Sometaro
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Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake where the batter is mixed with whatever veggies or meat you like! It’s highly customizable, and great comfort food. We went to Sometaro, an okonomiyaki restaurant near Senso-Ji Temple in Asakusa. The restaurant is in a very old wood building sandwiched in between newer buildings.
The inside looks much like the outside; a traditional-looking, wooden Japanese building. It’s cramped, but cozy. Patrons sit on the floor with a griddle at the center of each table where they are able to cook their own okonomiyaki! The menu is extensive, so each person is able to pick the okonomiyaki with the toppings they like best!
We started the meal off with an order of ordered cucumbers with a sour pickled plum sauce. Taylor also got a nice cold glass of beer.
Michelle picked an okonomiyaki that came with red pickled ginger, cabbage, egg, onions, and minced beef and pork. Taylor’s came with minced beef and pork, cabbage, egg, and sliced beef. The waitress brought bowls with the raw batter with all the mixings on top. We just needed to mix it up, pour the contents onto the griddle, and let it sizzle away!
The waitress did help us quite a bit with the cooking, which was nice since we had never done it before. After a certain amount of time, you have to flip it to cook on the other side.
Once the okonomiyaki is cooked we brushed on a rich, tangy barbecue-type sauce. Then we drizzled mayonnaise on top and sprinkled bonito flakes to finish. We cut the cakes into smaller pieces and enjoyed our meal. Everything was absolutely delicious!
Sometaro is a very charming Edo-styled okonomiyaki restaurant with great food, a friendly staff, and an English menu. The concept of okonomiyaki might seem weird, but it is a fantastic Japanese comfort food to eat, and everyone should give it a try. With its proximity to Senso-Ji, a very popular temple most people visit, Sometaro should not be missed.
Google Maps Link: Sometaro
