CC - you are *so* right. Okonomiyaki & takoyaki are two things that are almost impossible to find done well outside of Japan. I lived in Japan for 2 years, and both of these were favorite snack foods.

Done right, okonomiyaki isn't really oily at all. It's really more omelette like, filled with all sorts of yumminess, depending upon where you get it, and topped with a savory brown okonomiyaki sauce, japanese mayo (different than US mayo), etc. Sooooo good.

I've only had good takoyaki in the US once. That was at a cart outside of Uwajimaya (an Asian grocery here in Portland) during a Japanese food festival.

I have a cast iron aebelskiver pan, and sometmes think it would be fun to experiment with using it to make takoyaki. OTOH, it would be more fun to just go back to Japan for a visit and eat my way across the country.