Oken

This place exceeded already high expectations. I walked away with at least three dishes I will dream about. As soon as you walk up and into OKEN you can smell a smokey flavorful smell that feels part of the experience. We came with four people and ordered a good amount but I wish we could have ordered more to get bites of everything - no dish fell short. My top picks were the mushrooms (snack), short rib entree, and Romano beans. Our server was super attentive and helpful in advising on our order and at the end of the night we got a surprise glass of a Lambrusco type wine for being on a parents night out - got the scoop on the toys around the place coming from an employees 5 year old son to protect it from break ins. Loved this place hope to be back again.

Loved it! I heard about Oken through the OKs deli lore. Great vibes Tried the ganjang fried chicken, grilled gai lan, Kalbi, Tsukune dumpling noodle soup, maitake tempura, tomato kimchi somen (some dishes not photographed or captured post-serve). The noodle soups were easy to share amongst 2 ppl. Each dish was amazing and I'd highly recommend the grilled Gai lan, maitake tempura, and tomato kimchi somen. The potato salad that comes with the fried chicken is just as amazing as OKs deli's!

Really fun and great addition to Oakland’s dining scene! The service was great and appreciated a lot of the creative contemporary dishes. Service was really sweet, would go back to try some of their other dishes

One of the best new restaurants I've tried in a while. We particularly loved the Baechu Salad, Maitake Tempura, Smoked Hiramasa, Halibut Crudo, Ganjang Fried Chicken, Omelette, and Hwe Dup Bap which I would order again. The crispy potato, oxtail jjigae, and kalbi ssam were good too and worth a try. I'm looking forward to trying more from the menu.

Oken is exceptional in every way, they do not miss a beat. Each dish was fantastic: beautifully presented, perfectly cooked, authentic, and fresh. Our tastebuds were absolutely delighted. The wines were amazing and paired perfectly. It reminded us of the beautiful meals we ate in Japan years ago. This is our new favorite restaurant in the east bay. Also - do yourself a favor and get the milk toast for dessert. Wow.

I've been here three times now and each time has been a great experience. The food is outstanding, we've tried almost every dish on the menu and they're all phenomenal. Some of my favorites are the baechu salad, the heirloom tomato salad, the house somen (with tomato and kimchi broth) and the oxtail jjigae. Everything is inventive but somewhat familiar and everything tastes really fresh. The restaurant is very comfortable and cool with great lights and I love all of the pottery and serving dishes. The drinks and wine list are great, some mocktail options would be a nice addition but they have great non-alcoholic options and even an NA wine. We have never managed to save room for dessert but I look forward to trying those soon. The staff is very attentive and the pacing of the meal is always thoughtful and effective. Definitely a busy spot so make a reservation ahead of time and you may end up sharing a big table with others but it all works out. Really glad this spot is in the neighborhood and I look forward to returning often.

Enjoyed Oken's dinner service. Make a reservation as they were packed the entire time we were there. Their menu is organized into cold apps, hot appetizers, and a soup/entree section, and everything is served family style. As someone who loves soups in all weather- I felt seen! Loved their sashimi, hwe dup bap, kalbi ssam, and oxtail jjigae and want to come back and try other dishes next time :)

Best new restaurant in Oakland. As with OK’s deli, this place prioritizes good food above all else — as instagrammable as a cat themed Asian fusion place could get away with being, the food here is beyond reproach. Everything is delicious, the only variations come with “accessibility” — but they have something for everyone here so no one could possibly leave dissatisfied. Everything raw fish dish I’ve had here is unbelievably good — the hand rolls, carpaccio, rice bowls all 5 stars. Lunch is also fantastic, any as affordable as any other place in Rockridge (but 50x better). Run, don’t walk!

Genuinely one of the best restaurants I've dined at this year -- and I eat out a lot! Great spot for a date night. We ordered lots of apps and one main: - Miso Caesar Salad - so, so delicious. My partner and I still talk about it sometimes in passing. It probably helped that it was half parmesan cheese - Hamachi handroll - it was fun to make our own handrolls, and the sauce was packed with flavor - Maitake tempura - perfectly fried. Light on seasoning but paired well with the dipping sauce - Big eye tuna tartare - we were fighting to see who would finish this. I wish the nori chip was bigger! - Hwe dup bap - this was the only item that we likely wouldn't order again. It was good, but nothing too special The restaurant space is tight and intimate. Remember to make a reservation before swinging by! I was turned away the first time when I didn't make a reservation.

Oken is one of the best new restaurants I've tried in a while. We've been here twice now and gotten completely different dishes each time and loved it. Highlights include the okonomiyaki salad, short rib ssam, maitake tempura, yukhwe onigiri, hwe dup bap, and the jajang bolognese.

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Made a reservation via OpenTable and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking was easy on the street in the super safe Rockridge area. Loved the vibes of the restaurant. It felt like I was eating in Manhattan. The entire front of the house staff that helped us throughout the evening were cordial and helpful. Started off with the mizuna salad that was recommended by our waiter. Loved how fresh the vegetables were along with the crispy toppings and the fantastic dressing on the bottom. Moved on to the big eye tuna tartare which was also excellent. Super tasty tuna tartare topped over some avocado and served with a gigantic nori chip for dipping. The triple cooked potato was pretty unique with curry salt and served with a curry mayo and ketchup. This dish was slightly salty though The maitake tempura was decent. I was expecting more flavors from the matake mushrooms. My understanding was the dip was supposed to be a truffle mayo. I wasn't able to smell the truffle though... The wagyu short rib ssam was world class. The meat portion was very generous. The marbling of the meat was excellent and cooked to a perfect medium. It was also seasoned to perfection too! Ended the meal off with the chocolate cake which was also excellent. The cake on the bottom was moist and the whipped cream on top was excellent! ~$80/head after tax and gratuity for dinner with no employer mandates.

Had a birthday dinner here on a Friday night. Parking was challenging. Restaurant was on the cozy side so you definitely need a reservation. The ambiance is loud. Food was ok, there was 6 of us so we ordered a good amount of food. The appetizers were mostly on the fried side l, I enjoyed the wrap and premium beef. Soup was good. Dessert was creamy and nice end to the meal.

My partner and I came here for our anniversary last month. We procrastinated on making plans, so we were thrilled they still had reservations available the week of. It ended up being a full house when we arrived, so we definitely got lucky! Service was amazing the entire night. They checked on us often, kept us hydrated, and even comped us celebratory drinks: sparkling wine for my partner and a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé for me (I don't drink). Such a thoughtful touch, and the rosé was actually so delicious! The food was so good. Highlights for me were the yukhwe onigiri, wagyu ssam, and the oxtail jigae, which I could eat that jigae every single day. We also loved the dessert. It was a melon granita when we went (not sure if it's still on the menu), but it was SO refreshing. Only regret was not trying the maitake tempura... we'll be back for it. I'd probably skip the sichuan popcorn chicken next time - good, but not super memorable. Overall, such a memorable night with delicious food, great hospitality, and a perfect anniversary spot. We'll definitely be back!

We kept the order curated but every plate turned into a standout. Sichuan Spiced Popcorn Chicken -- Crispy golden bites dusted with spice, paired with jalapeño, cilantro, and a honey mustard dip that leans sweet heat. It's playful bar food vibes, but elevated -- like they found the balance between Korean fried chicken crunch and a California snack plate. Addictive. Omelette with Gochujang Gulf Shrimp Sauce -- Fluffy, almost custardy eggs folded over with a silky dashi undertone, then punched up with a spicy, savory shrimp sauce. It's comfort food dressed for fine dining -- subtle but memorable. Yukhwe Onigiri -- A crispy rice ball with prime beef tartare tucked inside, finished with soy and topped with a delicate quail egg. Crack the egg, mix it in, and it becomes rich, velvety, and deeply umami. Probably the most "wow" bite of the night for me. Maitake Tempura with Truffle Crème Fraîche -- A showstopper. The mushroom is earthy and meaty, the tempura light and shattering, and then that truffle cream ties it together with indulgence. This is the dish you order once and then think about for days. Oak Wood Smoked Hiramasa Sashimi -- The yellowtail was silky, kissed with smoke, and brightened with ponzu, chili oil, shiso, radish, and peas. Every bite felt like contrast: smoky yet clean, rich yet refreshing. Big Eye Tuna Carpaccio -- Draped thin with avocado and onion, dressed in nori soy and wasabi olive oil, finished with cilantro and a nori chip for crunch. It's lush and delicate at the same time, letting the tuna shine without overcomplicating. Prime Kalbi Short Rib Ssam -- Marinated short ribs grilled just right, served with lettuce, perilla, kimchi, pickled daikon, and ssamjang. It's hands-on and fun -- you build each wrap yourself -- but the flavors are classic, bold, and deeply satisfying. Hwe Dup Bap -- A vibrant rice bowl layered with salmon roe, ocean trout, lettuces, shiso, perilla, sesame oil, and nori. It's fresh and light, but still filling -- almost like a build-your-own poke bowl's refined cousin. Chocolate Cake with Kinako Sesame Cream -- Dense, devil's food richness with a nutty, toasted sesame note from the kinako. Decadent without being heavy -- the perfect finish. Every dish had a sense of balance: crispy with creamy, smoky with bright, indulgent with refreshing. It felt like Oken knows exactly how to remix familiar Korean/Japanese flavors into something Oakland-specific, young, and exciting.

I'm a fan of Ok's Deli, so I had to try their new restaurant Oken!! The ambiance is super cute and the service was great. We came right at opening (5pm) without a reservation, but the restaurant filled up quickly as we were dining. I'd recommend making a reservation if you can. All the food felt light and refreshing. Portions are on the smaller side so I'd recommend doing family style to try more from the menu. We ordered: - Baechu Salad - Light and refreshing - Chilled Sichuan Chicken Breast - I loved the cucumber and cilantro on the side. It paired perfectly with the chicken and house-made chili sauce - Maitake Tempura - Was excited for this since I love mushrooms and truffle. The truffle crème fraiche was delicious! I mostly tasted the batter over the mushroom though - Ganjang Fried Chicken - Get this! Perfectly fried with a sweet soy glaze that paired well with the house potato salad - Hwe Dup Bap - Surprisingly good! It was refreshing with a salty kick from the fish roe - Wagyu Kalbi Short Rib Ssam - Also get this!! The wagyu was flavorful and the ssam was refreshing Shoutout to our server Binh! He even surprised us with complimentary sake to try which was sweet. Overall the vibes, food, and service were all amazing. Highly recommend, and I'll definitely be back!

Such a stellar meal from beginning to end. Every dish was so, so good. Could not decide on a favorite. Each dish was so delicious, makes me believe every dish on the menu would be great. Thanks for the lovely experience and dinner. Perfect way to start the weekend and wind down from the week. Excellent service. Love the ambiance and decor of the restaurant.

This location has had a curse since the closing of the Claremont Diner, many moons ago. This is in my neighborhood so I'm always rooting, then disappointed with the many restaurants that have tried to make it here, such a heart break, knowing all the blood sweat and tears that goes into opening a restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, I'm immediately pleased by the redesign of the space, I have hope again for this space. After the meal, I'm ecstatic, the food is fantastic and the bottle of sake excellent. We ordered most of the small dishes, and two entrees. Everything was so good. I took a photo of everything except for the bolognese pasta that was also delicious. I predict Oken will have great success in this space. I'm rooting for them.

The more, the merrier! Loved the surprisingly delightful cabbage salad, oak-smoked hiramasa sashimi, yukhwe onigiri, and oxtail jjigae. Next time we'll bring more mouths to feed so we can try more dishes at Oken. Reservations recommended.

I love Ok's Deli so was excited to try the new Oken. The ambiance is lively, and the service was excellent. I don't always like to go to a place when they first open because they're still sorting things out- but overall the staff did well. I did see some slight confusion on orders near me or everything appearing all at once, but the servers were professional and I'm sure the kinks will be worked out over time. Overall I loved the food - we tried the beef tartar onigiri, the fried chicken, the trout, the ssam, and the potatoes. My favorites were the chicken and onigiri. The crunchiness of the rice was a nice pairing to the egg and beef, and the chicken was crispy, juicy, and flavorful. I liked the ssam as well, yummy bites wrapped in various leaves (the large perilla being a happy surprise). The potatoes were thin crispy on the outside and so soft. The trout had a good flavor, but for me it was too oily. The sesame chocolate cake was light, not too sweet, and delicious. We were so full by then but were still able to finish it. Only thing I'm not sure if anything can be done - the bbq / grease smoke from the kitchen was pretty apparent to me in the air after sitting for a little while and became stuffy.

From the guys who brought you Oks Deli, Oken is a really great welcome to Rockridge. Not really centered on a particular cuisine, this place gets inspiration across Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Using high technique, such as smoking Hiramasa for their sashimi, the restaurant pushes out dishes with great flavor. The baechu salad was a favorite, with awesome acidity with great mouth feel for crunch. Ganjang fried chicken had the balance of sauce and breading. While the oxtail jigae had tender meat, the flavor was not as punchy as you'd get from a traditional Korean restaurant. Overall, a delicious place and I'll definitely be coming back. One knock was that the open kitchen resulted in the overall interior of the restaurant being really smokey, the stuffy air seeping into the dining room. Given it's still in soft opening, hopefully this will be something they iron out.

Such a cute spot! My friends and I really enjoyed our dinner here, food was excellent and the service was great! Our eyes were way bigger than our stomachs and we probably ordered one too many dishes. Our favorite dishes includes the Baechu salad, Yukhwe onigiri, the prime kalbi short rib ssam, the Hwe Dup Bap and the melon granita! I would love to go back and try some other dishes on the menu.

Dont let the location fool you, inside is a gem of a restaurant! Staff is knowledgeable and friendly, food is outstanding! We were a party of 4 and decide to do shared plates and ordered slowly to enjoy each serving. Unique, flavorful, good portions and we were not rushed at all. EVERYTHING we tried was terrific. The cold sake, wine and beer selections are also to be recommended. A delight to find, we will be back for sure.

I had tried OK's Deli before, so I wanted to try Oken, which is from the same founder. Oken serves Asian fusion and consists primarily of dishes inspired by Korean and Japanese (with a little bit of Chinese). At around 12:30 pm on a recent Friday, I made a reservation on OpenTable for 5:30 pm on the same day. The reservation was for the kitchen communal table, which was the only table open at that time slot. Unfortunately, my placement at the communal table, which was on the kitchen side facing the door, allowed the sun to shine on my face, so I had to shift a little or block it with my hand for part of the meal. My spouse and I ordered the following: Sang Makeoli - This was a great pre-packaged makgeolli. It's milky, sweet, and lightly sparkling. Yogurt Soju Cocktail - Wonderfully tasty and creamy. It's similar to a pisco cocktail. It came with a hay straw! Yukhwe Onigiri - The rice had a great crisp, and the tartare was decent. Maitake Tempura - The mushroom was juicy, and the crisp was light. The dressing complimented the tempura well. Omelette - This was fluffy and tasted great, which is saying something because I don't really like omelettes (though I do like shrimp). Kalbi Ssam - This took a long time to arrive, but when it did I enjoyed trying all possible wrap combinations. There was a small hamburger patty ball, which I thought was weird, but it tasted good. The kalbi slices were tender and tasty, but it tasted more like really good steak than the kalbi you'd get at most Korean restaurants. The kombu/radish didn't really have any flavor, but the other items were good complements to the wrap. Chocolate Cake - The big thing you must watch out for with chocolate cake is that it's too sweet or too rich. But this one was moist, light, and not too sweet (even my mom would approve). The cream on top was also light and not too sweet, but there was too much of it (it's literally a mountain). This restaurant had an excellent assortment of reusable foodware (see Eco Notes) with great drinks and food. It's a perfect place for date night. I'm looking forward to coming back so I can try the other dessert! ECO NOTES (Dine-In) Dine-In Dishware: Reusable plates and bowls Napkins: Reusable cloth napkin Utensils: Metal fork, spoon, and chopsticks Water cups: Short highball/type glasses on reusable coaster Cocktail straw: Hay cocktail straw

The staff is stellar (so sweet) and the food was delicious! One of the best cocktails I've had was the Yogurt Soju drink special. Order this! My friend and I both agreed we could have had three each. Yum. The Oak Wood Smoked Hiramasa was a favorite, harmonious and fresh with tons of freshly shucked bright green peas. The Maitake Tempura with truffle crème fraiche, the yummy curry sauce with the crispiest potatoes, and the elegant Omelette with gochujang and shrimp were the most elevated drink-foods I've had in a long time. Can't wait to see what they do next... !

Super delicious spot! We got the maitake tempura, the tuna carpaccio, onigiri, and wagyu ssam. My favs were the carpaccio and the wagyu! I would say that the onigiri was the most disappointing so I wouldn't recommend getting it, especially cuz it's a small single piece and just not worth it to me. I'd definitely come back to try more things! The staff were all very nice and offered champagne/sake for my birthday!

New favorite spot alert! High quality, creative, perfectly balanced dishes that were as beautiful as they were delicious. Simply stylish interior, knowledgeable wait staff and bonus cat portraits in the bathroom. We got: Tempura maitakes - the crème fraiche with nori was beautiful and dramatic. Ganjang fried chicken with potato salad - hello crispy skin! Baechu salad - light and refreshing with wonderful crispy bits Smoked hirasama sashimi - loved the English pea and chili oil Kalbi short rib ssam - the quality of the meat was outstanding and the mini burger! But the surprise of the evening after all that amazingness, was the marinated peaches with yogurt whip. Peaches and cream taken to the next level! Simple and summery and I could eat that dish every day. The chocolate cake with sesame cream was memorable too. Will be returning soon!

This is a high end izakaya fusion place that elevates the location it's in. We had a shared table, which was okay but made it hard to hear our conversation without raising our voices.

Delicious! We tried a variety of dishes and all were great. We will definitely be back

Simplicity is difficult. Oken successfully transported a classic former diner on a bustling corner intersection to a sanctuary of culinary delights. With a blend of Korean, Japanese and notes of Chinese cuisine, there wasn't anything on the menu I didn't want to try! A starter of heirloom tomatoes captured the fresh height of summer. A snack of chicken yakitori was fun to eat off a stick as a less formal touch. And the entree of bap was both light and depthful in flavor. Well staffed, clear and vibrant aesthetic accompanied by upbeat musical selections make this a lively choice for a date night.

We celebrated my birthday with a delicious dinner at Oken. Our server was friendly, funny and attentive. The food was amazing - bright flavors, balance of fresh produce, sauces, and featured protein. We had a variety of the menu and enjoyed all the dishes. The decor was creative, but could use slightly better ventilation.

An excellent, albeit somewhat pricey, restaurant offering Korean/Japanese food - I won't say "fusion". The staff was excellent, from the greeting at the door to the helpful guidance about the menu to the rotation of plates, delicious plates, across the entire meal. And the food was excellent. Everything was prepared with care, portions were exactly right leaning towards generous, and for someone who's a veteran of the Bay Area's spectrum of food offerings it was an absolute delight to be surprised by new flavors that in all cases were a joy to experience. All plates are designed to be shared, no tapas-sized dishes here. The seating can be communal, so if you're sensitive to that arrangement get reservations otherwise. I am not, so it added to the experience to share our thoughts about the various dishes we'd ordered. Highly recommended.

We came during what I believe is their soft opening and had a reservation. The space is lovely inside -- stylish and welcoming. We ordered the omelette, beef tartare, and chicken, and all three were absolutely delicious. The flavors were thoughtful and well-executed, and the presentation was great. That said, a few things left us feeling a bit off. From the moment we sat down, our server repeatedly encouraged us to order more food -- not once, but three separate times -- even after we clearly said we were happy with our selection. It felt a bit pushy and detracted from the overall experience. Also, when we ordered the dumpling soup, they casually asked if we wanted rice with it. We said "sure, why not," not realizing it would be a $6 charge. It would've just felt more transparent and considerate to be told the price upfront. Not sure yet if we'll return.

I ADORE Ok's Deli... and so when I found out the Ok's team was opening a restaurant in Rockridge, I was thrilled! I knew it'd be DELICIOUS, THOUGHTFUL, HIGH QUALITY & PACKED WITH FLAVOR. I was lucky enough to snag a table on opening night (during their soft open). While the kitchen is still finding its footing, the dishes that really hit REALLY HIT. Overall, I think the Ok's team has a winner in the making on its hands! They're really creative and elevated takes on Asian American flavors... 5/5 Tuna Carpaccio -- the big eye tuna was served over an avocado emulsion with super high quality olive oil and a super tasty house made nori cracker. IT WAS THE STAR of the night!! Highly recommend this! 4.5/5 Grilled Chicken Remoulade -- this was a surprise! We ordered this on a whim, and it was bursting with flavor! It was deconstructed chicken thigh and leg served with roasted oyster mushrooms and a chili garlic herb sauce that was really tasty. It reminded me of a unique and fine dining twist on the kind of roast chicken you get in Chinatown. 3.75/5 Tsukune Dumpling Soup -- I'd give a 4.25 to the chicken dashi + egg that come with this. They were super silky and delicious! The noodles + dumpling that came with the dish had potential, but were a bit too wheat-y for my taste. My hunch is that as the kitchen evolves this dish, it will also be phenomenal. 3.25/5 Baechu Salad with gobo and cabbage -- This was the only thing we ordered that I would skip because it was a bit bland. (We sat at a communal table, and the folks next to us really loved the Shrimp Omelette and Kalbi Ssam.) The service was super friendly & attentive. Our waiter was really gracious, funny, and perceptive. It was a 5 out of 5 for service! And the Ok's team did a great job remodeling the space from its previous incarnations into a really beautiful quasi open kitchen with about 20-25 tables. I can't wait to see how the team evolves the menu. I was super IMPRESSED by what they pulled off during their soft opening! Congrats Ok's team!

Great new addition to the Oakland restaurant scene. Cabbage salad deserves a standing ovation.

Had the highest expectations for Oken but sadly did not live up. Within 2 minutes of being seated we were curtly reminded that there was another reservation shortly after us and from that moment we felt like the entire experience was rushed. From feeling pressured to take our order ("well, I'll have to put another order in before your table"!) to subsequently missing receiving a few things that we actually ordered (including wine), the experience was overall sub par. Some of the dishes were spectacular- some (the red meat for $50+ were not worth it)

I was skeptical before trying Oken because I knew this corner when it was a mediocre 50's diner, and that's a hard taste to get out of your mouth and memory. However, the redesign is classy and feels surprisingly spacious given the tight quarters. Beyond that, Oken serves some of the freshest most flavorful food I've had in quite some time. We had the mini-sashimi-handrolls, tomato-avocado salad, crispy potatoes, and short rib lettuce wraps. All of it was exceptional. The tomatoes could have been sliced a little smaller/thinner, but the crispy noodles on top gave the dish a playfulness that set it apart. Cooked to perfection and beautifully presented, the meal put on dance party for my taste buds. So good, in fact, I almost did not want to write this review because I don't want the place to become overrun and impossible to get into. Aside from the food, the service was solid. Attentive, but not overbearing. I like to banter with servers a bit, and although that wasn't on the menu, we had everything we needed when we needed it and they let us linger after the last dish without making us feel rushed. My only note: I wish they had a more extensive wine list and served cocktails. If they did, I would probably be here more nights than I can afford.

The food is incredible: delicious, creative, and beautifully presented!! Plus the prices are reasonable for a menu of this quality. (We selected the four fish appetizers and the grilled Romano beans in lieu of entrees.) The food is on par with any of the top-rated restaurants we have been fortunate enough to dine at, including Single Thread and Sun-Moon Studio. However, I wish we could tare the food separately from everything else because the atmosphere and physical space are out of sync with the five-star quality of the dishes. The restaurant is extremely noisy and so crowded that the waitstaff sometimes had trouble navigating between tables. We saw several near-collisions. One of our waiters was rushed and had a flat affect as opposed the second, who served most of our food and added to our enjoyment of the food. One other small issue: The printed menus are illegible -- as if the printer ran out of ink, and the website is no better. Albert Ok, Oken's highly innovative chef, deserves a better showcase for his talents!

Amazing food. Service was hyper attentive (food and drink sometimes cleared before we were ready, but they replaced them) but very kind and personal.

All the food was delicious! Staff were very attentive and the dishes came out quickly. We ordered the yogurt cocktail, kalbi,cabbage salad, and sashimi. I'm very happy this place opened up! A much needed addition to the area.

What a great new local restaurant. We loved the maitake tempura with the dipping sauce. The kalbi short rib ssam with various vegetable wraps and homemade dipping sauce was delicious. Ended with peaches and cream. Great vibes, great service. Support your small local businesses. It's a gem!!

Ambiance is lovely - they did a great remodel of the previous diner. Food and service were both excellent. The menu is unique and the flavors are generally well balanced. I'd give a 5 star rating if it weren't for the unpleasant distraction of a very rushed experience by staff. When the host sat us he warned that our table was reserved for 7pm (we had a 5:30pm reservation). We thought okay, we understand - it's hard for restaurants to make it these days and they need to make sure they do two or three seatings in a night, but then our server also did the same when she greeted us, and AGAIN while taking our order (warning that we would want to make certain we order all the food we wanted then, without add-ons, due to time constraints). And we weren't dawdling; we left at 7:06, so stuck to their 1.5 hr policy. Unfortunately, this detracted from our experience and made it feel very transactional. Although dining out is technically transactional, you never want to feel that way, and while we want to support our local restaurant's success, the experience should be more pleasant in this regard, perhaps stating expected time once, not 3-4 times. There's also a large digital clock on the wall (a la Bear tv show), presumably to keep everyone moving along.

Such an incredible dining experience. We have been to Oken twice and both times were wonderful. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The various wait staff were consistent with their friendly smiles and checking in to see if we needed anything. Water glasses were refilled on a timely basis which is a big point with me. All dishes we tried were highly complimented at the table, admiring their unique combination of flavors and their background sauces. Standouts were the Baechu Salad, Oxtail Jjigae and Yukhwe Onigiri. If you plan on going, I suggest that you go soon. They added a Peaches & Cream to their dessert section and I'm not sure how long it will be there. It was such a surprise and one of the best desserts I have had in awhile. The peaches were perfect and the accompanying yogurt whip and omija sugar was unexpected visual and tasteful delight. One suggestion, I would order dishes throughout the meal. The courses come out too quickly to fully enjoy their individual tastes and textures.