okonomi

Okonomi is a Japanese noun meaning taste, preference, or liking, and it is often used to express what a person prefers. The term combines the honorific prefix o- with the word konomi, meaning liking or preference, and is typically written in kanji as お好み. In everyday speech it appears in phrases indicating “as you like” or “at your option,” and it is common in menus and product descriptions to signal customizable choices.

In culinary use, okonomi is most famously associated with okonomiyaki, a savory pancake whose name is commonly interpreted as “grilled as you like it.” The concept behind the dish is customization: diners or cooks select ingredients such as cabbage, meat, seafood, and vegetables, then grill and sauce the mixture according to personal preference. There are regional variations, notably Osaka (Kansai) style and Hiroshima style, which differ in layering and cooking technique but share the core idea of cooking to one’s own taste.

Beyond cuisine, okonomi appears in general language and marketing to denote personalization or customer choice. It is a familiar cultural idea in Japan, reflecting a preference for individual customization in both food and consumer experiences. While most often encountered in everyday conversation and menus, the term also appears in literature and media to convey a sense of personal preference.