Best Okonomiyaki Restaurants in Okonomimura: Top 6 Places in Hiroshima’s Okonomiyaki Village

When you talk about Hiroshima, it's impossible not to mention the historical Peace Memorial Park, the beautiful island of Itsukushima with a giant torii gate that floats on top of the water, and of course, Hiroshima okonomiyaki – the soul food that everybody loves.

There are around 2,000 okonomiyaki restaurants in the area, which can be a bit overwhelming when choosing a place. Fortunately, there’s a place you can visit that guarantees a tasty meal: Okonomimura, Hiroshima's okonomiyaki village. 

Hiroshima’s past is filled with tragedy, but the city has used these painful memories to inspire dreams for a peaceful future. In this Hiroshima bicycle tour, you’ll deepen your knowledge of the city’s miraculous post-war reconstruction and peace initiatives while exploring the city with your local guide.

After a day of cycling around the city, relax at a local restaurant and indulge in Hiroshimayaki, the city’s take on okonomiyaki. You’ll get the chance to make the Japanese pancake yourself as you discover the secrets behind this local favorite. 

Okonomimura, or "okonomi village," located in the downtown area of Hiroshima city, is not only an indispensable spot for sightseeing but also a place where locals and tourists alike drop by for casual dining.

There are 24 different counter-style okonomiyaki restaurants scattered from the 2nd to the 4th floor in the building – just like an okonomiyaki theme park. This is where the okonomiyaki stalls used to gather after World War II, and now they have turned into several small shops sharing the same roof.

Each okonomiyaki restaurant has its own quirks and offers a different take on this popular dish, so you might want to wander around a bit before making a choice. 

Don't worry though, because all restaurants in Okonomimura are held up to a very high standard so that all customers can share a similar experience of trying some of the best okonomiyaki in Hiroshima. No matter which restaurant you choose, you'll come away satisfied (and very full).

One of the best parts of Okonomimura is that you can watch your hiroshimayaki be prepared in front of you. 

A large amount of batter made from wheat flour, mirin, and water is prepared in advance and left to chill in the fridge for a smooth texture. 

The other ingredients the chef puts inside may vary, but cabbage, noodles (soba or udon), and a type of protein (usually sliced pork belly or seafood) are staple ingredients for Hiroshima okonomiyaki.

When it’s time to start cooking, a thin layer of the batter is first poured onto the iron griddle and spread out into a circular shape, creating a crepe-like pancake.

After that, the cook will sprinkle some ground dried bonito flakes and tenkasu (crunchy tempura bits) before adding thinly sliced cabbage and pork belly on top. The okonomiyaki is then left to cook and let the cabbage soften. Don’t forget to capture the moment when the chef flips the whole thing upside down!

Meanwhile, the noodles are fried and seasoned with sauce. The okonomiyaki is then transferred onto this noodle bed, and finally onto a thinly-spread fried egg.

For finishing touches, a generous amount of okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and dried green seaweed are drizzled and dusted on top.

Your Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is now complete! Take a bite and experience the explosion of flavors and textures as you dive into this hearty meal.

Momotaro is one of the oldest okonomiyaki restaurants in Hiroshima – three generations have been keeping the place running. 

It was established in 1961, and since then the menu has changed a lot, but the small restaurant still manages to keep its cozy and friendly ambiance while also retaining the old-fashioned flavor of Hiroshimayaki.

Make sure to try the Momotaro deluxe, their bestseller, topped with a hefty amount of meat, egg, squid, shrimp and egg!

If your stomach still has some room after the hearty main course, don’t forget to check out the teppanyaki (grilled food) menu as well – the tonpei yaki with soft and fluffy tororo kombu is also very delicious.

The restaurant is located on the second floor of Okonomimura, and it’s open from 11 am to 10 pm, six days a week, from Tuesday to Sunday. 

In contrast to Momotaro’s traditional flavors, Atom offers unique and modern twists on the original Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. 

Advertising itself as an okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima with “culinary capability like the mighty atom,” this is a great place for those who would like to bring a new perspective to their normal Hiroshima dining experience.

The okonomiyaki here is made without oil, and the chefs use their amazing spatula skills to prevent the dishes from burning or sticking. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, try their Atom yaki – the powerful kick from garlic and kimchi will surely wow your tastebuds!

The restaurant is located on the 4th floor of Okonomimura and is open from 11 am to 2 pm for lunch, and from 7 pm to 2 am for dinner.

Hassho is one of the few worthy competitors for the title of best okonomiyaki in Hiroshima. There are several stores scattered around the city, and all of them are very popular. 

Compared to its siblings, Hassho in Okonomimura has a relatively shorter queuing time, so you can be seated quite quickly.

What makes Hassho stand out is their commitment to quality ingredients. The chefs make sure that they only use organic cabbage in their Hiroshima okonomiyaki, and they carefully select their eggs and meat.

The store is also famous for their crispy fried soba and exquisitely thin batter. 

You can visit the restaurant from 11 am to 8 pm all week with the exception of Thursday, their regular day off.

While okonomiyaki is not normally regarded as a vegan dish, Hiroshima features several spots where you can still indulge in the famous Japanese pancake. At Okonomimura, ROKU is the place to check out if you want vegan okonomiyaki. 

Hidden amongst all the shops on the fourth floor, this small shop features several modifications for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike, allowing everyone to have a delicious experience that caters to their needs.  

The shop’s dedication is on full display as they cook different okonomiyaki in separate areas and use different utensils to avoid cross-contamination, allowing you to enjoy okonomiyaki in Hiroshima without worry.

For those that eat seafood, their oyster okonomiyaki is a special treat as they use local Hiroshima oysters, known for their size and rich flavor. 

The shop is open every day of the week except for Thursday from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for lunch and 5:30 pm to 11 pm for dinner. 

Find out more: Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Osaka and Kobe

Yama-chan goes way back, being established in 1965. It’s one of the names that naturally pops up when people talk about okonomiyaki in Hiroshima because here you can taste the exquisite flavors that haven't changed since the shop opened.

The shop is always crowded with a lively and energetic atmosphere. There are several popular menu items, such as standard okonomiyaki with soba noodles or the Yama-chan special, containing a generous helping of meat, shrimp and squid. 

It’s also a good place to just relax with a glass of beer and some delicious side dishes like simmered beef giblets or horumonyaki.

Yama-chan is open from 11 am to 10 pm all week long.

The last restaurant on this list is Takenoko — a small store with quick service and delicious food that both tourists and locals enjoy. It’s a well-established store in Okonomimura, opening over 50 years ago. 

The noodles are the highlight of Takenoko’s okonomiyaki — they use noodles from the Iso, a local brand that makes their noodles with special wheat flour using traditional methods. The chef boils the raw noodles and steams the cabbage in advance to fully bring out the ingredients’ aroma and taste.

Their recommended dishes are the Takenoko deluxe, piled high with seafood; and the oyster okonomiyaki topped with fresh local green onion.

You can drop by this okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima from 10 am to 10 pm every day except for Mondays.

Okonomimura is easily accessible using both private and public transportation.

Buses and trams are available, taking around 15 minutes from Hiroshima Station. You can get off at Hatchobori Station and walk to Okonomimura in about three minutes.

If you are traveling by car, it’s a 10-minute drive from Hiroshima Station. Make sure to use the toll parking lot nearby as the building does not have a dedicated parking lot. 

If you ever have the chance to visit Hiroshima, don’t forget to stop by Okonomimura! With so many options to choose from, all vying to be the best okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, the possibilities are endless. 

Whatever restaurant you choose, you’ll be sure to enjoy a delicious meal and warm and friendly conversations that leaves you with an unforgettable experience.

For a more hands-on experience, join this okonomiyaki cooking class in Okosta Cooking Studio or browse other food experiences in Hiroshima!