Seeking out the beloved Japanese pancake okonomiyaki at late-night restaurant Himari in Shanghai’s Gubei district. More than a dozen okonomiyaki and open until 1am on weekends.
What is okonomiyaki?
Okonomiyaki is a wheat flour egg pancake with fresh cabbage and an array of fillings and toppings. It’s a beloved dish that’s oh-so comforting.
There are a few variations of okonomiyaki, but the two main styles are Hiroshima-style, when ingredients are cooked separately and then stacked, usually over yakisoba noodles, and Osaka-style (Kansai-style), cooked all together and usually topped with mayonnaise.
The pancakes are cooked on an iron griddle, and proper okonomiyaki restaurants provide diners with mini spatulas and even some additional ingredients for them to serve or cook with (extra crispy if you prefer). Pancake fillings range from a wide variety, including pork, squid, prawns, cheese, rice cakes, noodles, etc. It is topped with an assortment of ingredients including a sweet and savory sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, dried bonito flakes, and seaweed.
Okonomiyaki at Himari
Himari has more than a dozen okonomiyaki, and the style leans towards Osaka-style, priced from ¥46 to ¥80.
Combinations include the basics of pork, seafood, and noodles, but also cheese. The pancakes are made at the cooking station, and then served onto the hotplate in the center of your table. Though, sometimes the hotplates aren’t switched on. If you’re seeking a true experience, do ask the staff to turn on the hotplate.
In addition, they also have other snack dishes, grilled “teppan” meats, fried titbits, and fried rice. These little bites make perfect drinking snacks.
Speaking of which, drinks here are inexpensive. They also have a highball machine, starting from ¥30 a pint. Prices increase based on whisky strength. Beers start from ¥25.
The vibe is casual, fun depending on your group, and may be rowdy on the weekends with a drinking crowd.
Himari 日葵
Address: 677 Xianxia Lu 仙霞路677号
Tel: 33538708
Hours: Mon-Thu, 5pm-11:30pm; Fri, 5pm-1am; Sat, 11:30am-1am; Sun, 11:30am-11:30pm
Address: No. 01-05, Bldg 5, 900 Tianshan Lu 天山路900号汇金百货5楼01-05室
Tel: 32562627
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-1:30pm, 5pm-10:30pm
