Okonomiyaki, Onigiri & Teppanyaki Cooking Class in Osaka

It’s impossible to visit Osaka without falling for its crispy, savory pancake covered in a rich sauce, a dish known as okonomiyaki. Served in izakaya restaurants and food stalls, okonomiyaki is one of the city’s most celebrated soul foods. Guided by locals, this cooking class uncovers all the secrets to making authentic okonomiyaki, grilling foods Japanese-style, and completing your meal with onigiri rice balls made from scratch.

The experience takes place just minutes from Namba Station in a professional kitchen, with experienced hosts eager to share elements of Japanese culture with guests from all over the world. This class is all about cooking using a teppanyaki grill, a flat iron plate used to heat and cook food at the table. You’ll be served vegetables, fish and meat, and your instructor will show you how to grill each on the teppan grill.

You’ll also use the teppan to cook okonomiyaki. This Osaka staple is made by combining egg, shredded cabbage and fillings in a bowl and grilling them until crispy. Okonomiyaki is served with lashings of sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and bonito flakes and is best enjoyed while still hot.

Finally, you'll make two onigiri (rice balls) by learning to cook and season sushi rice, then shaping it using delicious fillings such as fish or seaweed. Onigiri is a popular snack famous for its versatility and convenience, but none tastes as good as a freshly homemade one.

By the end of the class, you’ll have mastered the basics of onigiri-making and teppanyaki grilling, two Japanese home-cooking staples. Enjoy your meal with your host by the end of the cooking workshop, followed by minyo (traditional folk songs) performed by your host on the shamisen, a unique experience that will bring you even closer to Japanese culture.