Okaru - Japan

Okaru is a renowned restaurant in Japan known for its delicious okonomiyaki varieties. Located on a pedestrian street in the bustling tourist hub of Nara, the entrance to Okaru may seem unassuming. Once inside, diners are greeted with a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere that hasn't changed much in decades. Tables line the narrow space, with tatami seating available on the left side. The highlight of the dining experience at Okaru is watching the skilled waitstaff prepare the okonomiyaki right at the table. Ingredients are added, mixed, cooked, and topped with okonomiyaki sauce, dried seaweed, bonito flakes, and mayonnaise. The sight and aroma of this process are sure to stir up a hearty appetite. Luckily, the final dish is worth the anticipation, as okonomiyaki is a flavorful and satisfying meal that won't disappoint. Personally, I found the okonomiyaki at Okaru to be exquisite, making this charming restaurant one of my favorite spots in Nara.

Among the traditional Japanese dishes less known to Westerners are the okonomiyaki. This dish is a kind of pancake made with multiple ingredients that is cooked on a hotplate embedded in the diners' table. The basic ingredients are a special flour mixture for okonomiyaki, shredded cabbage, water, and egg. From there, this mixture can be combined with pork or beef, seafood like the one I tried with shrimp, yakisoba noodles... Okaru is one of the most renowned restaurants to try some of the varieties of okonomiyaki throughout Japan. Located on a pedestrian street in the touristy Nara, its entrance almost goes unnoticed. Upon crossing the wooden sliding door, we enter a narrow space that has not been renovated in decades. Tables are situated on both sides of the narrow space, and on the ones located on the left, guests must sit on tatami mats (without shoes) and squat. All these discomforts are forgotten when an attentive waitress starts cooking the chosen okonomiyaki on the hotplate at the table. She adds, mixes, beats, cooks, and mixes ingredients again on the hotplate in a long process that is finished by pouring okonomiyaki sauce, dried seaweed, dried tuna flakes called katsuoboshi, and mayonnaise. It is inevitable that this process arouses a ravenous appetite. Fortunately, once the okonomiyaki is finished, it is a hearty and very tasty dish that does not disappoint anyone. I found it delicious, and this place has become one of my favorite spots in Nara.