Okonomi Village

Okonomi Village is situated in the city’s central shopping hub, just southeast of the Parco department store on Hondori. To get downtown, one can either take the bus or the number 1, 2, or 6 streetcar and get off at Hatchobori Station. From there, it’s a short walk down the Kinzagai shopping arcade, passing the Fukuya department store on your left until reaching Parco. Walk through or around Parco to find yourself on the trendy Namiki Street, with the Alice Garden plaza on the left. Hang a left here to find Okonomi Village as well as a plethora of other restaurants, most of which sell okonomiyaki.

The entrance to Okonomi Village starts with a staircase, decorated with a cute okonomiyaki cartoon character inviting visitors to the culinary paradise awaiting above. Those who cannot climb stairs can use the elevator located down the corridor to the left of the staircase. The village consists of twenty-three okonomiyaki restaurants spread out over the second, third, and fourth floor of the building, with each floor resembling a fragrant flea market of vendors dishing out the same deliciousness in a distinct way. Since I have neither the time in my schedule nor the stomachs in my body to try every single restaurant, my journey today will have me scoping out a restaurant on each floor that stands out. Also, like diving into an okonomiyaki itself, I shall start my gourmet tour at the top of the village and gradually work my way down towards street level.Read more