The Origins of Negiyaki in Juso
Negiyaki is said to have originated around the mid-1960s at a small okonomiyaki restaurant in Juso, near the Yodo River in Osaka.
The restaurant owner originally prepared it as a simple staff meal for her children, who helped at the shop. She took inspiration from the issen yoshoku, an inexpensive Western-style savory pancake that she had enjoyed as a child, and added green onions to okonomiyaki for them to eat.
Customers who saw the dish being prepared became interested and began asking for it themselves. This eventually led to negiyaki becoming a menu item.
A Soft Batter with Plenty of Green Onions
Negiyaki is made with a soft, egg-rich batter and a generous amount of tender green onions. The ingredients are cooked together on a hot griddle, creating a dish that is soft and easy to eat while bringing out the fragrant flavor of the onions.
The combination of the delicate texture of the batter and the abundant green onions creates a distinctive flavor that has made negiyaki a much-loved part of Osaka’s casual food culture.
A Taste of Osaka’s Everyday Food Culture
Born from a simple homemade meal, negiyaki has grown into a familiar Osaka specialty. Its origins in Juso and its connection to the everyday tradition of okonomiyaki make it an interesting dish to try when exploring Osaka’s local food culture.