Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with two distinct variants from Hiroshima or the Kansai region of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country, with toppings and batters varying by area.

[1][2] Records of the word funoyaki appear as far back as the 16th century, as written about by tea master Sen no Rikyū,[3] and though the dish's ingredients are unclear, it may have included fu (wheat gluten).

[1] By the late Edo period (1603–1867),[4] funoyaki referred to a thin crêpe baked on a cooking pot, with miso basted on one side.

[5] In the Meiji era (1868–1912), monjiyaki (文字焼き), a related confection, was popular with children at dagashiya (駄菓子屋), shops selling cheap sweets.

[6] This was made by drawing letters (monji) or pictures with flour batter on a teppan (iron griddle) and adding ingredients of choice.

[2][7][8] After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake when people lacked amenities, it became a pastime to cook these crêpes,[1] and after World War II (when there was a short supply of rice)[6] okonomiyaki emerged as an inexpensive and filling dish for all ages, often with savory toppings, such as meat, seafood, and vegetables.

[5] Monjiyaki also developed into the related modern dish monjayaki (モンジャ焼き), which has a more runny batter due to more added water, resulting in a different cooked consistency.

The batter is made of flour, grated nagaimo (a long type of yam), dashi or water, eggs, shredded cabbage, and usually contains other ingredients such as green onion, meat (usually thinly sliced pork belly or American bacon), octopus, squid, shrimp, vegetables, konjac, mochi, or cheese.

Negiyaki (ねぎ焼き) is a thinner variation of okonomiyaki made with a great deal of scallions, comparable to Korean pajeon and Chinese green onion pancakes.

"one-coin Western food"), a thin pancake topped with green onions and bonito flakes or shrimp, became popular in Hiroshima prior to World War II.

[26] There is a restaurant in Hiroshima where customers can order jalapeños, tortilla chips, chorizo, and other Latin American items either in—or as a side dish to—okonomiyaki.

[9] Okonomi-mura, in Naka-ku in Hiroshima, was the top food theme park destination for families in Japan according to an April 2004 poll.

[31] The ingredients consist of eggs, flour, salt, black pepper and green onions, fried with a little oil in a pan.