Since my arrival, I’ve been craving Okonomiyaki, and Mizuno was a popular choice due to its Michelin star. It was also recommended by a few friends who had visited Osaka as well as a number of locals who I spoke with. It was not surprising that there was a lengthy queue when I arrived for lunch.

What’s Okonomiyaki?

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake made with flour, nagaimo (a Japanese yam), egg, and dashi broth. It can be stuffed with a variety of meats, vegetables, and seafood, depending on your preferences. In fact, “okonomi” means “as you like it.”

A staff member takes your order while you wait in line to speed up the process. I waited approximately 15 minutes before being seated, though it could have been much longer. This is one of the perks of solo traveling: You get to skip lines! 😁

If you’ve never had Okonomiyaki before, the menu may appear overwhelming. There are different varieties of Okonomiyaki, sauces, and meats that can be added, but thankfully the menu suggests the “most popular” options.

I ordered Mizuno-yaki, which translates to “mixed grill” and cost ¥1,450.  It’s a combination of pork belly, minced meat, squid, shrimp, scallop and octopus. It is topped with mayonnaise, brown sauce, and Mizuno’s signature seaweed powder. This was listed as the menu’s second most popular item.

The dish was savory and cooked to my specifications; it was also very satisfying as the ultimate comfort food. The serving size is generous.

Service

The service is prompt. After you are seated, a cook will come to your table and begin preparing the Okonomiya on the grill in front of you. Although the restaurant is not large, people do not linger or hang around there for long. They come in, eat their Okonomiyaki, and then go.

The only issue I encountered was with one of the cooks (not the dude in the picture). I am uncertain as to whether or not he was having a bad day, but he was rude to other customers. Even though he was semi-polite with me while preparing my Okonomiyaki, I will not stand by and allow that to happen.

Rating

Location

📌 DISCLAIMER: Golden Island Senorita seeks to deliver readers with honest and straightforward reviews. This review is entirely based on my personal experience. I did not (and still do not) get any compensation for my visit, including freebies, free meals, gift vouchers, and the like, and I paid for the food out of my own wallet.