-style and Hiroshima-style.

In Osaka, a batter with dashi, cabbage, and eggs is cooked on a griddle, customized with meat and toppings, evolving with unique ingredients for individual tastes. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki focuses on layering ingredients for texture, differing from Osaka's mixed method.

Sizzling on a hot griddle, the okonomiyaki cooking sounds add to the experience, heightened by the anticipation of savory aromas. Paired with a cold beer, it's not just about enjoying the dish but relishing the entire sensory journey!

Read on to learn 10 of the best okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo.

Authentic Okonomiyaki in Tokyo

1. Harajuku: Artistic Restaurant Sakura Tei
2. Odaiba: Tsuruhashi Fugetsu
3. Tokyo Station: Denko Sekka
4. Roppongi: Toda Wataru's Okonomiyaki Santenkan
5. Azabujuban: A Michelin-Level Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki at Amanoya
6. Dohtonbori
7. Asakusa: Asakusa Tsurujiroh Hanare
8. Kameari: Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Okotarou
9. Ebisu: Okonomiyaki Imari
10. Shibuya: Suzume no Oyado

1. Harajuku: The Artistic Restaurant Sakura-tei

Situated on the corner of a residential street in Harajuku, Sakura Tei is a restaurant brimming with an artistic ambiance popular among international tourists. You can savor both Osaka-style okonomiyaki and Tokyo-style monjayaki (pan-fried batter).

Here, hands-on cooking is a major delight. Staff assistance is available for those unsure of the cooking steps. English-speaking staff is also on hand, eliminating language barriers.

The restaurant's specialty, Sakura-yaki, is the most popular flavor because it combines seven ingredients, including pork, seafood, and vegetables, with batter.

Sakura-tei
Location: 3 Chome-20-1 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo Map
Hours: 11:00 - 23:00
Official Website: https://www.sakuratei.co.jp/en/

2. Odaiba: Tsuruhashi Fugetsu

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu has been an Osaka-style okonomiyaki restaurant for over 60 years, with over 80 chain stores across Japan and even one in Santa Clara, California.

Their signature dish is the Fugetsuyaki, a satisfying mix of ingredients like squid, shrimp, pork, and beef. What sets it apart is the ratio of flour to cabbage in the batter, giving it a crispy exterior and a soft texture inside.

Once grilled, they top it off with their thick, homemade Osaka-style okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise. Some branches sell the sauce since it's incredibly popular, making it a great souvenir to give to others.

Tsuruhashi Fugetsu Odaiba store
Location: Tokyo, Minato City, Odaiba, 1 Chome−7−1 Aqua City Odaiba 6F Map
Hours: 11:00 - 23:00
Official Website: Retty (Japanese)

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3. Tokyo Station: Denko Sekka

Photo by PR TIMES
Selected by the Hiroshima Michelin Guide, Denko Sekka has three branches in Tokyo Station, Shibuya, and Ginza.

Their dome-shaped Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki includes typical ingredients but stands out with the addition of shiso leaves, which add a refreshing flavor to the rich sauce. The tender egg covering the savory pancake perfectly complements the overall taste.

Denko Sekka Tokyo Station store
Location: Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 1-9-1 Tokyo Station Ichibangai B1F Map
Hours: 10:00 - 23:00

4. Roppongi: Toda Wataru no Okonomiyaki Kiji Santenkan

Photo by PR TIMES
The concept store of the renowned Osaka establishment Kiji, known for its classic flavors, was selected among the top 100 eateries by a prestigious food website upon its Tokyo debut.

Visitors can savor the essence of Kansai's traditional fare and relish the aromatic sizzle of Osaka-style okonomiyaki on the griddle. A standout favorite is the Beef Tendon Okonomiyaki, which offers a unique twist on the traditional dish with a touch of Western culinary techniques.

Seasonal specialties, like the autumn-exclusive okonomiyaki featuring creamy matsutake mushrooms infused with the aroma of butter, paired with premium scallops, present a luxurious surf-and-turf delight.

Toda Wataru no Okonomiyaki Kiji Santenkan
Location: Tokyo, Minato ward, Roppongi 1-4-5 B1F Map
Hours: 11:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00
Official website: http://www.o-kizi.jp/santekan.html

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5. Azabujuban: Taste Michelin-Level Okonomiyaki at Amanoya

Amanoya gained fame for its egg sandwiches, endorsed by Japanese celebrities and listed annually among the top 100 eateries. However, it has continuously received recognition from the Michelin Guide for its Osaka-style okonomiyaki since 2015.

Neither falling into the Osaka or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki categories, this dish features plenty of shredded cabbage, crispy pork slices, and a sprinkle of nori, all drizzled with their house sauce. Breaking away from the traditional styles, it embodies a refreshing and elegant twist on the classic okonomiyaki.

Amanoya
Location: 3-1-9 Azabujuban, Minato ward, Tokyo Map
Hours: 12:00 - 16:30, 18:30 - 21:00
Website: http://amano-ya.jp/ (Japanese)

6. Dohtonbori

Photo by PR TIMES
Embracing the unlimited possibilities of Osaka-style okonomiyaki with a focus on health, Dohtonbori is the pioneering chain that advocates for the exclusive use of Japanese-grown vegetables in their creations.

Fans of the Japanese drama "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko" (The Man Who Can't Get Married) might recognize Dohtonbori as the shooting location for Hiroshi Abe's passionate speech on okonomiyaki. Although the Tokyo Nogawa branch, featured in the drama's first season, closed in 2016, there are now 280 branches nationwide. To experience the essence of the drama's okonomiyaki dialogue, visit their official website.

Among the array of flavors, the highly recommended Osaka-style okonomiyaki features a generous portion of the Kyushu region's Kurobuta pork with eggs, creating a simple yet delicious combination that culminates in a flavor explosion from the premium ingredients.

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7. Asakusa: Asakusa Tsurujiroh Hanare

Asakusa Tsurujiroh Hanare is a renowned offshoot of Tsurujiro in Asakusa. While the original establishment boasts a more traditional setting, this sister branch exudes a chic Japanese minimalist style popular among the younger crowd.

Although known for its iconic monjayaki, the Mentaiko Osaka-style okonomiyaki is highly recommended. Drizzled with their homemade mentaiko sauce and charred on the surface with a blowtorch, the texture of Japanese mochi inside adds an intriguing twist that often captures more attention than their monjayaki.

Asakusa Tsurujiroh Hanare
Location: 1 Chome-36-2 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo Map
Hours: 11:30 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00 *closed on Wednesdays
Website: https://tsurujirou-hanare-asakusa.com/en_us/

8. Kameari: Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Okotaro

Located in a small alley in front of Kameari Station, Okotaro specializes in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. The restaurant features only counter seating, where customers can watch the chefs prepare Hiroshima okonomiyaki before their eyes.

Packed with cabbage, you can still discern the presence of pork or seafood, expertly cooked to achieve a crispy exterior that remains unaffected by the savory sauce inside. Each layer of Hiroshima okonomiyaki brings its own distinct flavor that harmonizes to create a delightful dish.

Okotaro
Location: 3 Chome-31-8 Kameari, Katsushika City, Tokyo Map
Hours: 17:00 - 23:00

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9. Ebisu: Okonomiyaki Imari

Originally from Hyogo's Amagasaki in Kansai, Imari settled in Ebisu, Tokyo 15 years ago. With a small lantern and counter, they create a trendy space using lighting. Bringing their family recipes and sauces to the Kanto region, the natural warmth characteristic of people from the Kansai region has helped Imari expand. Currently, they have branches in the Ebisu Main Store, Ebisu Nishi Store, Gotanda Store, and Sakuragaoka in Shibuya.

The menu at Imari boasts a variety of signature dishes, like the tenderly cooked pork or beef cheek meat or the savory green onion-packed "negiyaki." They also offer the Osaka Modern-yaki, a twist on traditional Osaka-style okonomiyaki, where noodles are mixed in before grilling. Each dish is delicious, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship with a touch of the staff's warm and enthusiastic service.

Okonomiyaki Imari
Location: Maison de Ebisu 1F, 2-3-11 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Map
Hours: 17:00 -24:00

Shibuya: Suzume no Oyado

Picture courtesy of Autoreserve

Suzume no Oyado is a monjayaki and okonomiyaki specialty restaurant with several branches in Tokyo. They gained popularity through their wide variety of original monjayaki/okonomiyaki dishes that brilliantly combine Japanese and western ingredients.

One of their famous dishes is the Camembert monjayaki, which brings the casual monjayaki to the next level.

Suzume no Oyado Shibuya store
Location: L'gente Ebisu, 2 Chome Ebisuminami, Shibuya City, Tokyo Map
Hours: 17:00 -23:00
Website: Tabelog (Japanese)

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Enjoy Okonomiyaki in Tokyo

Osaka and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo allow for a departure from traditional techniques and classic ingredients.

Here, one can savor okonomiyaki with diverse styles—from Hokkaido to the Kansai region and even Tokyo—presenting a range of flavors that even earn praise from Osaka natives!