English Reference

Word

okonomiyaki

Phoneticsokonomiya·ki

/oʊˌkoʊnoʊmiˈjɑki/

Definition

n. a savory Japanese pancake made with flour, eggs, and shredded cabbage. You can add many different toppings like meat, seafood, or cheese, and it is usually finished with a special sauce and mayonnaise.

n. a savory Japanese pancake containing a variety of ingredients in a wheat-flour-based batter. The name is derived from 'okonomi' (what you like) and 'yaki' (grilled), reflecting the customizable nature of the dish.

Examples

“We ordered okonomiyaki with extra pork and ginger.”

“The chef prepared the okonomiyaki on a large iron griddle right in front of the customers.”

“While the Osaka style involves mixing all ingredients into the batter before cooking, the Hiroshima version of okonomiyaki is characterized by layering the components and adding yakisoba noodles.”

Examples

simple

“We ordered okonomiyaki with extra pork and ginger.”

contextual

“The chef prepared the okonomiyaki on a large iron griddle right in front of the customers.”

complex

“While the Osaka style involves mixing all ingredients into the batter before cooking, the Hiroshima version of okonomiyaki is characterized by layering the components and adding yakisoba noodles.”

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the dish in general; countable when referring to individual pancakes.

Real-World Examples

“Perhaps you’ll just head downtown to the bustling Hondori Street and try Hiroshima's famous speciality: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.”
The Guardian · 27 Sept 2026
“Osaka’s signature dish is okonomiyaki, a messy pancake-type dish.”
BBC · 25 Feb 2022
“Okonomiyaki is a traditional street delicacy from Hiroshima, typically adorned with an array of extravagant toppings.”
BBC · 11 Nov 2019
“Okonomiyaki, the fantastically gooey Japanese omelet-pancake, is strewn with pieces of corned lamb tongue, a wink at the deli.”
The New York Times · 23 Oct 2013

Etymology

From Japanese お好み焼き (okonomiyaki), a compound of お好み (okonomi, "preference, what one likes") and 焼き (yaki, "grilling, cooking"). The literal sense is "grilling to your liking".

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Cooking

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference