I(Chanda) have a minor obsession with okonomiyaki and I was determined to find the best okonomiyaki Osaka had to offer. After scouring the internet I stumbled upon Ajinoya. All of the reviews were positive so I had high hopes.
When we arrived our hearts sank to the bottom of our empty stomachs. The line was incredibly long and we were told the wait would be 1 & 1/2 hours. I was ready to brave the line, but I wasn’t sure about Mana but thankfully she agreed to wait.
As we got closer to the front we could hear our stomachs rumbling but a server finally came up to us to take our order. We don’t know how they remember everyone’s order when there are so many people but this keeps the wait time down. They offer English, Chinese, and Korean menus and some of the staff to speak a little of these languages as well. I’m one of those people who is willing to point and nod at a picture, to Mana’s embarrassment, to get my point across but I was grateful to not have to.
We ordered a traditional Osaka drink (Hiyashiame) and a melon soda because I cannot resist anything melon flavored. The Osaka drink was not fizzy, which was unexpected, but it was still tasty. It had a slight ginger flavor and was a little sweet. The melon soda looked like it could give me superpowers but it tasted like melon soda. A little disappointed about not getting any superpowers but I still had a delicious drink.
As we waited for our okonomiyaki to be made we were able to watch as the chefs made our long-awaited meal. We felt ravenous so we ordered two, which is actually a large portion because the pancakes are thick, but we decided to go all out and order a third(not pictured because we forgot) one just so we wouldn’t have regrets.
As our okonomiyaki was almost finished cooking the chef asked us if we wanted to add any sauce. You don’t have to have sauce added to the top of your okonomiyaki but it does enhance the flavor of the pancake, so we suggest letting the chefs add what they would typically add.
After our first bite, we were in heaven. We forgot about all of the walking we had done that day and the long line to get inside. Everything we had done that made us feel tired was forgotten and felt worth it just to get to this moment of culinary bliss. The outer edges were perfectly crisped and the inside of the pancake was packed with cabbage and meat.
The yakisoba noodles in our second okonomiyaki were dense, chewy, and well seasoned. Topped with an egg and bonito flakes we felt like we could have eaten more and not gotten tired of the taste.
If you visit Osaka you have to try okonomiyaki, but there’s no other place that can compare to Ajinoya. Here, you will experience the true taste of okonomiyaki.
How to get there: When you leave exit 14 make a right on the first street corner and walk for around 60 meters and Ajinoya will be on your right. There is a smaller one before you get to the larger one if you just want a quick bite.
Link to our video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOXbfnJLcoQ
Manda's Wanderland 
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