Hiroshima Cuisine

Hiroshima is not only known for its beautiful scenery and deep history, it’s also known for amazing local cuisine. Trying Hiroshima’s specialty foods was just as exciting as seeing the most beautiful places around the prefecture. Eating became a big part of my experience in Hiroshima since each and every dish is so unique! 

Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake that’s made with batter and cabbage as the main ingredients. There are plenty of okonomiyaki restaurants around Japan, and each one offers different mix-ins and toppings. There are endless varieties such as seafood, meat, veggies, cheese, and more. Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki is a bit different because noodles are added, and the ingredients are layered instead of mixed in. 

Zach and I found a restaurant called Nagataya that mainly serves Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. It’s just around the corner from the Peace Park, so it made for a perfect lunch after walking around. I decided to look the restaurant up online and found that it’s recommended by locals, and it’s one of the best restaurants to eat Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. That made me even more excited to try it!

The menu had lots of different options for fillings and toppings, and we even got to choose which noodle we wanted. I went with udon while Zach went with soba. From garlic kimchi to seafood, I had a rough time deciding what to to order. After much deliberation, I chose the deluxe okonomiyaki. This one had pork, egg, cheese, rice cake, corn, and my choice of noodle. 

If you’re lucky, you’ll be sat at the bar where you can watch the chefs make the okonomiyaki. Zach and I came at a busy time, so we were sat at a table with a built-in stovetop instead. Our okonomiyaki was placed on the stove to keep it warm as we ate. I also thought the little spatulas we used to cut our food was just adorable.

I realized that I liked Hiroshima style okonomiyaki better than the conventional style just after the first bite. I think the noodles really add another level to the dish.

Momiji Manju

Momiji Manju is a maple leaf shaped cake traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste. This treat can be found everywhere in Hiroshima, but Miyajima seemed to have an abundance of it. There were tons of different flavors that I didn’t see on the mainland, such as chocolate, custard, apple, caramel, peach, maple, cheese, lemon, and sweet potato. After tasting the traditional cake for the first time (and loving it), I really wanted to try some other flavors. Apple ended up being my most favorite, with custard cream in second place and caramel in third. Miyajima also offered different ways to eat this iconic sweet. When I saw that there was a fried momiji manju stand I knew I had to try it. The crispy outside and soft cake inside was amazing. I thought it tasted similar to funnel cake.

Momiji manju is one of Hiroshima’s most famous treats and most popular souvenirs. I noticed that the souvenir momiji manju was mostly sweet red bean flavor only, but I did see a couple of places selling chocolate and matcha ones. I ended up buying a souvenir box that came with three different fillings; matcha, koshian, and azuki. Koshian and azuki are both sweet red bean pastes, except koshian is smoother and sweeter. I later found out that koshian momiji manju is actually the most popular in Hiroshima. I was doing last minute shopping at the station before heading back home to Akita and noticed that this specific one was sold out in most stores.

Momiji manju is so popular that I even found other treats that are supposed to taste like it. I saw potato chips, hard candy, and KitKats! Anyone who knows me or follows my social media knows that I have an obsession with finding crazy KitKat flavors. When I saw momiji manju flavored ones in Miyajima, I bought them instantly. Of course, they were delicious and tasted just like the real thing.

Oysters

About 60-70% of Japan’s oysters come from Hiroshima. It’s said that the oysters from the Seto Inland Sea are the plumpest and juiciest around. They’re also rich in flavor and have fantastic texture. There are several ways to eat Hiroshima oyster, but the most popular ways are eating them grilled, fried, and raw with some soy sauce. I talked about how they’re farmed in my Miyajima post.

I’m not a fan of oyster, especially if it’s raw. I’ve tried it in the past but the texture is too off-putting for me. However, I do enjoy fried oyster with some lemon juice and I was happy to find a stall selling just that in Miyajima! It was very flavorful and tasted like it was pulled out of the water that morning.

Onomichi Lemons

The lemon treats in Onomichi were some of my favorite treats I ate in Hiroshima. Onomichi is the largest producer of lemons in the country, so it wasn’t a surprise that the lemon-based food was fantastic. I tried three different sweets, and the lemon cream soda was my favorite.

Zach and I happened to find a small stall that sold this particular drink. It looked amazing, so I stopped to try it. I knew it was going to be good because it took a while to make. After the drink was ready, I just had to have a small photoshoot because it was so pretty.

There were slices of lemon in sparkling lemonade and extra thick whipped cream on top. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a drink and realized there were chunks of mochi in there as well. This drink was a whole experience! The lemon flavor was perfect, not too sour and not too sweet. I loved the texture of the mochi, and the whipped cream was probably the thickest I’ve ever seen. I still think about this lemon cream soda and how I’d fly to Onomichi just to have another taste.

Momiji manju might be the most popular souvenir in Hiroshima, but the Onomichi lemon cake is also a hugely popular and sought-after souvenir. The cake is moist and contains tiny bits of lemon peel, so the flavor is bittersweet. The outside of the cake is coated in white chocolate which adds a nice texture to the cake. I bought one for myself to try, but after tasting it I knew I needed to go back and buy some for my friends and colleagues in Akita. It was delightful and I wanted to share the deliciousness!

I saw a lot of places selling lemon soft serve, so I finally caved and bought a cone after passing by several signs for it. I’ll admit, this soft serve was sour. Maybe I’m just weak to sour things, but I bought a bottle of water to rinse my mouth out after every few licks or so. It wasn’t terrible, I just wasn’t expecting the intense lemon flavor since everything else I had was fairly sweet. I could definitely see how this could be a favorite for someone who loves sour things.

Onomichi Ramen

I was absolutely thrilled to try the Onomichi ramen, because I had heard so much about it even before coming to Hiroshima. What makes it so special is the broth, which is made from chicken bones and small fish from the Seto Inland Sea. Soy sauce and pork fat are added as well, along with pieces of pork, bamboo shoots, and green onions for the toppings. Another notable characteristic of Onomichi ramen is that the noodles are flat and springy.

There were a myriad of shops selling this local specialty in Onomichi, but Zach and I chose a small shop with a few tables and a Japanese only menu. Those are the kinds of shops that are the best from our experience.

I was shocked at the size of the bowl when it first came out and I questioned if I’d be able to eat it all. After the first bite, I realized that it wouldn’t be a problem. This ramen is definitely on my list for some of the best I’ve ever had. The meat melted in my mouth, the noodles were a perfect texture, and the taste of the broth was light. I knew it was amazing because Zach and I ate in silence.

Ice Monaka

The last Onomichi specialty I tried was ice monaka, or a wafer ice cream sandwich. Just like the ramen, I saw a lot of places selling this treat. I stopped by a very well known shop called Karasawa, and later found out that this place has been featured on TV a few times. Karasawa has been around for decades and their ice cream is some of the best you can find in Onomichi.

I had the option to choose any flavor for the wafer ice cream sandwich, so I went with my all-time favorite: black sesame. I figured this treat wasn’t going to be anything out of the ordinary since it’s just ice cream, but it did catch me off guard when I bit into it. The ice cream was stretchy and unlike anything I’ve had before. It was then I understood why this shop is so well known. It was a delightful surprise, and I’d definitely eat there again!

Cafes

I’ve mentioned before that I like to find themed cafes when I travel, and Hiroshima didn’t disappoint. I found two cafes that were not only cute, but had incredible coffee and sweets as well. I’m forever grateful for my partner Zach who helps me finish everything I order, because I always get too excited and order too much.

Cat Themed Cafe

This looks like a place that would be in Onomichi, but it’s in mainland Hiroshima! The love for cats extends to every corner of this prefecture. This cafe was without a doubt one of the cutest cafes I’ve ever seen. There were no real cats here, but there were charming decorations. I really loved the colors and attention to detail. The longer I was there, the more cat motifs I noticed. Not to mention the sweets exceeded my expectations!

Since it was just before Christmas, the cafe had themed sweets and decorations. Cats in Santa hats were strewn across the walls and I even found one on my plate in the form of cake. Although I felt bad for destroying it, it was delectable and I enjoyed every last bite. The chocolate was decadent, and the fruit that came with it was fresh. I also ordered a latte with a little paw print on it, and a blue Hawaii (Japanese lemonade) soda float that was topped with a cat cookie. Zach and I were happy with our first stop in Hiroshima!

Miyajima Rilakkuma Sabo

While strolling through Omotesando Shopping Street in Miyajima, I spotted this cafe and immediately wanted to go inside. Despite all of the cute decor, this cafe had some fancy tones to it. The sweets were a bit on the pricey side, but in my honest opinion I think they were worth it. The menu had more Japanese style sweets along with parfaits, drinks, and cake which were all themed. This place is perfect for any Rilakkuma fans!

Decision paralysis led me to order a lot of sweets that Zach had to help me finish. The food was a lot larger than I expected and incredibly filling. My favorite menu item was the banana parfait, which consisted of banana jelly, vanilla ice cream, corn flakes, sliced bananas, a Rilakkuma marshmallow, and a wafer torii. I didn’t really eat banana flavored things when I lived in the states, but Japan does it differently. It tastes more natural and less artificial here.

One thing I have to point out is the Rilakkuma marshmallow. I actually had one on each order and they were probably my favorite part of the desserts. I wanted to ask the staff if I could just buy a bag of them to take home. These must have been gourmet because they were the softest and tastiest marshmallows I’ve ever had.

I also ordered a cake plate that came with a milk tea latte, roll cake, and mochi with some sweet red bean. The latte was absolutely massive and was topped with one of those fabulous marshmallows. The texture of the mochi with the sweet red bean was amazing, and of course the cake was the star of the show.

My last order was a refreshing lemon and grapefruit float. I was really pleased with everything and I would’ve ordered more if I hadn’t been so full. These kinds of cafes are usually just okay when it comes to food because they’re mostly for photos. Miyajima Rilakkuma Sabo knows how to be photogenic and delicious, which is what I look for in themed cafes. If you find yourself in Miyajima I highly recommend stopping by even if you’re not a fan of Rilakkuma. The food is totally worth it!

There’s a separate stand in front of the cafe that sells Rilakkuma themed momiji manju. I had to try it after walking off some of the food I ate from the cafe. The stand had a window so people can watch the momiji manju being made, so I got to watch the staff make my chocolate filled one. I once again delayed eating it because I didn’t want to ruin the design, but after taking photos and apologizing to Rilakkuma I finally took a bite. The chocolate was warm and had the consistency of fudge, it was wonderful!

Eating and trying new things is always part of the fun when I travel, and Hiroshima really delivered. There were some unforgettable specialties here and I’m happy I had the chance to experience the prefecture’s unique food culture. I hope to return one day so I can eat more Hiroshima style okonomiyaki!