■Self-introduction
Hello, everyone! My name is Yayee. I came from Chiangmai province, located in the northern part of Thailand. I have loved watching Japanese animation since I was a child, and it later became my inspiration to study the Japanese language. As I wanted to further my knowledge of the Japanese language, I majored in Japanese in high school and came to Japan as a Japanese Government Scholarship student in 2022. I’m currently studying at Osaka University, majoring in economics. By the way, my favorite anime is “Detective Conan. I love Japanese entertainment, especially Japanese music and Vtubers, so in the future, my dream is to be involved in such fields and work for promoting Japanese entertainment to the world!
■Must try this dish for all green onion lovers! “Negiyaki”, the Osaka's best flour-based food, a surprisingly little-known delicacy
During the Edo period, Osaka was located as the transportation hub connecting Edo (which is Tokyo in the present) and Kyoto. It was a center of commerce where various goods were gathered from all over the country. In particular, rice, vegetables, fish, and other commodities flourished, and a culinary culture developed in the city, as it was also known as “the kitchen of the nation”. As a result, the city became known as a “gourmet town” where delicious food can be found even today.
When we speak about Osaka’s specialty dishes, most people would probably think of flour-based foods (or “Kona-mon” in Japanese) such as Takoyaki or Okonomiyaki. However, have you ever heard of “Negiyaki (grilled green onion)”? Negiyaki is quite similar to Okonomiyaki but uses green onions instead of cabbage. Negiyaki is made by spreading the mixed flour, eggs and broth, thinly on a hot griddle, and then baking with a generous amount of ingredients such as green onions on top. From the moment I first tasted it, I was impressed by the savory aroma of Negiyaki and the flavor of the green onions and became a fan of this dish.
Particularly, I want to introduce the restaurant called “Negiyaki Yamamoto”. It is a famous restaurant that originated Negiyaki and is popular among locals and tourists, and they serve excellent Negiyaki with a crispy outside and a soft and fluffy inside. Without further ado, let me introduce the great points of “Negiyaki yamamoto” and its recommended dishes!
※Negiyaki Yamamoto has 3 branches in Osaka Prefecture, but I usually go to the ‘Umeda EST’ branch store. So, I would like to introduce the ‘Umeda EST’ store here.
※Flour-based food (or Kona-mon in Japanese) is a type of food that uses flour, rice flour, or cornstarch as a main ingredient. We mix the flour with water to make dough and grill or fry it. Some of the representative flour-based foods are Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki and Monjayaki.
■Appealing points of ‘Negiyaki Yamamoto’
・Located only in Osaka
・Umeda Est branch is easy to access and has a large menu (English menu available)
・Can bake yourself
The most appealing point of “Negiyaki Yamamoto” is that it only has a store in Osaka. So, you need to come to Osaka to try this dish. Other than that, “Negiyaki yamamoto Umeda EST branch” is located in Umeda, the center of Osaka, which is very easy to access. It is so popular that you may need to wait in line even before the restaurant opens. However, the line is worth it, so when I go to Umeda with friends, I usually eat at this restaurant, even if I have to wait in line for a while. Moreover, there is a wide variety of attractive menus, so you will never get bored no matter how many times you visit. The store also has an English menu available, so foreign tourists who are not familiar with the Japanese language can visit the store at ease. Moreover, at “Negiyaki Yamamoto”, the staff will mix the dough and ingredients to some extent, but you can also cook and flip the Negiyaki or Okonomiyaki yourself, which will certainly be a lot of fun if you come with your friends or family. (*It is also possible to have the waiter complete the dish on a separate griddle and bring it to you.)
■Recommended dishes at Negiyaki Yamamoto Umeda EST store ‘
• Deluxe Negi (squid, beef, pork added)
The first recommended dish, which I often order, is “Deluxe Negi.” This Negiyaki may look similar to Okonomiyaki, but the sauce for Negiyaki is different from a typical sauce. They use Dashi soy sauce (soy sauce made with the Japanese broth) or a refreshing lemon sauce, which gives a light and pleasant taste. In addition, the smell of green onions is often thought to be strong when talking about Negiyaki, but when you actually try it, you will get a different impression, with a crispy green onion’s texture and a moderate savory aroma. Once you try it, you will surely become addicted to it.
Seadfood Deluxe Negi (squid, shrimp, Hotate shell added)
The second dish I want to recommend is “Seafood Deluxe Negi” which is a Negiyaki packed with the flavor of seafood. This dish also uses dashi soy sauce and refreshing lemon soy sauce instead of the usual sauces, so you can enjoy a light and refreshing taste.
At “Negiyaki Yamamoto”, apart from Deluxe Negi or Seafood Deluxe Negi, you can also order Negi-yaki with a variety of toppings such as “Suji Negi” (a beef tendon topping Negiyaki), “Ebi Negi” (a shrimp-topping Negiyaki), or “Ika Negi” (a squid-topping Negiyaki). Therefore, you will have no trouble ordering even if you have a particular food item that you do not like or cannot eat. When you visit, please be sure to try dishes other than those I recommend.
■Cautions
“Negiyaki Yamamoto” is a very famous place, so you may need to line up even before the opening time. It is very recommended to allow plenty of time for your visit.
※For more information on business hours and other details, please visit the official website.
■Closing Thoughts
I have introduced the charming points and recommended dishes at “Negiyaki Yamamoto”. How was it? Although Negiyaki is not as popular as Takoyaki or Okonomiyaki, it is a very important dish for Osaka’s culinary culture. It has long been the locals’ favorite, while the ingredients are simple, the aroma and texture of the savory green onion are what make it so appealing. I hope you will try it when you come to Osaka.
I have been living in Osaka for only 3 years, but I think Osaka is truly rich in food culture and is full of fascinating local food. I want to continue learning and exploring more of Osaka, which I love, and hope to share many of its charms with you in the future! I hope you enjoyed my article. Thank you for reading to the end.
