Other Cities General Information Places to See Local Souvenirs Special Events Directions Excursions Map Weather Okonomiyaki Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake cooked on a hot plate. Made predominantly with pieces of meat, seafood and chopped cabbage, after grilling, a brown sauce is spread on top of the pancake and dried bonito shavings and green laver is sprinkled on top of the sauce. Some people also add mayonnaise to the toppings. Okonomiyaki is eaten all over Japan, but is particularly popular and delicious in the Osaka area. Takoyaki Takoyaki is a ball of wheat-flour batter containing pieces of octopus. The kneaded flour is poured into a takoyaki-nabe (a special pan or plate for takoyaki with semicircular depressions in which the ingredients sit) and pieces of octopus are then added. Chopped green onion, benishoga (a pickled ginger tinted red), and temkasu (small pieces of fried flour batter) are also added. Rotate the mixture until a fully round ball is formed and after a light browning, add sauce and sprinkle on some green laver. Oshizushi/Hakozushi (Pressed Sushi) When you say sushi in Kansai the word means "Oshizushi or Hakozushi," a form of sushi pressed into a square mold. Sea bream fillets, shrimp and conger eel fillets on sushimeshi (rice seasoned with vinegar) are pressed into a wooden box compressed using a wooden lid. Compared to "Edomae," or hand-rolled sushi, the flavor contained within Oshizushi does keep longer. Kushikatsu Kushikatsu is a dish made up of pieces of pork and vegetables fried on a skewer after being coated in bread crumbs. There are many types of kushikatsu shops around Osaka including those that offer freshly fried kushikatsu with a dipping sauce at very reasonable prices for customers willing to stand and those in a rush.