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"Ban" - The hot Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, cooked to order, is delicious!

[Interview, text and photography]
Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC Student Staff)
Saya Tanabe 4th year School of Culture, Media and Society

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the signature dish at Ban. If you walk from the west gate of Waseda Campus towards Nishi-Waseda intersection for about 5 minutes, you will see the orange flag that marks the spot. During lunch time, not only students but also people working nearby visit the restaurant one after another, and it is a popular restaurant that fills up in no time.

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is made by layering thin wheat flour dough, cabbage, pork, yakisoba noodles, and eggs. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is also loved in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the owner's hometown, and he opened the restaurant 25 years ago with the desire to serve it in Waseda, which is bustling with students.

The interior of the store was originally a coffee shop, but was purchased by the current owner, giving it a warm atmosphere. The handwritten menu on the wall also gives it a nostalgic feel.

Left: The "Ban" in the store's name comes from the owner Mr. Sakagami's surname and Grandzaka, which is located right next to the store.
Right: Inside the restaurant. The menu was written by a student who used to work there. There are about 12 seats.

Ban's defining feature is the innovative toppings. There are 25 exciting combinations, including "Shiso Cheese" and "Kimchi Mochi," that will make you want to try them all. The current lineup is based on customer requests and popular orders, and the most popular ones are the ones that remain. In addition to the combinations on the menu, you can also make your own original okonomiyaki by adding additional toppings such as raw squid (250 yen) and oysters (seasonal, 400 yen). This time, I chose the classic "Nikutama Negikake Soba" (930 yen) and "Nikutama Soba with Avocado and Tomato" (1,080 yen) which is popular among women.

At "Ban", the owner, Mr. Sakagami, cooks each okonomiyaki individually after an order is placed. His craftsmanship in cooking the Chinese noodles, cabbage, and eggs at the perfect timing is simply brilliant! You can see his dexterity from the counter and be fascinated. When ordering, you can request things like the cut of the okonomiyaki or whether or not you want pickled ginger, and he will accommodate your request, which is also impressive with his attention to detail.

Crispy Chinese noodles placed on top of the cabbage. After this, cover with a lid and steam.

The standard menu item, "Nikutama Negi Kake Soba" is an eye-catching dish with so much green onion that it completely covers the okonomiyaki. Its voluminous appearance will whet your appetite. When you eat it fresh, you'll be surprised at how delicious the crispy noodles are cooked on the hot plate! They use special Chinese noodles, which go perfectly with the soft and tender cabbage. The sweetness of the juicy pork will have you coming back for more. Another great thing about it is that it's served on an iron plate (※), so you can enjoy the okonomiyaki piping hot until the very end.

(*) If you would like your meal served on an iron plate, please let them know when ordering.

 "Nikutama Negi Kake Soba"

Next we had the "Nikutama Soba with Avocado and Tomato." This unusual combination for an okonomiyaki topping raised our expectations. With one bite, the sourness of the tomato added a nice accent to the very fresh taste! The creaminess of the avocado also surprisingly matched well with the okonomiyaki. Even though the okonomiyaki was big, about the size of four fists, the refreshing flavors of the tomato and avocado had us finishing it in no time.

 "Nikutama Soba with Avocado and Tomato"

Stir-fried beef tendon 470 yen

In addition to okonomiyaki, there is a wide selection of side dishes that are perfect as side dishes or finger food. In particular, the owner's recommended "Stir-fried beef tendon" is superb! The savory flavor of the meat grilled on a hot plate and the sweetness of the fat make it the perfect  finger food. In addition to this, there are 12 other interesting items on the menu, such as "Salted shallots" and "Chilled Tomatoes."

"Ban", a long-time favorite of locals and students, is open for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant serves Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with a variety of delicious combinations that will have you coming back for more. Be sure to stop by Ban!

Store Information
【Store name】Ban
【address】3–2–3 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
【TEL】03-3202-0952
【Opening times】 Lunch: Monday to Friday 11:30 to 14:30 (last order 13:30), Dinner: Monday to Saturday 17:00 to 22:00 (last order 21:00)
【Closed Day】 Sundays and holidays

*All prices in the article include tax.