"As you like it, on the griddle."
That's an exceedingly loose translation of "okonomiyaki," the savory pancakes whose sizzle attracted the longest line at the first NYC Japan Street Fair. Otafuku, the snug East Village shop that prepared them, turns out this same loose-knit style every day with a choice of add-ins — pork, beef, shrimp, or squid — and dressings (shown in the first photo below) of mayonnaise, thick and sweet okonomi sauce, salty bonito flakes, and grated seaweed. To keep things moving at the fair, the dressings were on hand but the add-ins were not, and Otafuku waggishly marketed its vegetable-only version ($3) as "economy yaki."
Also shown below: skewers of (rather fatty) grilled pork from Hakata TonTon ($4); and cold, u-season-'em udon noodles from Uminoie ($3).
NYC Japan Street Fair
Madison Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts.
www.NYCJapanFair.blogspot.com
