Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Best Okonomiyaki in Kyoto

Often called “Japanese pizza”, okonomiyaki is actually very different! Here’s our recommended okonomiyaki restaurants in Kyoto to try it yourself.

Okonomiyaki in Kyoto. Editorial credit: TheNUshutter / Shutterstock.com
Okonomiyaki in Kyoto: TheNUshutter / Shutterstock.com

Okonomiyaki is often translated in English as ‘Japanese pizza.’ However, this is a bit of a misnomer. It’s more like a thick, grilled pancake-slash-frittata, with all kinds of ingredients held together by a nagaimo (mountain yam) and wheat flour batter. In terms of toppings, anything goes: shrimp, squid, pork, even cheese. That’s all part of the name – “grilled as you like it,” or “okonomi”!

While okonomiyaki is more popularly associated with neighbouring city Osaka, there are a number of excellent restaurants in Kyoto where you can enjoy this dish. It’s inexpensive, unpretentious, and delicious. Unless you have gluten allergies, this is certainly a must-try. (But even then, there are one or two gluten-free options out there!) These are a few okonomiyaki spots in Kyoto we love.

  • Donguri (Downtown Kyoto; budget to mid-range)
    If you’re craving a hearty meal, hit up Donguri. This restaurant has been serving okonomiyaki to the hungry masses since 1977, with a special emphasis on using locally-sourced ingredients in their dishes.
  • Chibo (Kyoto Station Area; budget to mid-range)
    Located in the Kyoto Avanti mall south of Kyoto Station, Chibo is a reliable, failsafe option for okonomiyaki. The pancakes are awesome, they have a kid’s menu, and it’s English-friendly too.
  • Warai (Downtown Kyoto; budget to mid-range)
    For some seriously fun eating, try the okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes cooked on a griddle at your table) at Nishiki Warai, just steps from Nishiki Market.

Best Kyoto Restaurant Recommendations

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Chris Rowthorn

About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn

  • Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
  • A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
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