Okonomiyaki sauce is the heart of Japan’s beloved savory pancake, bringing together sweet, tangy, and umami flavors in perfect harmony. In this guide, we explore what makes authentic okonomiyaki sauce so special, how it differs from Worcestershire sauce, the key differences between Osaka and Hiroshima okonomiyaki styles, and—most importantly—how you can buy premium Japanese okonomiyaki sauce online directly from Japan.
What Is Okonomiyaki Sauce? Is It Japan’s Worcestershire Sauce?
You could call okonomiyaki sauce the Japanese Worcestershire sauce. With its spicy, fruity tang, and exhilarating sweet-and-sour taste, okonomiyaki sauce is certainly similar to the British condiment in some respects. But when it comes to ingredients, density, and usage, Japanese okonomiyaki sauce is actually quite different from Worcestershire sauce.
For a start, okonomiyaki sauce typically gets its piquancy from a number of fruits and spices that are not found in the Worcester variety. And in actual fact, based as it is on anchovies, Worcestershire sauce has a more umami flavor than the Japanese version – a fact that is somewhat ironic, given that the word umami is Japanese. Also, Japanese okonomiyaki sauce is thicker in consistency than its English counterpart.
But above all, it’s the fact that okonomiyaki sauce is primarily used for okonomiyaki – that teppan-fried all-in-one meal that is almost universally loved from one end of Japan to the other – that really sets the Japanese version apart.
Hiroshima vs Osaka Okonomiyaki: What’s the Difference?
These days okonomiyaki is also much appreciated further afield, too. Hardly surprising, really; not only is okonomiyaki utterly delicious, but it also makes for a filling and nutritiously-balanced meal in itself.
In part this is because Japanese okonomiyaki always includes lots of vegetables. Primarily cabbage, and onions, but usually also some seaweed and beansprouts for good measure. Other variations exist, too.
Then there’s usually a healthy dose of protein in there; meat or seafood, plus eggs. Last but not least come the carbs, typically in the form of a little wheat flour used to make the pancake-style batter. And depending on which kind of okonimiyaki we’re talking about – Hiroshima or Kansai style – the recipe may also include yakisoba.
A Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurant.
Photo credit: Markus Winkler via Pexels
Aside from the matter of noodles – Hiroshima often adds them, Osaka almost never does – the main difference between the two styles of okonomiyaki comes down to the method of preparation.
In the Kansai region (where Osaka is located), all the ingredients are typically mixed up right from the start and cooked together on the hotplate. Whereas, in Hiroshima, okonomiyaki is built up in separate layers, with all the ingredients only combined towards the end.
In some countries, okonomiyaki is rather misleadingly referred to as “Japanese pizza” – somehow totally misunderstanding the basic concept of both dishes. However, despite the lack of similarity in either the form or the method of preparation, the title is not entirely inappropriate; just as the inhabitants of Naples and Rome disagree about who invented the pizza, there is strong rivalry between Hiroshima and the Kansai region as to who first came up with okonomiyaki.
How to Choose the Best Okonomiyaki Sauce for Authentic Flavor
Whichever style of okonomiyaki you choose to make, though, for authentic Japanese okonomiyaki, you really need an authentic Japanese okonomiyaki sauce.
And sauces don’t come much more authentic than those from high-end sauce-maker Oliver Sauce. In fact this Japanese okonomiyaki sauce brand has been around for over 100 years – so let’s say that they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their recipes.
However, there’s a lot more to Oliver Sauce than merely okonomiyaki sauce. And in this guide we take a look at three of our absolute favorite condiments from the brand, including a premium homegrown Japanese Worcestershire sauce. Okonomiyaki lovers need not despair, though, as we’ve also included Oliver Sauce’s top-selling Japanese okonomiyaki sauce in there, too.
Wetted your appetite for more? Read on!
1.Doro (Thick) Sauce
Oliver’s Doro sauce is effectively a thicker and spicier version of their popular okonomiyaki sauce that starts life as the aged natural sediment of Worcestershire sauce. With its rich umami tones and gentle chilli kick, this sauce combines beautifully with a wide variety of dishes ranging from soba noodles and takoyaki to Japanese curry and deep fried snacks.
2. Kansai Okonomiyaki Sauce
Oliver Sauce’s Kansai Okonomiyaki Sauce offers a delicious balance of sweet and umami flavors that forms the perfect accompaniment to all varieties of okonomiyaki.
The sauce’s initial tang comes courtesy of tomatoes, dates, onions, and apples; while oysters, bonito, kelp, and shiitake mushrooms do their bit for the savory side of things. The end result is a rich and mellow take on okonomiyaki sauce that is free from chemical seasonings, preservatives, and sweeteners.
And while the name might say “Kansai”, it’s perfectly OK to use this authentic Japanese okonomiyaki sauce with the Hiroshima version of the dish, too. It also works equally well with takoyaki and other Japanese delicacies. Recommended!
3. Yuzu Shio Sauce
Oliver Sauce’s Yuzu Shio Sauce is a general purpose dipping and drizzling sauce that harnesses the zing and aromatic excitement of yuzu fruit.
If you are not already familiar with yuzu, it’s time you got acquainted. Yuzu is a deliciously zesty and refreshing Japanese citrus fruit that looks like a knobbly lemon. Its juice and peel are used in a variety of Japanese dishes and beverages: from savory items like sushi and salad dressing to cakes, cookies, snacks, ice cream, soft drinks and beer.
Here Oliver Sauce have concocted a punchy combination of yuzu with vinegar, salt, sugar, and black pepper that will totally transform dishes such as pork cutlets, takoyaki, and fried chicken. Curious? Why not give it a try next time you’re ordering Japanese okonomiyaki sauce from ZenMarket!
4. Climax Worcestershire Sauce
While Okonomiyaki sauce is arguably already the Japanese equivalent of Worcestershire sauce, Oliver Sauce have now developed an actual Japanese Worcestershire sauce of their own.
This product launches early 2025, so we haven’t had a chance to try it yet ourselves. But whether it’s noodles, jazz, jeans, streetwear, electronics or anything else you fancy, when the Japanese set their sights on doing something well, the result typically exceeds the original.
Needless to say, then, we have exceedingly high expectations for their Japanese Worcestershire sauce. And the signs are indeed very positive. Developed using only the finest natural ingredients – fruits, vegetables, vinegar, soy sauce – and then aged for 3 years before being presented in some very elegant packaging, Climax Worcestershire Sauce may just turn out to be the definitive article.
How to buy Japanese Okonomiyaki Sauce from Japan via ZenMarket
While a number of manufacturers offer their version of okonomiyaki sauce for sale outside of Japan, these invariably tend to be of the industrial variety – which in practice often means a sauce that is overly sweet in order to compensate for a lack of complexity. As a result, for those not blessed with an enlightened local importer, it can often be a bit of a challenge getting your hands on authentic Japanese okonomyaki sauce; Japanese Worcestershire Sauce; and other similarly moreish Japanese condiments.
Or at least that used to be the case.
Now, though, it’s actually very simple to order delicious Japanese okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese Worcestershire sauce from high quality sauce-makers via ZenMarket. For example, to purchase Oliver Sauce’s products and have them shipped to your home outside Japan, just follow these easy steps:
- First, you will need to sign up for a free account at ZenMarket.
- Once you’re up and running, head on over to the Oliver Sauce website and find an item that you are interested in purchasing.
- Now click the ZenMarket banner, and the product will automatically be added to your ZenMarket shopping cart.
- You will then be redirected to the ZenMarket website where we check product availability for you.
- Once we’re certain that the item is available in your desired quantities, you will need to add funds to your account in order to pay for the initial purchase of the items and cover domestic shipping from the vendor to the ZenMarket warehouse.
- Upon arrival in our warehouse, we’ll pack and weigh all your items and let you know the cost for international shipping.
- As soon as you’ve paid the final shipping bill, we’ll send your parcel swiftly out the door and on its way to you. Done!
Now all that’s left to do is get some delicious okonomiyaki on the go!
Conclusion
Okonomiyaki likely has the claim to fame of being the only dish containing cabbage that regularly features in anybody’s list of top ten favorite foods. And if we’re honest, a big part of okonomiyaki’s appeal comes down to okonomiyaki sauce. Clearly, then, sauce is not an area true okonomiyaki fans will want to cut corners on. Meanwhile, with the arrival of Olive Sauce’s exciting new Japanese Worcestershire sauce, we’re certain you’ll want to give this product a try, too.
Oliver Sauce is a storied brand producing premium quality okonomiyaki sauce and other delicious condiments that are hugely popular in Japan. Want to get your hands on their products? Get yourself over to ZenMarket and add some authentic Japanese okonomiyaki sauce to your next order!