Omu-raisu
Omurice (Rice with omelet)
オムライス
[Omu-raisu]
The rice is chikin-raisu (Japanese-style chicken pilaf) or "butter rice." A dab of ketchup decorates the top. Normally eaten with a spoon.
The name is combination of the French omelette and the English rice. Omuraisu was first served in 1902, at a Western-style restaurant called Rengatei in Tokyo's Ginza district. Another contender is an Osaka restaurant, "Panya no Shokudo" (now Hokkyokusei), of which the owner started serving omuraisu in 1925. It is said that chakinzushi (sushi wrapped in a pouch made from thin omelet) formed the inspiration.
A dish popular with children.
There are specialist restaurants serving only Omuraisu dishes. In that case, different ingredients and sauces are used to distinguish the various plates: chicken, pork, mushrooms, crab, beef, shrimp, curry, white sauce, cheese, demi-glace etc. etc.
Instead of rice, occasionally also yakisoba can be used, resulting in Omusoba.
Japanese Food Dictionary