01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Slowly layered on a piping-hot griddle, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is prized for the natural sweetness of steamed cabbage and the savory crispness of noodles. Just a short walk from Nijo Station, Matsuken delivers that genuine regional taste, prepared by an owner-chef from Hiroshima who works his metal spatulas right before your eyes. Watching the brisk, seasoned rhythm across the open kitchen builds anticipation from the moment you take your seat.
Toasting with Hiroshima Appetizers and Setouchi Drinks
While your main dish cooks, exploring the Hiroshima-rooted side dishes is the ideal way to ease into the meal. The lineup includes authentic local favorites such as house-made senjigara (deep-fried pork offal), gansu (crispy fried fish cake patty from Kure), and koune salt-grilled beef brisket with its rich, sweet fat. Griddle-cooked standouts with punchy seasonings also share the spotlight, like the house gyoza wrapped around chicken miso, shiso, and salted cabbage served with vinegar and pepper, or beef small intestines sizzled with cabbage. They pair smoothly with Kirin Ichiban Shibori draft beer, a refreshing Setouchi craft lemon gin and soda, or storied Hiroshima sakes like Kamotsuru and Sempuku.
Signature Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba with Choice of Noodles
In an amusing touch that brings a smile to many faces, several okonomiyaki and yakisoba varieties take their names from songs by the Hiroshima-born rock band Unicorn and frontman Tamio Okuda. Okonomiyaki allows a choice between soba or udon noodles, ranging from lavish combinations like Subarashii Hibi—pork and egg crowned with squid tempura and green onions—to classics like The STANDARD with squid tempura. Fried noodle dishes featuring specially sourced noodles are equally satisfying, whether it is a seafood salt yakisoba or Matsuken-yaki, a hearty stir-fried udon loaded with beef small intestines and salted cabbage.
A television in the dining area fosters an easygoing backdrop, making it a comfortable spot to drop in solo for a casual meal. From weekday lunch sets and the daily Sasurai lunch to relaxed evening drinks around the griddle, the shop offers an accommodating rhythm for any time of day.
