Poppo-ya is a quaint little okonomiyaki shop in Onomichi that I originally wasn’t planning to visit. The reviews were not outstanding but they weren’t bad either. There were a couple of other shops I wanted to visit but due to my laziness and the situation, I ended up eating at Poppo-ya. I wasn’t disappointed as the atmosphere still proved to be a lot of fun.
Poppo-Ya
Poppo-ya is located near a shrine by the wharf. It is about 7 minutes from the station but not hard to find. It stands out very well so I was drawn to it. The interior is not as large as the shop appears to be. There are only a few tables and a counter for people to eat. When I arrived, there was only a single regular waiting for his food. By the time I left, it was full of customers. It seems as if the owner gets a good combination of tourists and regulars in his shop.
Onomichi Okonomiyaki
There really is only 2 choices for okonomiyaki, as a tourist, when you go to Poppo-ya. There is the “Natsukashi Onomichi” and the “Poppo-ya Special”. I decided to go for the Natsukashi Onomichi which included a choice of soba or udon noodles along with lotus root and konjac. It was a nice mix and although it is very similar to Hiroshima Okonomiyaki, it was still a little unique. I decided to get soba noodles and eat it on a plate, even though I could have eaten it on the teppan directly. I actually just copied another guy, a tourist, who asked for the same thing. 🙂
Wharf near Poppo-Ya
As I was enjoying my time in Poppo-ya, I just relaxed and had a good time watching as people came in. When I arrived, one of the regulars went outside to have a quick smoke, but I thought he was working there. The owner is a nice guy who seems to have been working there for a long time. When I left, there was a small group of office workers, a couple on vacation, another single tourist, and another regular. It was quite a mix and a full house. I was pretty full after the meal and felt that I got my okonomiyaki fix.
Wharf near Poppo-Ya
If you are in Onomichi, going to Poppo-ya is not a bad choice. I do wish I had tried some of the other okonomiyaki shops but I really couldn’t eat okonomiyaki 2 days in a row. It is too heavy, so I went to an izakaya on my second day in Onomichi. Be sure to try it out as they also open a bit early.