A restaurant in northern England is drawing online scrutiny after serving a dish described as Japanese okonomiyaki that customers and commentators identified as a plain buttermilk pancake topped with savory ingredients, according to a report by the blog FC2.
Pancake substitutes cabbage in okonomiyaki dish
The menu description advertised the item as “Japanese okonomiyaki, Sichuan and BBQ duck, cucumber, crispy duck skin,” priced at 14 pounds, with some observers estimating the total cost could reach 20 pounds with extras. Commentators noted the absence of cabbage, which forms the base of standard okonomiyaki, observing instead that the texture and appearance resembled a standard breakfast pancake topped with salty items. The original poster confirmed that the dish contained no cabbage and consisted of a normal buttermilk pancake, though they noted the food tasted pleasant despite lacking any resemblance to authentic Japanese cuisine.
Online Reactions and Comparisons to Similar Culinary Experiences
Social media users responded to the dish with widespread disbelief, joking that the preparation amounted to a culinary offense or cultural sacrilege. One commenter compared the misinterpretation to ordering nachos and receiving round, non-triangular supermarket chips dusted with chili powder. Another contributor recalled ordering a cheesecake at a small cafe outside Ise Grand Shrine around 1980, only to receive a pancake topped with a single slice of processed cheese. Others noted that labeling such dishes with foreign names helps drive sales, even when the preparation departs entirely from traditional recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Northern England Restaurant Incident
What ingredients were actually used in the dish?
The meal utilized a standard buttermilk pancake base topped with Sichuan-style barbecue duck, cucumbers, and crispy duck skin instead of the shredded cabbage and batter mixture standard to Japanese okonomiyaki.
How much did the menu item cost?
The dish was listed on the menu for 14 pounds, though commentators estimated that total charges with drinks or additions likely reached 20 pounds.
Did the diner enjoy the meal despite the inaccuracy?
The original poster confirmed that while the dish bore no resemblance to authentic okonomiyaki, the food itself tasted good.
The incident mirrors historical culinary missteps abroad, such as ordering Mexican food in Japan two decades prior or encountering unusual local adaptations of international dishes across different regions.
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