Okan Diner

Super cozy, laidback restaurant, with lots of great Japanese comfort food. The menu is pretty diverse so you can find some dishes here that aren't as common to see, and there's a good drink selection too. We really enjoyed our dinner.

Highly recommend the udon. First bite it made me feel like it’s Mac and cheese and the more I ate, I felt like it’s Alfredo. Super creamy and unique. The salmon roll is very fresh. And the chicken in the curry is super crispy. We finished the three dishes with two adults!

When I stepped in they were playing Japanese music from the past few years so huge nostalgia factor to start. Their menu was authentic and the atmosphere definitely fit the bill. The servers were kind and asked if I needed anything or needed to order more food. I thoroughly enjoyed the yakitori, udon, and unagi rice biwl I ordered. Would definitely recommend and plan on eating here again.

Super good food, fast service, and a relaxed atmosphere, with dark wood walls adorned by Japanese alcohol posters and traditional prints, and J-pop on the radio. The mentai udon was particularly unique and delicious, and will be back to try the carbonara as well.

They missed the mark the last time I was here. The karaage was bland and soggy and the miso salmon was quite salty and tasted over cooked. The seaweed around the negitoro hzndroll tasted stale and was soggy. They have a great menu and the atmosphere. This is a really fun place to go with a group to share some dishes. Hope they can pay a bit more attention to the food coming out of the kitchen!

Wasn't expecting much, but the food is really great and the service is good. Tables and seating is cramped, but it wasn't crowded. I tried just about every tempura and fried dish they offer, excellent. We also had their specialty dish, I forget the name, my GF loved it. I tried it also and couldn't stop digging in her bowl. The drinks were great as well. Definitely going back.

Asahi on the menu said 16oz. The glass they filled said 12oz. When I asked the girl server, she said they always fill it to the top, which is definitely not 4oz more. When I asked her that, she couldn’t care less. Hate it when restaurants scam customers like this.

Great food, service and experience. Very authentic Japanese food. We went right before 7 on a Thursday and it wasn’t terribly busy. We were able to get seated quickly. Their appetizer menu is huge and we ordered the beef tongue, the fried nankotsu (chicken cartilage), and the pan fried onigiri (rice ball) with miso, which were all fantastic. For our main courses, my wife ordered the fried kaki (oyster) and I had the chicken nanban, a fried chicken with a tartar sauce style topping. Everything was fantastic that we tried and I wanted to try more. Next time we’re in San Diego we will definitely be back.

I've come here twice now and brought a group of people with me to eat here and they enjoyed it as well. Some of the items we've gotten here included the cream curry udon, deluxe udon, pork belly skewers, okonomiyaki, and sukiyaki meal. The pork belly skewers are very tender and flavorful. The cream curry udon reminded me of one in Japan. All of the dishes were very flavorful, delicious, and fresh. I think the meal sets are really good value since they come with rice, soup, and salad. Staff here is very friendly and I love how cozy and homey the interior of the restaurant is. Parking can be a bit tough to find on weekdays but there is both street and lot parking.

I always make a joke as this was the restaurant that brought the friendship between me and my friend. A great place to have an intimate hang out with family and friends! It's located next to Emie's Alterations in a small plaza area with other non-eatery shops. There's a parking lot with ample stalls that doesn't seem like it would get full at night. The spicy tuna roll was okay in my opinion. I loved the freshness of the minced tuna but there wasn't any flavor to it which was great in bringing out the freshness of the tuna. Since my friend and I went during happy hour, the price of it was $5 instead of $7. It was a good happy hour price for some fresh fish! The Maze-Udon, on the other hand, was VERY good. It was a soupless udon with just the sauce, noodles, and toppings, and wow. So much flavor! It was a tad salty but still so good. Definitely a good choice! Overall, small cute Japanese restaurant with a huge variety of home style Japanese dishes for really good prices. Would love to come back in the future to try more of their foods!

Came in for dinner on Sunday night. There was no line and we were seated within two minutes of walking into the restaurant. We ordered several items: -butter mentai udon -creamy mentai udon -salmon and avocado bowl - beef tongue, rib eye, chicken livers and meatball yakitori. -scallop kettle rice Everything was simply delicious. Portions are small so prepared to order more food. The prices aren't bad for the quality of food they offered. Service was prompt and attentive. We spent almost $200 for a Birthday dinner. We cannot afford to do this often so it will be a special occasion spot for us.

Was craving some real Japanese food. Found this spot and was so excited to find a place I can go to now when I want just good Japanese food. The menu had a lot of choices. Wanted to order all. They also have yakitori and izakaya plates. Service was awesome as well. Seems like it was run by a Japanese family. Inside felt homie. Will definitely come back again.

Casual Japanese diner with an extensive menu offering yakitori appetizers, many udon dishes, and bento boxes. I'd recommend the beef tongue, curry udon, and sukiyaki udon and mentai udon. Service was okay and the ambiance was nice, intimate. Bathrooms are super clean, and they have a heated toilet seat/bidet!!

This location is not very busy and usually can get seated quickly. I went at dinner on a weekend and was seated at one of the last empty tables. The interior boasts typical Japanese decorations that immerse you in the culture and cuisine. The beef udon comes with lots of meat slices and the broth is not overpowering. The egg was a bit too runny for my preference as it was not quite like an ajitama egg consistency. The takoyaki comes out hot and was a delicious appetizer/side.

Everything I ate was amazing Yakitori (limited time)- chicken thigh with wasabi 5/5 So juicy!!! It's very easy to eat a lot even though it's meat. Yakitori (limited time)- chicken skin 5/5 Chewy with a nice crunchy sear, plus a sweet sauce. Mont Blanc cake 5/5 There is a nutty flavor from the green tea and chestnut. On top is kinako, which is sweet and buttery. Inside is sponge cake, cream, and red bean. It's fresh and not too sugary. Dengaku - 4.5/5 It pairs well with the meat since it's sweet and starchy. Try using the extra sauce for yakitori dipping !

Came here on a whim since Yakitori Taisho was not open down the street and I am glad to have stopped by! This location is a place you might just drive by on a regular basis without even noticing so I'd qualify it as a "hidden in plain sight gem"! The lighting and decorations helped to immerse you in that "Japanese Diner" experience. Service was prompt and attentive as we came in right when they opened. I am normally not a fan of Udon at all. Double that with my disdain for Japanese curry and you may be wondering whyI'd be trying to self destruct by choosing a Curry Udon but something told me to order it. I was delightfully surprised by the richness of the soup without the thickness you might expect from something with "curry" in its name. There was plenty of noodles and other bits in it to have one leave satisfied. A rainy day would definitley be a good time to come back

I make it my mission to try out all types of Japanese cuisine--Okan Diner is homestyle Japanese food and has unique menu items that I haven't seen at other restaurants. I believe they do have a sister restaurant in Kearny Mesa but I prefer this location. I came here on a Saturday evening and it wasn't too busy which was surprising. We were promptly seated and the two waiters helped us out throughout the evening were very friendly. Their kamameishi is their claim to fame and I highly recommend trying it out. One thing to note though, is that it does take 20 min. for the dish to cook but it is worth the wait! Every single grain of rice is perfectly cooked--individual grains without being overly mushy, flavored with the toppings of your choice. We ordered the chicken and mushroom kamameishi and the hotate mentai--there are about three servings of rice in each dish so definitely filling. Both dishes were fantastic, the chicken and shimeiji mushroom was seasoned well and the hotate mentai had the perfect balance of flavors in the dish. For appetizers we had the agedashi tofu and the dashimaki. Both were delicious--the portions were a bit on the smaller size but I feel like the price does reflect the portion size. I have never had dashimaki (rolled egg omelet with dashi stock) before, and it is just what the name is. Their agedashi tofu was piping hot, and reminiscent of a childhood favorite. Overall, one of my favorite spots for cozy Japanese comfort food!

I have been wanting to try this place and the food did not disappoint. We ordered the beef tongue rice bowl, taro potato and eggplant appetizer, grilled scallps, and sashimi combination. The portion sizes are a bit on the small size. However, everything tasted great. Our favorite was the beef tongue rice bowl. The flavor combination in the bowl was delicious. The sashimi was okay. The salmon and tuna tasted fresh but the yellowtail wasn't as good. The taro potato and eggplant was good but the texture of the taro is different than what I am used to. The scallops were good also. This order was sufficient for the two of us but we were still a little hungry so we went somewhere else for dessert. Anyway, service was fast and efficient. The restaurant was small and cozy. Parking can be challenging as spots fill up and the spots seem narrow. Because the dishes are on the small side, you do need to order several dishes to feel full so this may not be a good place to go if you are starving and on a budget. I would return but not on an empty stomach.

I am so sad because I used to love this place. We returned recently and I don't think I'll ever go back. We ordered the sukiyaki, and it tasted watered down. There was hardly any flavor and only 5 pieces of thin beef. The chicken kettle rice (kamameshi) is terrible and completely flavorless. The only redeeming dishes were the yakitori, but there was a sign out from that the chef is leaving in May. Our bill for 3 people was $100 and not worth it at all.

First time trying this place and will definitely be coming back. Their uni was so fresh and so good in the rice. Also love their skewers. Their service was also amazing and highly recommend getting their sake to pair perfectly with your meal.

While they are short-staffed, the food is always comforting and service is still great. I'd recommend making a reservation for groups of 2+. The plaza can get full over the weekends, and when I called to make a reservation, I was told they don't accept any for Friday-Sundays. Their curry can be pretty filling, but I recommend trying any of their udon and takoyaki. The front section of their menu also lists any specials they're offering!

This is definitely a mom and pop (and son) restaurant type of establishment. And I mean that is the best possible way! The experience of dining here feels authentic. As close as you can get without actually being in Japan. With such simplicity, this restaurant manages to capture the essence of the local dining I infrequently experienced while visiting Japan. This is not the typical rushed experience of a restaurant found in busy urban Tokyo, but more like something you might be lucky to stumble upon in more casual Osaka (I.e. away from the busy city). Although I've visited Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, please keep in mind that I'm not well-versed enough to understand the regional differences of Japan. I'm simply giving my heartfelt and nostalgic impressions. In short, I simply love the ambiance of this restaurant. And I think the food is oishii (delicious) as well. This amazing little restaurant is nestled in a bustling shopping plaza bookended by Aladdin and Havana, which are frightfully popular on their own. That, coupled with the poor excuse for a parking lot, makes for a very frustrating start for most visitors to this plaza. So Bring your patience or simply park further away and walk. What about the food?! Understand that portions here are smaller than American standards. So if you're a hearty eater, I'd double your orders, which shouldn't be a problem since the food is good. Here's what we tried on our first visit: - Iced Plum wine: makes you think you're sweet like this wine - Other hard liquor on the rocks: makes everything and everyone seem hilarious - Kakuni /Braised Pork belly - ORDER THIS! It takes 20mins to cook, but your patience is rewarded with some of the most tender pork belly your taste buds will every experience. All those meaty juices are absorbed by the rice inside! I could eat three (maybe 4) orders of this dish. - beef skewers: fancy meat, grilled nicely, tender and still juicy - Orishi Hamburg: looked just like what I had in Japan years ago, but had a different consistency and odd aftertaste than I'm used to. Me thinks it's just been too long since I've had this dish made like this. We liked the sweet corn on the cob. - sukiyaki: a favorite of my lady. the broth was sweeter than most, which she found appealing. I'm fond of the beef, which featured a lot of gristle. The tofu soaked up the broth well and made up for the beef. I also killed off all of the noodles. - chicken liver: not my bag, but my girl loves this stuff and thought it was ok, but had a few too many scallions Needless to say we enjoyed our first visit and we intend the brave the parking nightmare here to be able to dine here again soon.

Although the service was good, the quality of the food was disappointing. The tuna slice on sushi felt rubbery. There's plenty of rice but hardly any fish on the other dishes we ordered. We left feeling robbed.

Came back again for the curry udon and it was just as good as the sukiyaki but unfortunately the egg yolk wasn't runny :( I came on a Friday night around 6 with a reservation and the service was still so good + quick considering that they were short staffed!

My go to place for udon in San Diego! I always get their sukiyaki udon. The udon itself is always the perfect chewy consistency and broth has the right sweet and salty balance. Service can be slow at times because they're short staffed but the food makes up for it!

Delicious food in an unobtrusive corner of a strip mall. I prefer the counter seating, but that's just me. There is outdoor seating with heat lamps. Lots of variety on the menu, but I usually order one of the udon and a draft Sapporo. Good service, not hovering or ignoring. Just right. This is a great place to come to for a nice but casual time. I've seen couples, friends and families coming here.

I love this restaurant. Everything is authentic and delicious. I usually order the sukiyaki but the last time I was here my friend got the curry katsu and it looked so good that I am definitely trying it next time. Also the service is always great. The staff is super friendly and nice.

The food was so good here! Authentic Japanese dining! Service was a bit slow but that's because we went during dinner rush. I only put one less star because the service was a bit slow and the parking lot is so tiny, we had to park on the street and walk to the restaurant. Overall I really loved the food though and the dinner deals!

It's an intimate, homey Japanese restaurant/izakaya. Great options of drink and food, and the steak that I had was delicious! Servers were attentive and friendly. I'd definitely return to try out more items on the menu!

Cool ambience Only place I've seen that has kamameshi (kettle rice). Really good comfort food. I appreciated the blue crab hand roll. Very yummy.

One of my favorite places to go whenever I am feeling down or want good food. Thwy have a parking lot but it can get pretty full at time but there is also street parking available as well. They changed some thing since I first went such as the interior design, bowl design for some of their food, and removed happy hour. Nonetheless, the food quality is still how I remember and recommend it.

I was very disappointed with this place. Everything we order wasn't good. Harami (skirt steak) was so tiny like left over bbq, yakitori (we ordered thigh) was so dry, I got confused if that was thigh or chicken breast, I couldn't eat more than one bite. Lastly my main, Unagi kamameshi had too much eel sauce on it, I had to ask them to make it again with sauce on the side other wise there was no way I could eat that salty and sweet rice. They told me that was standard amount for eel, trust me that's not a standard. I don't know if this place is related other Wa Dining Okan, the other one is so much better.

My go-to Japanese comfort food in SD. Okan Diner also feels more comfy and spacious than Wa Dining Okan, so this has my vote if you're deciding between the two. I also believe Okan Diner has a bigger menu. The food never disappoints, and the menu options are extensive (kamemeshi kettle rice, udon, grilled dishes, sushi). I always gravitate towards the creamy mentai udon or the blue crab kamemeshi. I'd give this place 5 stars for food alone, but service can be a bit slow when it's packed hence the 4 stars...

I love coming back for the Carbonara Udon! It's cozy, creamy, and consistent with its simple flavor. Service was alright and my food came out at a reasonable time. Ambiance is pretty intimate as seating is fairly close to one another. Always happy to come back here.

yummy sukiyaki and unagi rice stone pot bowl (not the add on). mentaiko and uni udons were solid, although could be richer instead of just heavy. good service, but we were charged when we asked for a lil bit of mayo w our geso karaage:0 these things usually come with at least some bit of sauce so that was slightly sad

I was wanting for some cold dipping soba and this place has it! The place is a bit understaffed so service can be a little slow, just a heads up! So they service tables in waves, like bringing out water for ~4 tables in one go. We ordered the beef tataki, agedashi tofu, and tsukemono for starters. I love pickles so the tsukemono had a great variety, about 4 different veggies (cucumber, carrot, a radish and another veggie I can't recall). I'd use these to cleanse your palate whenever! The beef tataki is chilled and definitely a little chewy. However the chewiness is nice in that it just doesn't melt/disintegrate into your mouth right away! I liked it despite the fact. Agedashi tofu was a nice fried tofu with a delicious sauce. I suggest grabbing a piece of tofu and soaking it in a spoon of sauce! The zaru soba was delightful, sauce is super light and comes with green onion and wasabi on the side to adjust to taste. It's great for a hot day which is when I went. I'll return for this again if I'm craving it!! The sukiyaki is very sweet, I'm unsure if it's supposed to be that sweet or if we were eating it the right way. Might not need to sip/drink the broth, just dip the noodles in and eat the other stuff for just a splash of sweet broth.

I've been wanting to try Okan Diner for quite some time now, and I'm so glad I finally took the time to stop by! If you're looking for an authentic Japanese restaurant that serves quality food, then Okan Diner is for you. Sukiyaki Udon 9/10 ($16.16 with 15% tip included): Sukiyaki udon traditionally known for its sweet and savory broth seasoned with shoyu, sugar, and mirin. Typically it also includes slowly simmered meat as well. Okan Diner's sukiyaki udon is delicious! They serve such a flavorful broth and the noodles are perfectly chewy. The meat, tofu, and assortment of mushrooms also compliment the broth very well. Great service! Waiter was polite when suggesting what I should order next. Will be stopping by again and looking forward to trying out their lunch menu items.

Such a great Japanese restaurant in clairmont. I love how this place isn't directly in convoy so there's a decent amount of parking outside. We went right before lunch rush on a Saturday. The place will get busy really fast but the service is fast. They have lunch and dinner specials even on the weekends which is great and greatly priced. We got the sukiyaki udon, mentai cream udon, and chicken karaage. The karaage was nicely fried and came with a ponzu sauce we really liked how simple yet good it was. The sukiyaki udon had a super deep flavor but light broth and was probably one of the best udons we've tried. Mentai udon is my go to at any Japanese restaurant, this one was okay in my opinion. I think it was just a tad too heavy and creamy for me but overall I would've ordered it again.

Busy place but overall we didn't care for the dishes we ordered. Spicy Garlic edamame seemed to come from frozen state. The edamame were mushy. Flavor is there but it didn't taste fresh. The tonkatsu ramen noodles were way overcooked including the egg. The meat however was tender. The sukiyaki was too sweet. The salmon karaage was ok. I wish the sauce was separated as it wasn't crunchy anymore.

Disappointing. The food didn't taste that great to be honest. The edamame tasted like it came frozen and was just heated with the sauce added later. Not that great and didn't taste very fresh. The tonkatsu ramen also wasn't good. The egg was overcooked almost as If it was pre hard boiled and added later. The broth tasted a lot like top ramen from the grocery store and just wasn't that great. The noodles also tasted a little overcooked. I got the sukiyaki dinner set and beware. When it says sweet sauce they aren't joking. This was so sugary sweet I felt like I was going to get diabetes. The miso soup that came with it along with the salad and rice was probably the best part of this meal. I didn't try the salmon kaarragge so can't let you know what that was like but it was the only dish that was ordered that was completely eaten so probably the best of what we ordered. Probably wouldn't be back.

Yakitori or any dish on the menu comes with very simple but yet FULL of flavor. I hope they continue to serve the yakitoru station which is good with cold Japanese beer. Service is great with multiple tables. Highly recommended, Happy Hour start 530p-630p with great appetizer selection.

the food here is always solid, very yummy! I enjoy their salmon teriyaki the most. Not sure if the time I had it but katsuni was a bit salty, but my friend who frequently orders it believes it was just that time. I really enjoy the clean taste of miso soup, rice and the dish you choose. they have a happy hours and the atmosphere is warm and homey. the service is direct and nice too. for their lunch special, you can add an unagi rice box which I really recommend and it's so good with the salmon teriyaki. def a lil splurge but worth it! would recommend this place for Japanese rice plates!

Can't believe I have never been to this fantastic restaurant nestled in a Kearney Mesa food mall. Went there for my daughter-in-laws birthday on a Sunday night. Parking was easy as there is plenty. Get there early as they fill up quickly. The restaurant reminded me of a restaurant in Japan. Very authentic Japanese food and creative. The dishes came out and were just amazing. I had ankimo, fried squid legs, and a dish with the seasoned rice. The toppers were uni and ikura. You mix it up with a paddle they give you. Trust me...this dish will make you dream about it until you return for more! I recommend one of the bowls with the seasoned rice. It takes about 20 minutes for them to make it but is so worth it. If your really hungry just order a few small appetizers to hold you over. Oh I forgot to mention we had the homemade pudding. My son and I shared. So yummy!!

Yum! Total mom & pops feel here! Everything tastes like yummy comfort food. It's unfortunate that they were short staffed the day we went, but they posted a warning at the door stating that they may be slower. This place is like a fast casual restaurant, basically come as you are. We ordered the carbonara udon which was a unique take on carbonara past and let me tell you, it was super creamy!! We also ordered their katsu-ni dish which had some type of soy sauce & egg -- one of the best katsu dishes I have had in San Diego! Will most definitely come back!

Upon arrival there were people waiting in line to enter before it opened and that was a great sign. I was excited to try this! Food was delicious overall! The portions were smaller than I had expected for the price we were paying, but makes sense in today's economy. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared with each other, and the crowd favorite was the eel cooked in the kettle, sukiyaki udon, and the uni creamy udon. When we arrived, there was a sign saying they were understaffed so wait times would be long. I appreciated the heads up because we did end up having to wait a while before our order was taken and for our food to arrive. I do feel like the cleanliness of the restaurant could have been a bit better- since we were seated right when the restaurant opened I found it odd that there was a puddle of water underneath our table. And the high chair was super sticky and I had to wipe it down.

Thoroughly enjoyed the beef tataki and coming here prior the kettle rice is astonishing. The flavor is well worth the wait. Order some appetizers first before getting the Kettle Rice. The Chicken cutlet curry was delicious and dare I say best in SD. As much as I want to keep this place to myself I just have to share how delicious this place is!

This place is a 10/10. The service was quick and the portions were generous. We loved all the dishes we ordered and the sukiyaki udon came out pipping hot! We got there 5 minutes after they opened and that was the best decision we made. Once we were seated, four other parties came in waiting for a table! This is a local spot. Not too loud and very family friendly environment.

I've been a consistent customer and I'm sad to say the quality of food has gone down immensely. I always order sukiyaki udon and the last 2-3 times it looked like it was sitting there dried up. When my friend got the carbonara udon, he was unhappy because of how flavorless and watery it was. The service is also extremely slow, which I understand because of shortage of staff during the pandemic. However the male server was so slow to come to my table that he made me miss happy hour LOL. When I asked if I could still order off of it, he said no. Mind you we were like 6 mins past! I would've complained about that if I wasn't with friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Okan Diner has a huge selection of Japanese foods which is pretty incredible. For the portion you get and the price I think it's worth it if you're craving some Japanese home cooked food. They do not have AC (when I went during the evening, it was pretty brutal, everyone was sweating).

Mentai butter udon 2/5: was WAYYYY TOO SALTY. It would have been delicious if not for that fact. Tonkatsu ramen 3/5: it was alright meh My friends who ordered katsu curry and carbonara udon seemed to like theirs. We sat in a corner of the restaurant and the wait time for service was a bit longer than I'd like. They do have some redeeming qualities tho: the menu is diverse and the ambience is a vibe.

Got takeout here as I was craving udon. Originally tried their sister restaurant but their ordering closed right as I was trying to order. We got chicken karaage, a ramen, and the tempura udon with another of veggie tempura. When my husband got there he texted that they had accidentally given our order to someone else, so they had to remake it. ARGH. Ok. They comped out two appetizers to make it up to us which was nice. The food was...meh. The tempura itself was super hot and crispy and fresh, but not well drained as they were probably rushing. It was so oily that I was sick that night and until I threw up (repeatedly), the oil just sat in my stomach like a nauseating rock. Third time in my life I experienced this, and I eat an unhealthy amount of fried food. I enjoyed the udon noodles and soup, but the ramen was disappointing says my husband. Also, it didn't list in the description that it was going to come full of bean sprouts, which ruined the flavor of the soup in my opinion. We spent too long fishing them out. The chicken karaage was not at all crispy. It was rather heavy and the flavor was not good. I also didn't like the dipping sauce. So yeah...after all these years we tried Okan (after boycotting Wa Dining Okan for literally leaving us out in the cold and rain), only to find out we should not have wasted our money. The extra star is for them decently comping the apps. My being sick was a mix of my own fault for eating so much tempura (I was hungry after the wait and it WAS nice and crispy and fresh), but I do maintain I wouldn't have gotten sick if they had properly drained said tempura.

Okan Diner hits me all in the feels. The cozy atmosphere and delicious food reminds me of a small restaurant I used to go to when Chun P and I were in Japan. The other night we were both craving curry katsu and decided to drop by. Katsu was perfectly crispy in texture and the curry was like a warm hug! Service is friendly and efficient - this place is always busy. I've also had the salmon dinner set here before many times and enjoyed it.

Happy hour is usually a delight here, but this visit's Sapporo pour left much to be desired. It was mostly foam and the beer was somewhat lukewarm, perhaps a misstep by a newer server? However, Okan Diner remains my go-to spot for deep-fried octopus and squid legs. They nail it every time - so crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and the sauce pairings just elevate the dishes to a whole new level. A new addition to our order, the salmon collar, was unfortunately the low point of the night. The first serving was undercooked and raw in the middle. Our server was kind enough to replace it, but the second attempt left the salmon skin overly charred, lending an overpowering burnt taste to the dish. This was an unexpected hiccup as I've previously had fantastic experiences here. When it comes to their dinner set items, I can safely say they usually offer great value for what you get. But a word to the wise: perhaps steer clear of the sushi-related dishes. We tried the Chirashi bowl, and the quality of the fish was hit or miss. Some pieces, like the salmon, were refreshingly fresh, while others like the uni left something to be desired. And I say this as an uni enthusiast! I've had better, fresher uni elsewhere. Despite this mixed experience, Okan Diner still holds a dear place in my heart. I'm hopeful that this was just a one-off and I look forward to returning to my usual fantastic meals here soon.

Be ready to be transported to '70's Tokyo - such a cool vibe! City pop playing in the background w/ delicious udon completes the picture. Waiter was so kind, offering me fresh tea because my cup had cooled down - that's consideration you don't see everyday. Reasonably priced was the icing on the cake.

Okan Diner is one of the authentic Japanese restaurants that serve more than just ramen. The menu offers a wide range of Japanese food options from skewers to udons to sushi. They also serve some of less common dishes such as Japanese style spaghetti/pasta. When we came here on a Friday evening, the place was pretty busy. Although there wasn't a line, almost all tables were taken. The waitresses were pretty fast and attentive. You get the vibe of an authentic local Japanese restaurant. For the food, I liked their Nabeyaki Udon which is one of their popular dishes. The soup broth was great. I like more firm udon so theirs was slightly soft for me. The toppings were good. I recommend this dish. We ordered two of the specials on the menu, octopus and beef rice burger. Unfortunately, the octopus was so so. I wouldn't order it again or recommend others to try. The beef rice burger was quite good. The burger even has some mayonnaise based sauce in it. It's quite special and tasty. Overall, I like Okan Diner. Some dishes were a miss, but many were good. I will come back again and try more items on their menu.

Food: 3.5/5 Service and Setting: 2.5/5 Value: 3/5 When I was younger, Okan Diner's sister location, Wa Dining Okan, was a special treat. All these years later, the stars aligned and it was time for me to try their more casual concept. Located in a busy strip mall, parking is a bit tight but nothing too serious. It is a busy plaza so expect to wait around or park somewhere else. Going in, the restaurant had a design that embodies mid 2010 style. This sort of mix between modern and Japanese motifs with strangely dirty looking would checked all of the boxes. The restaurant felt a bit dingy and dirty but most people are coming here to eat and not enjoy a masterclass in interior design. We came right when they opened for their dinner hours and were seated right away. There were only 2 servers so service was kind, but it was very hard to ask for things as they only seemed to come out when bringing out food. It was just all pretty mid. Geso Kara: 3/5 Geso Kara are deep fried squid legs in a crispy batter. The coating was very dark and had a distinct oily flavor. It was served on top of some greens. The squid itself was not overly tough but did have a good bite and chew. The squeeze of lemon and I believe ponzu sauce that it was served with helped cut the oil. The biggest negative of the dish was that it was very salty. Not inedible, but definitely detracted from the experience. Karaage: 4/5 The Karaage was pretty good. More "traditional" karaage, from what I understand, has a softer coating with distinct blistering and a darker color. Okan Diner's karaage seemed to be more gently fried and was more texturally similar to Taiwanese popcorn chicken. The flavors were strong and unique, I picked up on lemon, ginger, and sesame as the main points. The dipping sauce was also interesting and tasted like a cross between Japanese sesame and onion vinaigrettes with an extra kick of black pepper. For me, the texture could have been a bit crispier and the chicken pieces larger, but overall a solid dish to get. Oroshi Hamburg: 2.5/5 To start off, know that oroshi means that the dish is served with grated daikon radish to give it a refreshing taste. The hamburg patty itself was fine and was not phenomenal, but was juicy and well seasoned. The true travesties were the salad and rice. The salad was totally wilted and I am sure that they put the greens in the serving bowl to "prep" them. The rice was the greatest disappointment. Overcooked, clumpy, and just sad, Okan Diner surely served me and my family yesterday's rice that was not even respectfully stored and reheated. Rice is the heart of the dish and the lack of respect shown to it made me feel not respected as a customer. The corn that came out on the same plate as the steak was mushy and not very sweet at all. The miso soup was good. I enjoyed the fried tofu and it truly is really hard to mess up miso soup. Wit hall things said, I really liked their broccoli. It absorbed so much butter and caramelized just a bit to make it one of the tastiest bites I had. Pudding: 4/5 This was a great way to end the meal. The pudding itself was not too sweet and had a luxurious silky texture. A bit eggy and milky, the pudding also gave me fresh tofu vibes. The brown sugar syrup they put on top makes it taste like Filipino Taho a bit. This was probably my favorite item from my meal.

This restaurant is quite unassuming and located in a strip mall area. I honestly just chose it because it was 8 minutes away at the time, but I am so glad I found this gem! We walked in around 8:30pm on a Wednesday and were seated right away. A gentleman immediately took our order and talked us through the extensive menu/his recommendations. This place is also very affordable and a good bang for your buck. We ended up getting an assortment of items, and the total (including tip) came to around $52 (fed 2 people!). Tea -- Note: the oolong tea ONLY comes iced, so if you want hot tea you have to order the green tea. We got both, and there are free refills! Chicken liver appetizer -- they actually seemed to have forgotten we ordered this so I had to remind. But once it came out, it was lovely! I am a huge fan of liver and have it all the time at home, cooked in an indian curry. I was excited to try a different spin on it. It was served cold and and in a delicious slightly sweet/tangy sauce with green onions sprinkled on top. I highly recommend. Deluxe Curry Udon -- there is an extensive udon menu, and I would like to try all of them at some point. I wasn't in the mood for something creamy, and the curry udon was perfect. The broth was light yet super flavorful with umami. The meat is beef and tempura shrimp, both of which were cooked to perfection. And the actual udon noodles...so thick and just the right texture! Scallops -- I think this was on their specials menu; basically 4 scallops on spoons with some sort of fish. These were definitely an appetizer, and tasted very fresh. If you enjoy seafood, I highly recommend. Dessert (Homemade pudding) -- Perfect way to end the meal. It was a creamy pudding with brown sugar on top. Next time, I plan to trie their mochi ice cream.

We made reservations for 10 with a last minute add of 3 people at 11:30am on a Sunday. Our table was ready at about 11:35am. Service was a little slow and disorganized- Given the dinner menu when asked if we could order the set dinner meals we were given a one sheet menu for Lunch Set meals. We weren't sure if we could still order off the big menu like appetizers and sides Never got the last glass of water and 13th pair of chopsticks we asked for 3 times Never got the lemon sl8ces for the water Plates trickled out one by one with one of the dishes completely forgotten about. When we pointed it out it took another 15 min for the dish to arrive. Just before it arrived we tried to cancel it because the rest of the party was done with their meals. The server we spoked to said it would be coming right out and basically blamed us for being a large party. They hace a sign in the window that they charge a mandatory 18% tip for parties over 6 but the waiter says its not really a tip it's a service charge, implying we should still full tip on top of that.... Honestly I wouldn't write this place off completely. I wouldn't do a large party again but I dig the traditional Japanese dishes. The food did taste good. Best pan fried gyoza I've ever had. They could be a little more generous with the salad serving size and the miso salmon was a bit over cooked but I'd give them a 2nd chance because I'd like to try a kamamenchi bowl.