Recreating J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's Okonomiyaki From Taste | Reverse Engineering | Bon Appétit

We challenged resident Bon Appétit supertaster Chris Morocco to recreate J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's okonomiyaki in the BA Test Kitchen. The catch? He'll have to identify what he's making with a blindfold over his eyes, letting each of his other senses guide the way.
Check out J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's Okonomiyaki Pancake Recipe www.seriouseat....
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Director: Cory Cavin
Director of Photography: Kevin Dynia
Editor: Jared Hutchinson
Host: Chris Morocco
Director of Culinary Production: Kelly Janke
Producer: Tyre Nobles
Culinary Producer: Kat Boytsova
Line Producer: Jen McGinity
Associate Producer: Oadhan Lynch
Production Manager: Janine Dispensa
Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Hymes
Camera Operator: Jeremy Harris
Sound Mixer: Brett van Deusen
Production Assistant: Alex Mitchell
Culinary Assistant: Ross Pineda
Staff Editorial Consultant: Ryan Harrington
Culinary Researcher: Vivian Jao
Post Production Supervisor: Andrea Farr
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araujo
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
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ABOUT BON APPÉTIT
Bon Appétit is a highly opinionated food brand that wants everyone to love cooking and eating as much as we do. We believe in seasonal produce, properly salted pasta water, and developing recipes that anyone can make at home.

[@bonappetit]

Want even more Chris Morocco? Listen to the Dinner SOS podcast where Chris & the BA staff answer your kitchen conundrums listen.bonappetit.com/dinnersosyoutube

[@malindarayallen]

You can tell Chris woke up wanting ribs, and nothing was going to stop him. I can relate.

[@captainkaleb]

I understand him. I could literally eat ribs for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of my life and be very happy with it.

[@malindarayallen]

@@captainkaleb Has he done a rib recipe in this series yet? I could get down with that. (I once had a full dessert and then ordered ribs as actual dessert. 🤣)

[@Vivian1million]

I miss seeing him fly through the grocery store on a cart as he avoids the cheese section.

[@TC-kw4xu]

yeah what happened? why is he not doing it now?

[@elDoober]

@@TC-kw4xu probably production cost and staffing....

[@jml4774]

Yeah!

[@stpdtwnk]

They lost so much on production value with that one

[@brandonthomas2333]

I feel like a 80 on ingredients for leaving out cabbage of okonomiyaki is really generous. It's on the same level of leaving onion out of French onion soup.

[@Hughjasslol1]

True, but Okonomiyaki means “how you like, grilled” in Japanese, so technically you can put whatever in it

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

My feeling exactly. Cabbage is always the largest quantity ingredient. Leaving it out completely is a total fail.

[@memory-card]

@@Hughjasslol1 Yeah, but the "what you like, grilled" thing is usually related to the pork belly, not the batter with cabbage and stuff^^ So like adding seafood, cheese, mushrooms or putting tons of scallions (negi) on top. It's often refereed to as "Japanese Pizza" and Okonomiyaki without cabbage is a little bit like Pizza without tomato sauce^^

[@immortalnightbody]

@@Hughjasslol1 Technically, it's "whatever you like grilled...on a pancake". No cabbage / low batter is like passengers without a vehicle. It's not like, a subjective thing, it's just wrong.

[@gatasucia5973]

Exactly. Cabbage is the soul of okonomiyaki. The name "as you like" is irrelevant. Cabbage is a must.

[@PopularNobody]

Finally. Chris carrying this channel on his back.

[@cpljuanmaravilla3768]

Even the guy filming is leaving :(

[@toddoron]

BA has been borderline unpalatable since the blowup

[@davidmendi3057]

​@@toddoron Exactly

[@RyTrapp0]

@@toddoron Eh, I wouldn't go that far - their content has just become a lot more basic, since the 'Great BA Civil War'. A lot of wine pairing, cameras in restaurants... I only have so much interest in that stuff.

[@toddoron]

@RyTrapp0 well I would go that far. There used to be chemistry between the chefs, chemistry between the chefs and production team and camera operators, intriguing series that gave viewers a reason to come back and wait for the next episode, and just entertaining personalities in general. BA feels like a dead corpse being rolled around a party in a wheelchair by puppeteers. Yeah, there are still videos I like to watch, but 95% of the content is dead, boring, uninnovative, microwaved dogshit. But the other 5% of content on this channel is the reason I said "borderline" unpalatable.

[@juliajolin7049]

I feel like Kenji would be chuffed that Chris tried to reverse engineer the okonomiyaki sauce.

[@x3TUNA]

I'm always amazed by how great Chris' taste buds are and how he methodically breaks the dish down. The way he describes flavours and texture is lyrical. Can never get enough of Chris sharing his knowledge and expertise!

[@tavianfloyd6589]

I feel like that mask really captures his energy lol

[@alanguenley635]

It looks like he’s not even wearing one lol

[@tobinbh3940]

Literally personifies that mask!😂

[@restorationfbcinc]

😂 agreed

[@toddoron]

The mask is a visual representation of how I feel about BA and their content since the blowup

[@jokermebad31]

The mask is the Pink Panther thank you. 🥴🙄

[@beachblond1968]

Whoever chooses these masks should receive some kind of award. I can’t look at this one without laughing. But also: I love Chris Morocco and this series. Thank you.

[@CloakedC]

The most interesting thing about this is that its clear that Chris has never made Okonomiyaki or looked at a recipe of it before. He did great though!

[@joshp8535]

Yeah, as soon as he removed the cabbage I knew he hadn't had experience with it. I was very impressed at him making his own sauce, not knowing that the sauce exists.

[@deprofundis3293]

I mean, I'm sure he's looked at a recipe of it before. He knew the name of it, too, so I think he's probably eaten it as well. Doesn't mean that he would know the sauce on it. I've eaten it before as well and had no idea there was a specific sauce for it. I kinda just assumed it was homemade, too.

[@CloakedC]

@@joshp8535 💯

[@syntacticalcrab]

This is where I feel like letting him do his own shopping again might be beneficial. He might just stumble upon the key ingredients he didn't know about before.

[@Shazam999]

He knows of a lot of the dishes, but he's never personally made or eaten them. That's part of the fun.

[@AndrewAlex92]

I was really happy that the yam and the Beni Shoga were given to him - I feel like that would have been incredibly hard to place when he definitely nailed the starch/potato aspect and pickled ginger aspect.

[@loganmoriarty1155]

Cutting pork belly laterally like that is pure chaos, and I’m here for it.

[@_sch_eme_]

My jaw dropped so far down lmao

[@TeamD3ath2]

this is why chris shopping is so important. the thought of is there japanese barbeque sauce would have been looked for and found

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

Or, you know, if he’d ever previously actually shopped in a Japanese grocery store, or watched a Japanese cooking video, he would have known it existed, too.

[@takao.5184]

It’s Otafuku sauce!!

[@asquithmainlines699]

When he stared this I thought no way, too may ingredients, yet he came so close. What a legend.

[@MrVidau]

I would actually like to see Chris recreate a dish while being able to see it.

[@emilylang7927]

Chris and J Kenji is the collab I didn’t know I needed

[@doineedone]

I have so missed this series!! Can you upload more regularly?

[@isaakim911]

Chris: Can you just cook a really thin piece of pork belly??? Korea: 👀👀👀

[@ArielK1987]

This reminds me of the Chili Rellenos episode that Chris had recreate. So many individual ingredients that it would be much harder for him to make then the other ones he made

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

I can't believe that he got the yam ingredient just by tasting it. also that he got okonomiyaki almost just on the spot. that's amazing bc I make okonomiyaki all the time and I don't think I would be able to taste all those ingredients, even knowing what they are. lol. also I cannot believe he actually tasted the dashi in the batter. even knowing what dashi tastes like, I can barely taste it in the final product (especially with all the other pronounced toppings). completely agree with the last comment, 'this is like pizza to me', it should be sold on every street corner. yes!

[@Pistolsatsean]

I remember the intro to these being longer, just over 30 seconds is perfec!

[@AmandolinJay]

There are not nearly enough of these - LOVE TO SEE IT!

[@palalabu]

at first i assumed he must have eaten it before, but then i was so confused to see him not knowing how to cook it. because i feel like most of the time if you've eaten it, you've seen how it's cooked. but then he doesn't even know that there's cabbage in it. so i guess he knows the dish but have never eaten it, so it explains a lot.

[@summer0400]

The inconsistency between uploads is crazy!! I love this series but the last one was MARCH and the one before was January! As much as I love these videos once every 3-4 months is disappointing and it's literally the only reason I support the channel anymore😢

[@muaddib3515]

Chris is like a culinary Mr. Bean

[@AlssadaryaM]

Chris is a magician, he always does so well with these. He's really talented!

[@tobinbh3940]

The literal translation of Okonomiyaki is "fried with whatever you want" ..it can have potatoes and even carrot ..always cabbage..!!.. Also it can often have noodles,eggs,seafood,cheese...ofen called a "Japanese pizza" it's a street food so literally around every corner !!! Again Chris's abilities and knowledge are superior ..

[@michelleleuch]

My favorite series

[@rring44]

I love when Chris makes a dish that tastes better than the original

[@frnkndad]

So glad it was a 2 day process this time. it really gave him time to think about his next attempt.

[@swetasmani]

Chris in a Pink panther mask!! Oh how I love it!

[@nabokovfan87]

There should be a video of Kenji reacting to this! If you haven't seen Kenji's channel, it's a wonderful KZbin channel!

[@shoyu7858]

Wow, his knowledge of foreign dishes is mind blowing! I'm Japanese and I would be happy to eat that Okonomiyaki :)

[@sebastianbusch5013]

The idea or selling okonomiyaki by the slice like pizza is not bad at all…

[@megangeiger7629]

YAY finally the Kenji/BA crossover I’ve been hoping for!

[@S4KCx]

There’s an older episode of this where he makes a Kenji recipe also.

[@jakeprewitt3009]

Somebody tried to open a fast Okonomiyaki restaurant in my small midwestern hometown about 15 years ago. It was delicious, but people were rather reluctant to try it and it closed after a couple years.

[@triciaroyal8367]

What a bummer! It’s so delicious and savory.

[@_aiko020]

Aww :(

[@kimbarbeaureads]

I'm thinking it needs better p.r.. I had never heard if it until today

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

oh, that is truly a shame. I love okonomiyaki and try to make it every week or two weeks bc it is a comforting food

[@memory-card]

As somebody who was 10+ times in Japan and loves Okonomiyaki: It's tough. If you eaten Okonomiyaki just a couple of times, you'll recognize the very specific smell instantly. And since it's often prepared in front of your eyes at at Teppanyaki grill, you know how to do it as well. The Osaka style used here is definitely much easier to make than Hiroshima style (which I prefer), but still: As Chris mentioned correctly, it's almost impossible to recreate if you don't know that certain ingredients exists in the first place. So I'm impressed about Chris' skills, as always!

[@ironboy3245]

this is easily the best content that BA makes

[@R_CA]

10:30 Bulldog sauce is a brand AFAIK

[@melaniemonroe5881]

The fact that he guessed what it is? Impressive!😮

[@maryannejcarey5876]

what kind of need do y'all need to give chris to keep him on this channel regularly

[@Narra0002]

Great as always Chris. And gl Cory

[@gennakale]

Chris's version actually looks so delicious and I think I would want to try it over the original. 🙊

[@rainysunflower384]

Now this was a really cool challenge! Definitely made him have to think about every little detail. I love seeing these kind of recipes

[@joshcollins1989]

A series where Chris reacts to these videos so we can see him react to his misdirections and confusion would be so funny! 😂

[@callmechia]

This is a great idea

[@callmechia]

I just love Chris’s quick wit and sharp comments. As the bard said. Omg lol. He cracks me up!

[@Shane-fq5bh]

Kenji is the best his pot roast is the best

[@h.a493]

okonomiyaki without cabbage! nice to see you guys introducing chris to okonomiyaki for the first time ever in his entire life!

[@SeventhEve]

he clearly was familiar with the dish, he knew what it was called.

[@peterflom6878]

When will Chris start shopping again?

[@headweasel93]

Once again, way too nice with the final judged scores.

[@shyeahright]

Aw Chris, I hope you go solo soon. BA doesn’t deserve you. 💕

[@WaDarkPhoenix]

Ingredients 80%, but added about 6 things that weren't in the original recipe. Come on guys. Still would have been impressed with accurate scoring.

[@deprofundis3293]

Most of it was just in the wrong place rather than being wrong. Eg in the pancake instead of on it. Pay attention.

[@WaDarkPhoenix]

@@deprofundis3293 You can literally look at the ingredients list at the end to see how wrong you are, haha. Pay attention. Added: Baking Powder, Kosher Salt, Fresh Ginger, Missing: Cabbage, Katsuobushi, Aonori, Scallions. Not a single thing was IN the pancake that should have been on it.

[@ldenorio]

Okonomiyaki sauce is pretty much what chris made, he should get a higher grade

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

A higher grade? He didn’t put cabbage in it! Automatic fail.

[@Katzendaugs]

It's pretty unfair that Kat is such a huge weeb and picks Asian dishes with such obscure ingredients in them. Morocco gets robbed on the regular.

[@dolleeshay9831]

@@Katzendaugs that is a weird mildly insensitive comment

[@sherryillk]

​@@Katzendaugs Obscure? That's so ignorant.

[@deprofundis3293]

​@@Katzendaugs dude...what? These aren't obscure ingredients to a chef. Chris is a chef. And it's not an obscure dish unless you pretty much only eat white American food.

[@pandoraeeris7860]

I had a super secret conversation about Chris Morocco once.

[@Hughjasslol1]

I missed this series!!!

[@jeremymaccarthy1180]

That one had to be the hardest so far for Chris.

[@zaccaryjohn]

Chris never ceases to amaze me.

[@ryken_]

chris definitely got a lot of help off camera on this one

[@Bennie58able]

10:25 after seeing the first half when he just guesses and then this moment when he -really- tries to take it in, that face mask to me summed up his expression the most and actually felt connected to him and made me chuckle. I know you make him put on so many masks, this was the first one my brain said: yes, that legit chris. Thanks for making me laugh :D

[@Nokenify]

Too long inbetween these episodes. They are the best!

[@kiro9291]

that is astounding tbh. there's so many elements in there

[@SunnyniteDesigns]

Omggg, I missed Chris doing these🤣🤣🤣😭😭😍

[@chrisneyman]

Very fun episode and pairing.

[@Doctorboster]

FINALLY!! WHERE HAVE THESE BEEN

[@jaidurbs]

I want to see chris make a Chris dish!

[@glossaria2]

Okay, the cabbage was a miss, but he basically had three of the four ingredients that go into making okonomi sauce (if he had oyster sauce instead of mustard, he would've had it), and THAT was freaking impressive.

[@THEGREGDREW]

In case anyone doesn't know, Brad Leone has his own youtube channel under his own name.

[@deprofundis3293]

Is Brad not with BA anymore??

[@THEGREGDREW]

@@deprofundis3293 As far as I know, that is the case.

[@immortalnightbody]

17:29 - Cabbage is crucial. Chris should have got a 50%.

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

At best. I feel like 50% is too high for not having cabbage

[@immortalnightbody]

@@Gigi-fv9ky LOL Yeah, I was being nice. It should be 10% because the batter was severely lacking. Half the batter and no cabbage? Is that even Okonomiyaki, at that point?

[@lesiamahlay]

how could he have NOT known that there was cabbage lol

[@KfolksMs]

Yes!!!!!! Was waiting😆🥳😍

[@kathleenroberts6357]

Should do a thing that you give him the dish, like the beginning of episodes, and then give him all the ingredients and leave it at that and see where it goes

[@gangstreG123]

I haven't watched one of these in a while. I'm glad Chris survived the purge, but the test kitchen is so sanitized these days.

[@higgy82]

Brad has his own channel now. Just kicked it off the other day. It's great.

[@rockpooladmirer]

"the purge"? you mean people leaving in solidarity with their coworkers of colour, which Chris did not?

[@timasendorf2920]

Love Chris, love Kenji, love Okonomiyaki, perfect vídeo for me!

[@morganic989]

So impressed when he got the dashi!

[@PizzaBoyAnimations]

Chris has the most extensive vocabulary. I learn new words every episode.😅

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Absolutely love this series! Chris is an icon and inlove him so much!😊😊😊😊 Leave a hearth! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@madcitywendy]

Loved this one! These segments are the most fun!

[@scurry420]

Chris should measure the OG dish with his finger for height during the blind tasting lol

[@lumemagnolia5217]

Fascinating challenge to improve dishes and in a process boost team morale, wup-wup

[@will16320]

This format has stood the test of time...

[@BrysonKeenan]

“And that’s worth 20 points to you?” ?!?! Cabbage IS the dish. It’s worth more like 70 points! 😂.

[@mturallo]

This is a proper use of Chris's abilities.

[@citylemon7832]

The eye mask 😂😂

[@redzebra6688]

exactly 😂

[@Vintagelego]

Is it just me or are they constantly giving him way more points than he deserves

[@rubycuddz]

These are my favorite videos

[@syntacticalcrab]

I can't wait for okonomiyaki by the slice carts to be on every street corner in New York in 12-18 months :P

[@RebaGleba]

Yummm!! Was she too nice tho on grading tho.

[@Magziesfuntime]

I love how they say he will never be able to see the dish and always gets to see it at the end. ROFL

[@WerdnaNiraehs]

I feel like it’s time to admit that there are no super-taster abilities to be tested.

[@CoastalHippie907]

I'm only still subbed to this channel for Chris and Brad at this point.

[@drb2323]

Excellent high five

[@gabriellaruth83]

Great series, really fun to watch ❤️

[@ArdFarkable]

When Chris did that second flip I busted

[@Thedarkside02]

The pink panther mask is great lol

[@georgb.550]

Love those videos. Funny that the person on 0:38 got Chris's casio watch on?

[@sonicfactory-co-uk]

❤Morocco!

[@vivalatamtam]

Watching him finger the food in a blind fold always makes me 😬 LOL

[@arlenesolis024]

He is so great

[@PeaceMastah]

That’s so impressive

[@DeepCaseExorcisms]

Definitely miss him looking at the red leceister