[Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture] Yamagata's soul food, "Dondonyaki"? This is the snack of choice!

In Yamagata City, there is a snack that is extremely popular with both children and adults. It's called "Dondonyaki ." It's very filling and cheap! It's a representative flour snack that appeals to everyone.

There are almost always stalls at festivals, and you can often see children lining up with their pocket money in hand, buying things

We will introduce you to "Dondonyaki," the soul food of the people of Yamagata Prefecture

Your stomach may growl by the time you finish reading this, but please read on to the end

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What exactly is Dondonyaki? And it's cheap!

You can probably get a general idea of ​​what makes Dondon Yaki special by looking at the picture, but the easiest way to describe it is as a thin okonomiyaki rolled up around a chopstick

Unlike regular okonomiyaki, which is made by dissolving flour in water or dashi stock and cooking the ingredients together, this okonomiyaki is made by loosely dissolving flour in dashi stock, spreading it thinly on a hot plate, and topping it with thinly sliced ​​sausage, pickled ginger, green laver, roasted laver, and bonito flakes powder, before flipping it over once cooked through

Once cooked, use chopsticks to roll it up into a roll and it's done!

Worcestershire sauce is the best seasoning. It depends on your taste, but it seems that various seasonings are being developed

You might be wondering how it can be delicious without any toppings like cabbage, but because there are no toppings that you can really taste the dough . The chewy texture of the dough and the sauce go perfectly together , making it incredibly delicious! Yamagata Dondon Yaki is also great value for money.

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What was the background behind the creation of Dondon Yaki?

Yamagata's dondonyaki seems to have been around since before the war, and it is said that dondonyaki was born when people would grill it thinly and roll it up onto chopsticks so that it was easy to carry and eat in between farm work or when they were out and about

It is said that the first dondon yakihiki was sold by a man named Oba Kamekichi, who had trained as a chef in Tokyo theory is that it was named dondon yaki because he would walk around beating a drum to attract customers

Another theory is that the practice of serving it rolled up was introduced from Sendai. In Yamagata, it was improved so that it could be eaten while walking using disposable chopsticks, and this practice continues to this day

In any case, Dondonyaki, which has become established in Yamagata, continues to be loved as the soul food of the prefecture's residents!

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Recent Dondon Yaki Variety Versions

In Yamagata City, "Oyatsuya-san," . It's great to know that there is a shop where you can buy dondonyaki whenever you want, even outside of festivals and other special events!

Of course, you can take it home, but there is also space to eat inside the store, and you will often see people lining up during the day on weekends

Furthermore, from 5pm onwards it becomes an izakaya, popular among adults as a place known as "senbero" (meaning you can get drunk for 1,000 yen). You can eat dondon-yaki at night and also enjoy local sake, so it's a place that kills two birds with one stone

Snack Shop ＜Information＞

• Name: Yamagata Dondon Yaki Snack Shop
• Address: Bellcity Kasumi Castle, 2-6-16 Jonancho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-0827
• Phone: 023-646-1344
• URL: https://dondonyaki.net/

Google Maps

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There are also other stores that are trying out various variations of dondonyaki. It would be great to try all the different types! The photo below shows Dondonyaki Cafe Kashiwaya, a mobile food truck that has branches all over Yamagata Prefecture

You can see the process in the image below. There are surprisingly few fillings, but the chewy dough is the star of the dish , so it's really delicious!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wandering Dondon Yaki Cafe Kashiwaya (@dondonyaki_kashiwaya)

You can check out Kashiwaya's store information on the Instagram above

It's cute even before it's rolled up!

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Is soul food eternal? Come and enjoy grilled food!

"Dondonyaki" is a dish that everyone knows, from grandparents to grandparents! It is a popular food in Yamagata

is so popular that it is an indispensable part of festivals, from cherry blossom viewing to snow festivals, and is additive-free, safe, tasty, and cheap! It is loved by people of all ages, from the elderly to young children, and has been eaten since the early Showa period to the present day.

Recently, the finishing seasoning has also been improved, and the variety has expanded to include snacks and drinking accompaniments, attracting more and more attention

What did you think? I'm sure it made you want to try Dondon Yaki. It's delicious no matter what season it is, so please come and try it!

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