Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pizza-like savory pancake associated with Japan. Its name combines okonomi, meaning “what you like” or “how you like it,” with yaki, meaning “grilled” or “cooked.”
The dish is made from batter and commonly includes shredded cabbage, with additions such as pork, seafood, green onion, or cheese. It is cooked on a teppan griddle and usually finished with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, aonori seaweed, and bonito flakes.
Two major regional styles are Kansai, especially Osaka, and Hiroshima. Osaka-style ingredients are generally mixed into the batter, while Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is assembled in layers and often includes yakisoba noodles. Both are distinctly Japanese, despite the dish’s frequent English nickname, “Japanese pizza.”
The modern form developed from earlier flour-based street foods, and the name “okonomiyaki” appeared in Osaka in the 1930s. It became especially popular as an inexpensive, filling food during shortages after World War II.