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Hiroshima Prefecture has a few famous delicacies, but none is so iconic and universally beloved as Hiroshima okonomiyaki―found at restaurants and festivals around Japan, but most delicious when eaten right in Hiroshima Prefecture itself. The dish is a carefully layered pile of thinly fried batter, egg, shredded cabbage, wheat noodles, sliced pork or other toppings, and a good layer of okonomiyaki sauce, which all comes together to become a beautiful round “pancake”  that is much more than the sum of its parts. One of the most delicious places to try okonomiyaki in Miyoshi is also one of the most convenient, because Tamu Shoten is literally right next to Miyoshi Station, on the second floor of the Miyoshi Tourism Association building, meaning it’s especially convenient for travelers who want a tasty meal when arriving in Miyoshi or before heading to the next destination.

On top of a constant gaggle of locals who frequent the shop for tasty bites and cheap drinks, Tamu Shoten also attracts diners from out of town, who come in search of the menu’s interesting variety, and the restaurant’s perfectly fried noodles. One of the key delights of really great Hiroshima okonomiyaki is the texture of the noodles fried on the griddle, crispy on the outside but still soft and chewy on the inside. Ask a chef at Tamu Shoten, and they’ll tell you they pay special attention to the noodles for each okonomiyaki they cook up, taking the time necessary to achieve that perfect bite.

Ordering at the restaurant is particularly convenient thanks to both their huge picture-filled menus on the wall, and the electronic ordering system with a screen on each table. Even without any knowledge of Japanese, the pictures on the tablet make it easy to find something that looks tasty and even customize each dish, and the system functions can be switched to English to further simplify the process.

And how, exactly, should the okonomiyaki be customized? Tamu Shoten offers toppings of all kinds, from classic thin-cut slices of pork to Hiroshima oysters, or even cheese and extra green onions, but things get really interesting when the classic noodles are switched out for something else. Standard noodles are yakisoba noodles, reminiscent of fresh ramen noodles, but some adventurous diners order slightly crazy combinations like okonomiyaki with udon noodles (not particularly recommended). The Miyoshi classic, a delicious option that comes highly recommended, is okonomiyaki made with “karamen” noodles.

Karamen (唐麺) were invented and are still produced here in Miyoshi, and they’re made with a hint of hot chili pepper added right to the noodles themselves. Local okonomiyaki shops like Tamu Shoten use the red-tinted noodles to add a little kick to the okonomiyaki for even more flavor, and ever since karamen came on the market, they’ve quickly become a favorite of Miyoshi locals and visitors alike. At Tamu Shoten, any okonomiyaki can be made with karamen for an additional 50 yen! (Standard okonomiyaki ranges from about 850 to 1300 yen.)