Canned luncheon meat might be an American innovation but it has also seen widespread acceptance in different countries. From the Philippines’ Spamsilog, the Hawaiian Spam Musubi, and tKorea’s Spam Kimchi Jigae, the luncheon meat brand is considered a perennial favorite and a mainstay in many pantries.
Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant chain Dohtonbori has embraced the love for this canned meat as it released 4 new dishes which sees Spam as a main ingredient. Start the meal on a sweet-savory-salty note with the Spam Sushi Roll – an Uramaki-style crispy and cheesy Spam katsu sushi, topped with Spam in the restaurant’s signature Dohtonbori oko-mayo blend.
For those who prefer something that can be enjoyed sans dining utensils, the Spam Katsu Musubi is a crunchy twist to iconic Japanese snack Musubi. Here, a slice of spam is breaded in panko bread crumbs and deep fried to a golden-brown crunch before laying on a bed of soft Japanese rice which is generously drizzled with creamy oko-mayo sauce, all wrapped in Nori sheet. The result is an item that is best enjoyed while being held in the hand, similar to an open-faced sandwich.
The restaurant’s kimchi fried rice is also given a twist with the addition of Spam cubes. The Spam Kimchi Fried Rice is a hearty teppan-fried rice with kimchi and mixed veggies topped with grilled spam cubed and diced scrambled eggs. The acidic tang of the kimchi which permeates the dish serves as a counterbalance to the rich smokiness of the grilled luncheon meat, making for a delicious bite in every spoonful.
An okonomiyaki restaurant would be remiss to not have their own spin using Spam as the highlight. The Spam okonomiyaki features cubes of Spam along with 4 cheeses, lettuce chunks, tempura flakes, and egg all mixed together to create a savory pancake that is glazed with the sweet and savory oko-mayo sauce before being topped with spam slices and a fried egg. The result is an umami-packed hearty bite that is best enjoyed steaming hot out of the flat top grill.
Whether it is an appetizer or a main dish meant for sharing, Spam lovers who enjoy Japanese cuisine will be in for a treat with Dohtonbori’s limited run Spam dishes which are available at all of their branches in the metro.
