Along the street in Sumiyoshi, near Seirei Hamamatsu Hospital, there's a shop with a noren (traditional Japanese curtain) displaying the three hiragana characters "Kokoro". It opened in April 2007 and is celebrating its 8th anniversary this year, 2015. Since coming to Hamamatsu, "Kokoro-san" has become our go-to place for okonomiyaki, and it has now become famous nationwide. Currently, it boasts the number one ranking in both the western and Shizuoka regions for okonomiyaki on Tabelog (a Japanese restaurant review site), making it a truly delicious okonomiyaki restaurant!
When I get an overwhelming craving for Kokoro's okonomiyaki, I suddenly feel like eating it, and my "Kokoro Syndrome" kicks in (lol).
On this day, after visiting Kageyama Melon Farm, I heard that Kazuhiro Matsuki of Restaurant Bio-s likes flour-based dishes, so I decided to visit "Kokoro" for the first time in a while!
The restaurant has 6 counter seats and 14 table seats with teppanyaki grills. When it first opened, the style was that customers would cook their own food on the teppanyaki grill, but in order to save time and to let customers experience the taste that can only be achieved when a professional makes it, the owner, Tatsuya Oishi, changed the style so that he would cook the food in the kitchen at the back and then serve it on a heated teppanyaki grill in front of the customers.
Certainly, there was a certain enjoyment in making okonomiyaki yourself a while ago, but looking back now, I feel like I was missing out. It could never compare to the taste of okonomiyaki made by a professional.
While restaurants continue to face extremely difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Kokoro" is a Hamamatsu certified safe and secure restaurant and has implemented thorough infection control measures, including clear sheets between each table to prevent the spread of droplets. They also offer takeout through services like Uber Eats, and are gaining popularity as a place where you can enjoy delicious okonomiyaki at home!
Okonomiyaki Kokoro's most popular item, "Seafood Mix," is 880 yen.
These dumplings are made with a homemade blend of flour and a meticulously crafted baking method. The surface is coated with tempura batter scraps for a crispy texture, while the inside is fluffy and moist, perfectly cooked. The sesame and chopped ginger flavors are also a perfect match. This baking method is the master's original creation, and apparently, those who try it for the first time are quite shocked. We still remember the shock we felt the first time we tried it!
Okonomiyaki Kokoro's second most popular item is the "Mochi Cheese Okonomiyaki" for 880 yen.
For my husband and me, the Mochi Cheese Okonomiyaki is a must-try at Kokoro. The Mochi Cheese Okonomiyaki features a fluffy batter with diced mochi embedded in it, topped with tempura scraps and cheese, resulting in a unique "crispy and crunchy" texture on the surface that you've never experienced with okonomiyaki before. The inside is soft and moist, unlike the crispy surface, and the combination of plenty of cabbage, the savory flavor of the pork, and the melted cheese and mochi is outstanding! Apparently, most female customers choose this dish the moment they see the name, proving that cheese is an enduringly popular menu item for women!
You can decorate your okonomiyaki to your liking on the griddle after it's brought to your table. We always put okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and dried seaweed in that order. When the sauce is poured onto the hot griddle, it makes a delicious sizzling sound that whets the appetite! The combination with mayonnaise is absolutely delicious!
Tatsuya's okonomiyaki has a crispy, crunchy texture on the surface thanks to the use of tempura scraps, while the inside is fluffy and moist, offering a new texture you've never experienced before. The way it's cooked is also exquisite, so I really want everyone to experience this texture at the restaurant. Since coming to Hamamatsu, I've recommended the okonomiyaki here to my foodie friends, and they've all given it rave reviews, with many becoming repeat customers and fans. It's a restaurant that's well worth recommending.
Tatsuya-san, thank you as always for the delicious okonomiyaki!
Okonomiyaki Kokoro
1-16-14 Sumiyoshi, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City TEL: 053-476-5086
Opening hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:00 Closed: Sundays
https://cocollo.jimdofree.com/
