First real meal in Japan: Okonomiyaki in Osaka!

Itadakemasu! Mom, at left, at the ready.

Almost everyone here ordered the "mix" okonomiyaki, with chicken, shrimp, squid, bacon and konnyaku, along with the requisite cabbage and scallions inside and sauces on top.

Bored, I ordered the beef knuckle, which had no bacon (sad, but I stole my mom's when she wasn't looking. Well, she was, but she didn't stop me - hey, she's my mom!). Mine also had konnyaku and pork cheek. The waiter hesitated, but once he realized I really wanted to order it - and was enjoying it! - he brought me his favorite condiment with a smile: Tabasco! A girl comes all the way to Osaka, and the waiter at the local dive recommends the house specialty with Tabasco! Go figure.