Izakaya Mita celebrates one year in Bucktown

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of Chicago's newest Japanese restaurants is celebrating its one year anniversary on Dec. 12.

Izakaya Mita serves traditional Japanese cuisine with a bit of a twist in the Bucktown neighborhood. An Izakaya is a Japanese-style public house serving shared plates and delicious drinks. Mother and son team Helen and Brian Mita own and manage the restaurant.

Brian and his Executive Chef Toshi Motegi visited ABC 7 Eyewitness News to show how to make a traditional Japanese-style pancake: Okonomiyaki.

RECIPE:

Name of dish: Okonomiyaki

Ingredients:

Makes 3 6-inch pancakes

Batter

1 cup flour

4/5 cup of water

1 teaspoon of Hondashi (you can purchase this at an Asian food market)

1 egg

2 oz. Nagaimo, grated (liquid)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 9-inch non-stick pan

9 oz. shredded cabbage

1/3 cup of chopped white or yellow onion

1/3 cup of green onions

9 medium sized shrimp (cut in half)

3 tablespoons of crab

Garnish

Okonomiyaki Sauce

Japanese mayo

AO Nori (Bento Flakes) to taste

Preparation:

-Mix the batter ingredients together

-To make one pancake, take 1/3 of the vegetable ingredients and mix together with the batter in a bowl. Mix well.

-Place the ingredients in a hot, oiled 9-inch pan on medium heat.

-Cook for 4 minutes or until the bottom of the pancake is crispy. While cooking, add in the shrimp and crab.

-Flip the pancake over and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

-Place on a cutting board and slice into six pieces. Drizzle with the Okonomiyaki sauces and Japanese Mayo. Sprinkle the AO nori (bento flakes) on top.