Wa Dining Okan

Incredible seafood at Wa Dining Okan! Was not prepared for how delicious everything was. We ordered the chirashi bowl, zeitaku udon, scallop and uni carpaccio, and grilled rice ball broth with eel. The uni was amazing. Great service, food comes out quick. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Highly recommend!

The food at Okan is fire. Authentic Japanese style, very tasty, at a reasonable price. The curry udon and grilled onigiri were super good. We will be coming back again!

Super friendly staff and so many options to choose from on the menu including specials. Atmosphere feels homey with authentic dishes. Would recommend trying this place out if you want small Japanese eatery vibes. Octopus fried tentacles were delicious, Kama was good, set meals were also great.

Updated May 2025: Sashimi: A Yellowtail Collar: A Pork Belly/Rib Eye beef/Chicken Wing BBQ: B Soft Shell Crab: S Rice Ball in Broth (Salmon): A Tuna Sushi Bowl: A 釜飯: S Ramen: A Black Sesame Pudding/Ice Cream: A Vibe/Service: A

Great place for authentic izakaya! Good service and delicious Japanese food!

This is a quaint Japanese restaurant with pretty good food for lunch or a casual dinner. I had the Yakiniku Beef BBQ and my wife ordered the Miso Salmon. Both were good and we would return if in the area, just wouldn't make a special trip to eat here. The service is good, friendly and the wait time is normal to minimal. The atmosphere is a typical one for this type of restaurant and it's conveniently located next door to Nijiya Market. Parking is challenging as this lot is always full and busy.

We were visiting from out of town and heard about this place and wanted to try it out. The restaurant is quite cozy with only a couple of tables and the bar. There was already a line waiting for the place to open when we arrived around d 4:45pm on a Friday. We were waiting in line for a while but then we saw the note that all in a party must be present to be seated, and we had to give up our place in the queue as we have toddlers napping in the car. We were lucky to still have a table once everyone else in the queue were seated and we woke up the kids. Menu offers a large selection and a lot of things look amazing. We ordered salmon sashimi, scallop skewers, beef tongue skewers, tonkotsu ramen, and kettle rice with sea urchin and salmon roe. Everything was delicious! The sashimi and sea urchin were especially fresh and tasty. Also want to thank the wait staff for being patient with our party with several small kids, appreciate it!

Really busy store but I really enjoy the food! The place is a little crowded. The portion of the food is similar to what you get in Japan, and so is the quality. So far I feel like this place resembles what you might get in Japan, small portion but higher quality.

They have an awesome lunch menu which drew us here for a little day date. Most items were $16 or less that comes with a rice and miso soup. We got the sukiyaki and pork katsu curry and they were both delicious. The portions were surprisingly generous. The flavors and textures were on point. We got the eel rice bowl add on to replace the white rice. Although this was so delicious, it was definitely not needed as the lunch deals were more than enough food. Service was ok. Really small restaurant with mainly bar seatings. It's pretty cramped and hard to maneuver in and out of your table. The inside reminded me so much of Japan. Will for sure be back to try other items.

Decent service and great food! It is a Japanese restaurant on the smaller side, and the staff all speak Japanese. I like how the menu has pictures of the actual food, so you have the right expectations. I think it'd be great to have a best sellers or specialties something of the like. I ended up going with the spicy tuna hand roll and the Yaki udon. My boyfriend ordered the wagyu skewers and the mentaiko butter udon. The service was quick, and especially having bar seating made it faster since we were right by the servers. The spicy tuna roll was great. The Yaki udon was okay. The sauce left on the plate was more of a soup-consistency. The mentaiko butter udon, however, blew me away! What a delicious sauce! If you get any dish here, and if you're a noodle fan, please try the mentaiko butter udon!

Went here with some friends and it was pretty good! They have a large selection, so I tried the salmon and avocado rice dish, I thought it was delicious and refreshing! I also tried the salmon onigiri but thought the rice to salmon ratio was too much. There was barely any salmon... There's not much seating indoors so we sat outside. I noticed there were so many flies flying around in the corner, some were kind of flying in our area, so that was kind of bothersome. It's in a larger parking lot (which is nice since Convoy is known for all these restaurants in cramped plazas), so parking is not too bad. I do recommend making a reservation if you want to sit inside since there's not much space in there. Our server was very sweet and attentive, despite how busy it was getting. I would definitely come back to try other things on the menu.

I've come here a handful of times and have always enjoyed the authentic meals here. Today, I ordered saba-shio (broiled salted mackerel) and a side of pickled vegetables (tsukemono). Their seasoning is more Japanese than Japanese American - less sweet, more subtle. Because of this, I enjoy their take in keeping a more traditional palette. There's tons of things you won't find at most Japanese restaurants, so it's worth checking out. One thing I love to eat is sukiyaki, and theirs reminds me of fond memories growing up.

After about a 15-20 minute wait, my group of 3 were sat inside the snug and cozy restaurant. The duck ramen was super flavorful and rich. The bamboo shoots gave the dish some different texture and crunch. The amount of duck was pretty good. Spicy cucumbers were a refreshing side. They aren't the chili oil type, but more lightly salted and seasoned but in a good way.

This is a small establishment sits about 50 or less inside, but they also have outdoor seating that they have set up. It's tucked away in a corner in a very busy strip mall. We went on a Saturday night, waited about 10 mins for seats to open up inside. We sat at the counter/bar area and were promptly greeted by the servers. There were 2 servers that were delivering food and busing tables, and I was surprised how attentive they are. Our order was taken and our drinks were promptly delivered. We ordered 3 items to share between 2 of us. Tempura combo- this had shrimp and a mix of various vegetables. It was served fresh and warm, very delicious Pork belly kushi - we expected a bit more from this as the pictures made it seem bigger portion, but it was still good. Udon noddles w/pork stir fried with vegetables- this was our favorite. Thin slices of pork meat sit fired with udon noddles which were a perfect consistency. Portion was perfect to share. Definitely will be back to try more items on the menu.

Tiny, tiny spot with a u shaped bar alongside indoor seating and additional patio seating. Lots of traditional Japanese dishes to choose from. I ordered their lunch special that was miso grilled salmon and a tempura mini bowl. It came with miso soup and three small appetizers. Very delicious and filling. Service was quick. Parking is an issue during peak times. I will definitely come back to this place!

We came on a very empty stomach, excited to try Japanese food in San Diego. Parking was the usual busy in the plaza on a Sunday but since it was only 11 am, we quickly found spots. There wasn't a wait at all and we sat outside. Service was fine and while this spot feels more hole in the wall with its setup and ambiance, the food was yummy! He ordered the beef curry udon and I ordered the mentaiko udon. The mentaiko was so creamy and popping with flavor! Thought unexpected, I liked the mushrooms. Noodles were cooked just right and it was very filling. He enjoyed his dish too so good on all fronts for us! Will definitely come back to try other dishes!

Great restaurant in Convoy. Yummy food. I really like their duck soba and chicken curry. The sashimi is fresh! Recommend this place! It's super good! Parking: Still packed and small parking spaces, but so much easier to find parking in this lot than any other place in convoy.

This was a flop and perhaps open table on a Friday night was the cue Winner: eel rice. Takes 25 mins to cook but worth the wait. Shishito peppers are soggy Egg omelette is bland Wagyu beef shasimi chewy Tuna hand roll not pictured NOT fresh I stopped taking pics after the 4th dish but we ordered at least 14. One server to serve the center sushi bar is not enough The other taller server was flushed red drinking with this other table that had an elderly couple The ambiance was just NO. NO music. NO service in the beginning. We tipped 25% because we can tell our sever was young and friendly but inexperienced or at least not familiar with the menu

A cute and cozy spot for Japanese food. I've been here a few times. This time I tried the yakiniku bento box but it wasn't my favorite. The chicken thigh skewers were delicious though! Would come back here to try a different bento box, or get the udon again

Tasty, quaint and reminiscent of street restaurants in Tokyo. Recommended to anyone looking for authentic Japanese Cuisine.

get the Creamy Mentai udon ! its not too salty and its perfectly creamy and flavorful !

Enjoyed our experience at Wa Dining OKAN but honestly expected more, given how highly this place is rated on Yelp and the sheer number of fantastic reviews it has received. Wa Dining OKAN's interior is intimate with a few tables and mostly bar seating. Service was friendly and attentive. We ordered the monkfish liver (4/5, nothing special), the salmon rice ball in soup (3/5, the rice ball was hard), the butter mentaiko udon (4/5, very heavy garlic and butter flavors), the chicken thigh skewer with salt (2/5, very dry and overcooked), the chicken wings with sauce (2/5, very small wings and also overcooked), and the eel kettle rice (4/5, eel was tasty but it tastes exactly as you'd expect and is nothing special). Overall, Wa Dining OKAN has a nice ambiance and food is not bad, but I wouldn't come here solely for food alone.

Popped in for dinner and was a bit overwhelmed by the choices! I decided on the soy ramen and scallops. They were both delicious!! The scallops were nicely grilled and we got 2 skewers for $7. I also ordered the soy ramen, I did not have high expectations. But it came out hot, with strong garlicky broth, 2 slices of chashu and a boiled egg. I really enjoyed it! The noodles had a nice bite. The small dining area is comfy and intimate. The servers were attentive and I could tell the were concerned that the ramen didn't come out the same time as our udon. Unfortunately, they are part of a popular strip mall with Najima Market and a few other popular Asian restaurants. So, parking is tight. But it's worth the wait.

Food was great, my favorite was the creamy mentai udon. We got the butter mentai udon, but the creamy was better in my opinion. Butter one was more on the salty side and didn't have much sauce to it. Other appetizers were good, but I would be back for the udon again!

Wa Dining Okan is a long-time corner staple in the Convoy Plaza, always serving excellent and authentic Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is relatively small but there is a shaded patio for extra patrons. Whether you are here for lunch or dinner, the offerings are always fresh and great value. Recommendations: Crab Avocado Salad, Sea Urchin Scallop Carpaccio, (any sushi), Syukiyaki, Prime Skirt, Pork Cheek, Kettle Eel Rice, Uni Udon, Homemade pudding, Black Sesame Pudding

This is a small hole in the wall type of Japanese restaurant with no frills. But it's tasty and authentic. We just wanted a few bites to satisfy our cravings so we stopped in here around 7:30pm on a Saturday night to try it out. We ordered the fried squid, A braised pork belly bowl, and the sashimi carpaccio. We liked everything we ordered but the fried squid seemed over fried in old oil. The pork belly bowl was rice in flavor and just tasted like how style cooking . I loved the sashimi carpaccio as it was very fresh! I'll be back to try other items in their menu next time!

I really like this place. Ambiance is nothing to get excited over but it's simple, small, consistent and the price is right. Service is hit or miss but overall okay. I want to say they've messed up my order each time and some dishes definitely take longer than others but it's hard to complain when it comes out piping hot and tasty. They offer a variety of dishes and so you almost have to go back multiple times to be able to try everything on the menu. Each time I go, I walk away feeling satisfied. I love izakaya and I love Japan...this hits the spot. FYI- going at an off hour will get you in the door alittle faster

Great place for home style comfort Japanese food. We went during dinner and it was a little busy, but we got a table outside. We initially wanted to try the creamy mentai udon that everyone raves about, but decided on the butter mentai udon (which doesn't have the cream sauce but is served with an egg) since we wanted something lighter that day. The udon is super satisfying and the noodles are coated with a butter mentai mixture. It's then topped with a dollop of mentai for you to mix in for the extra umami. We also got the blue crab and mushroom kettle rice. It says on the menu it takes about 20 min to cook, so it was served after we were almost done with the udon. The flavors are on the lighter side, but we kept going back for more bites of it because of the fragrance (maybe shiso?) of the rice. Ambiance/Servic: The place is quite small, but we were seated within 10 minutes outside as a party of 4 without a reservation.

(This review is from a visit on Oct 29 of 2023) We came in as soon as it opened and there was already a decent line, so be prepared for the demand to overwhelm seating options. That said, food was excellent! Truffle Fries, Salmon bowl, and pork belly/wagyu skewers were a solid 10/10. This is a real Japanese establishment with very authentic fare. The butter cream mentai udon was good but a bit out there flavor wise, maybe not for everyone. Will definitely be back!

Food: 4/5 Service: 2.5/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Service was not great-- not very friendly and pretty slow. Our appetizers came out after our entrees. The place itself is fine, a bit run down. Needs a facelift, huge stack of menus in front of us at the bar making it very cluttered. We liked the Tempura Udon-- great fresh noodles and crispy flavorful tempura. The cucumber appetizer was very good as well, although a small portion. Chicken thigh (soy) skewers were very good, small portion again. Our Sapporos on draft came out with a lot of foam and not filled to the brim.. I would return again for the food but I'll try a different udon spot before coming back.

This place was on my list for so long that I was beyond excited to finally try it. Umm, you know that feeling of something missing in your food? This place gave me that. Food: Everything was okay and just that. Nothing stood out to me or my friends. The pork cheek and the udon were bland and karaage was dry. I guess if I had to pick something I'd say I liked the chicken skewers. The portion sizes were small and the food felt overpriced for the taste and sizes they were serving. Service: We had a reservation so we were seated within 10 minutes of checking in with the host. The food came in quick which was good. The staff was really friendly Ambiance: Nice and cozy vibes. In all: I might just refrain from trying again.

[Food] - Spicy Cucumber ($6): Yum! Can never go wrong with this. Crunchy and refreshing - Uni & Scallop Carpaccio (MP): Fresh, rich, and flavorful! Fun to try out. - Takowasa ($6): Pretty good as always. Another appetizer you can't go wrong with. I must say I love the ones with more wasabi. - Sake Steamed Asari Clams ($9.50): There was a bit of sand but I can forgive that. Love the lightness and juicyness of the dish. - Tororo Soba ($13.50): I enjoyed this more than I thought. The broth was refreshing from the plum/shisho and light as it was a cold broth. Perfect for the summer! [Service] - Parking can be packed so plan accordingly! Best to make reservations - Walk in is best during first hour of opening for no wait - Friendly, attentive, fast [Ambiance] - Pretty small space but they also have outdoor seating as well [Overall] I come here to eat every time I'm in the area. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants as I've been here multiple times prior to this review.

Try their Mentai Butter Udon. This was so creamy and filling for the portion. The buttery taste definitely shines in the dish. The presentation of the dish is so pretty and if you eat with your eyes, get this dish. The service is really quick. The place gets busy because of how good it is, so there may be a little wait.

Came during lunch time on a Saturday and were able to be seated immediately. In traditional Japanese fashion, the inside seating area is pretty small but they do have a couple of tables outside. The Pork Katsu Curry was flavorful and crispy! The curry itself was good and the meat was tender and juicy. We also got the Hotate Butter rice dish which takes 20 minutes to prepare. It comes with scallops, corn, and butter. Overall it was a simple and subtle dish with not too much flavor (not in bad way). It felt like a very homemade type dish that you would get from someone's Japanese family. A solid and delicious bowl of rice.

The name "Okan" means "Mother" in Japanese, and just like mom's home cooking, the restaurant has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Upon entry, there is a U-shaped wooden bar and a few tables. Their menu features authentic homestyle Japanese cuisine, from noodles to rice dishes, and emphasizes a variety of dishes with fresh meats and veggies. This is my FAVORITE Japanese restaurant in San Diego. I have been here many times, and I never had a disappointing experience. Due to its compact spacing, the biggest hurdle of dining at this restaurant is the wait during busy hours. I suggest either coming early or later during their opening hours. What I ordered: LUNCH SET MENU - MISO SALMON (Miso-Grilled Salmon with White Rice, Miso Soup, and Sides) - Only sold during lunch hours from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. When you see this lunch set, you will be surprised at how simple this meal looks and wonder if you can replicate this at home. The short answer is Yes, but will it taste the same? Simplicity is overcoming complexity to create good food. And this is why I love their meals. It passed the presentation test as well as the taste test. The salmon was cooked nicely, and I even finished their sides (wakame seaweed, eggplant, and a root-based dish). The price was under $15 and reasonable.

Always so grateful for this spot, definitely my top pick in San Diego so far from the time I've lived here. I've introduced people to this spot on three seperate occasions and had to remind them to gatekeep since I hate waiting LOL and I really like the atmosphere of the place. It's a lot of families and I don't want it to see it become oversaturated or have the vibe change if the clientele does. Everyone I've brought here loves the food and the prices are great. On some evenings it can get busy and you do have to wait outside since you can't provide your number to them. The longest I've waited was around 30 minutes on a weekend night. Also it is a really small spot so turnaround on tables may take a while. Love the menu here since it's so unique and the service is great as well

Great lunch specials. You cannot go wrong with any item on the lunch special menu . Enough food so you don't get the itis. i recommend sitting at the bar for a true Japanese dine in feeling. Great atmosphere for conversation as well.

When first entering the location, we were greeted promptly. The ambiance was soft and had a unique touch. The music was soft not to loud, so we can carry a conversations with ease. We ordered the boiled octopus. I'm not sure if it was previously frozen or just over cooked but it was extremely hard and chewy with minimal flavor. Second was the steamed clams in sake. The clams themselves were soft and juicy, however I didn't care for the flavor profile it came with. It felt like it was in a meaty broth and I was in the mood for the fish finish. My wife also ordered the sea urchin and scallop carpaccio and it had inconsistent flavor. The stars of the show are the yellowtail sashimi for me and for my wife was the sweet shrimp. Yellow tail was melt in your mouth. My wife loved the sweet shrimp. When it first was placed down she was sad that the heads of the shrimp were not fried as she loves to munch on that part after. After she finished the main part of the shrimp the server came over and offered to fry the shrimp heads. She was extremely happy. The service was 5, as food felt hit or miss. More of a 3. Will consider coming again, will try some noodles as it seems like what they specialize in.

This small and cozy restaurant blew me away, and became one of my favorite Japanese restaurant in convoy. They're tucked away in the corner of the plaza, and it's an intimate place with limited indoor seating. I was able to get a seat in the bar. I tried the uni pasta, salmon sashimi, and sukiyaki. The pasta was so good, it was a bit expensive though. I'm a big fan of the sashimi as well, it was buttery and didn't have a super fishy taste. The sukiyaki took longer to come out, and the portion size is small. The servers are very friendly.

I've been meaning to eat here so when we did, I was excited. So expensive, portions are so small so a $20 meal won't even fill you up. Meals are $19-38 each. The size of the food is so small. You would feel robbed. You will feel disappointed as the small food portions are delivered to your table. Appetizers are over $10 maybe and portion size is also very small as well. They likely want you to order 1 appetizer per person because even for one person this appetizer is too small and therefore very overpriced. The hand soap in the bathroom is so diluted with water that you can't clean your hands before you eat. Makes you think why they're charging this much and does not want to give back even in the form of providing decent hand soap for guests. Nothing special with their food. No ambience. We won't be coming back.

I finally came here after seeing the good reviews and a family member suggesting this place to me. Sadly, it did not live up to my expectations. I usually don't mind the wait if the food place is a popular spot so the wait was around an hour on the weekend. It makes sense since the place is fairly small. There are a few inside and outside seating. The food was okay. The ramen was a bit on the saltier side the day I went and I didn't expect the skewers to be so small. The service was also extremely slow when I went for some reason. The time it took for the food to come out was long and even when we finished eating, the bill took a long time to come as well. Overall, this place was okay. If I go again, I would definitely try something else on the menu!

In the mood for Japanese tapas!? Then this is a must try spot. Seating is limited so I recommend you come early or expect to wait 30-45 min on the weekends. As for the food! You gotta try the uni and salmon roe bowl, it was fresh and flavorful. My personal favorite was the curry udon, so simple but so delicious. Service was also a 10/10 for me, as busy as they were they always checked up on us. Would I come back again? Yes.

Wa Dining is one of me and my husband's favorite little spots! The food is just your classic Izakaya style typa food and we like the small bites. It's a bit pricey if you're extremely hungry and wanna be completely full but if you want a few bites or a decent size meal then this is the spot! Don't rly expect leftovers haha. The ambiance is great, there's indoor and outdoor seating but it's pretty small overall. I wouldn't come here with over a party of 4. There's usually only 2 servers working but they have always been attentive and fast! There can also be a long wait time, so I suggest coming early or with a smaller party!

Omg this place is to die for. Cute Japanese restaurant with some of the best creamy udon noodle dishes I've ever had. - Uni udon (4.5/5): Super delicious creamy udon dish topped off with uni! The noodles are perfectly bouncy and I really enjoyed the sauce and flavor. It was a bit fishy for me, but after mixing everything in, it tasted amazing. - Creamy mentaiko udon (5/5): I liked this a lot more than the uni udon. I felt that it had a lot more flavor, and there was a bit of spice in the sauce! The mentaiko was also very delicious and I would definitely get it again. Service was okay, it was absolutely packed at around 6pm on a Friday night and there were only 1-2 servers, so that's understandable.

Stopped in on a Sunday right around opening at 11 (before Hurricane Hilary, thank God they were still open!). We were the first table of the day and seated right away. The place itself is pretty dimly lit (think of a Hollister or A&F circa 2010) For a table of three, we ordered the sashimi salad, salmon onigiri, and the nabeyaki udon. The sashimi salad had fresh salmon, tuna and yellowtail with a soy sesame dressing- refreshing and yummy. The onigiri was warm with fluffy rice. The udon was a smidge too salty for me but the rest of our group enjoyed it- good chew on the noodle and overall decent flavor of the soup. Would definitely come back when in town! Their lunch menu has a lot to offer and the prices are decent.

Im always in awe when I come here because the the uni udon always wins my heart. Every-time I eat it, my body and soul melts bc it is so creamy and delicious. Eating this is probably my most favorite thing I've ever eaten... every time. Perfect bit of saltiness yet creamy from the uni 6/5 rating hehe Sashimi plate was so good, however tuna always falls a bit short. Tasted like it was frozen previously so that wasnt too great. Yellowtail was mouth watering though!!! Amazing quality. Salmon was just ok, had better. 4/5 overall Braised pork belly appetizer- meat was a bit tough and a little dry for me but perfect for my partner 4/5 Takoyaki 4.5/5 Service is always so great and staff is always so kind and sweet

For a triple date night six of us dined here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. When my partner and I arrived the restaurant was packed. This establishment is a small space and tables are placed near one another. There is also a bar area for diners. The group order Braised Pork Belly and Boiled Egg, Raw Octopus, Pickled Vegetable, Fresh Cucumbers with Spicy Soy Dressing, Seared Vinegared Mackerel with Ponzu Sauce, Thin Sliced Beef Tongue, Deep Fried Shrimp Sweet Mayo Sauce, Deep Fried Chicken Gizzards, Deep Fried Octopus, Grilled Rice Balls, Fresh Water Eel with Sweet Soy, Blue Crab and Mushroom, Scallop Yellow Corn Mushroom and Butter, Salmon Belly, along with a couple carpaccio dishes. My favorite dishes were: Pickled Vegetable, Deep Fried Baby Octopus, Raw Octopus, and the Salmon and Salmon Roe. We didn't order the Salmon and Salmon Roe dish and we thought it was the Salmon Belly which is why we ate it. Even though the servers were friendly the service was slow because there were only two servers for the entire restaurant. Also, there were several mistakes such as mistakenly giving our the table the Salmon and Salmon Roe dish (which was a pleasant surprise because it was by the best dish!), and the servers forgot two of our dishes. Overall, it was a nice dining experience.

Disappointing Dining Experience If you're looking for a satisfying meal, steer clear of this place. Despite the positive reviews, my experience was far from pleasant. Not only were the prices sky-high, but the food lacked any semblance of flavor. Save your money and your taste buds elsewhere.

I came in with a lot of expectations for this place but I did not leave fully satisfied:( The skewers that I was badly craving were so small I couldn't justify the $10 I spent on them... The pork and vegetable stir fried udon were just mediocre, it was weirdly fishy in my opinion too because of the flakes. Definitely would not order again. The squid legs were good and the batter was delicious but nothing too special. Last but definitely not least, the creamy mentai udon noodles was unfortunately the only dish I fully enjoyed. The roe was not too spicy, but did have a little kick to it so mix that in with the creamy white sauce and you have *the* perfect plate. Overall, our total came out to $52 so it wasn't too bad. I would come back again to try different things but wouldn't order anything again except for the creamy mentai udon. Parking was easy to find but if you're new to the plaza, make sure to look in the corner crevice to find the restaurant! :)

We had the Creamy Mentai Butter Udon, the Curry Udon and an assorted plate of veggies tempura! Food: Had a wide range of selections! Definitely would love to come back to try other dishes. The food that we ordered was yummy but we did feel quite heavy afterwards. For some reason I was yawning mid meal lol Service: Great. We sat at bar and felt very well taken care of. They don't bother checking in on us but it wasn't like they were rude so we appreciated the distance. Ambience: Very small but it felt super homey. Overall, I wouldn't order the same thing again but would love to come back to try other foods!

Stumbled upon Wa Dining OKAN after my friend and I were looking for a Japanese restaurant to eat at. The restaurant is cozy and has a couple of tables including a bar-seating area. Service was also very fast; we walked in around 7:30PM on a weekday, and were seated immediately. I ordered the chilled soba noodles w / dipping sauce, and my friend ordered the mentai butter udon, and we also shared pork belly and chicken skewers. The food was amazing - the udon was the perfect texture, and the soba was refreshing to eat. The pork belly skewer, however, felt a little overcooked, but was still delicious to eat. The menu has so many different options, I think I'll definitely swing by in the near future to try out other dishes as well :)

Came here for a Father's Day celebration. First of all, service was amazing! Waiters kept checking in on us and took the time to give us recommendations. We were sat in a little booth, and the ambiance was perfect for a celebration. We ordered a wide variety from their grilled skewers. Our favorites were the chicken meatball and scallops! We did try the wagyu beef, but it was a bit dry and tough to chew on :( We really enjoyed the dakimashi, sukiyaki ramen, and eel rice cooked in a kettle. We did feel that everything was a little salty though. I think the eel rice was the star of the show!

Food: Overall very tasty. The fried soft shell crab has a little fishy smell though. I really like the fried baby octopus and oysters. The oysters are really tender and juicy. Love their sesame ice cream, very authentic. Thinly sliced beef tongues and eel rice in a kettle was okay but not impressive. Wouldn't recommend their pork cheek and skewers. The skewers are way too tiny. Service: Okay-ish. The waitresses don't even respond when other guests left and said goodbye. They just mind their own business and the two chat with each other in Japanese when they're not serving. Ambiance: Japanese izakaya style. Half the seats are bar seats, while the other half are table seats. The place is small and probably barely holds 20 people.

Cant get enough of this Japanese tapas spot. This place is one of my favorites. The uni creamy udon is a must try. We also indulged in vinegared mackerel sushi, grilled salmon belly, sea urchin and scallop carpaccio and beef tongue skewers- all equally mouthwatering.

I think I found my favorite chirashi bowl place in SD...for only $28, you can get a bunch of sashimi AND uni and ikura?? I loved all the scallop dishes and especially the uni pieces (I may have ordered an extra uni and ikura hand roll ). My husband ordered the mackerel sushi and grilled squid, and both of us were more than satisfied with all the dishes, polite service, and amazing Japanese food!!

This was the first spot I ever tried Japanese food in SD and let me tell you this place has one of the best Japanese cuisine! They have a variety of dishes and most type of dishes that are similar to that you can find in Japan as well. Ever since I ate here once, I'm always back here every time I visit the area from the Bay Area. My favorite is the mentai creamy udon. I really have found another place that sells this dish, it's more specialized I think. The service is very fast and attentive. The interior is small, but I think it adds to the authenticity and coziness of it all. ご馳走様でした！

Came here for lunch with families and everything was delicious. The takoyaki was absolutely my favorite, it was super authentic and great price to value. In additional to the ones pictured, I ordered a daily special of salmon stomach that took ~25 mins to make but turned out to be quite fresh and well flavored. The vibe of the restaurant reminded me of those small diners in Japan and the servers are all super kind and friendly. Would 100% come back!

Not sure what it is, but we have been on a Japanese restaurant kick lately. Wa Dining Okan was one of our recent visits on our list of restaurants. We have been wanting to dine here for the longest time, but we would forget, or go and they would be closed. They close each day from 2pm - 5 pm. This time, we planned it so we would be there when they opened for dinner at 5pm. They opened at 5 pm sharp. First impressions when walking in, the inside Dining area is not that big. Maybe 4-6 tables and bar style seating around the middle of the restaurant. They also have 4-5 tables for outside dining. After looking through the menu and at pictures on Yelp, we ordered: Miso Soup (3/5) Takoyaki (3/5) Marinated Shrimp (4/5) Shitake Mushrooms (3/5) Grilled Rice Rolls (4/5) Grilled Scallop (4/5) Grilled Chicken Thigh (4/5) Marinated Prime Beef Skirt (4.5/5) Home Style Pudding with Black Honey (4/5) Food was pretty good. With regards to taste, I put the dishes on par with Ju-ichi minus the presentation. It is a little pricey here, but not as pricey as Ju-ichi. My favorite dish was the Marinated Prime Beef Skirt... juicy, tender, and flavorful! Parking can get difficult here during peak hours in this shopping center. It is part of Convoy as well, so there's that too. Oftentimes, I drop the wifey off so she can get us a table and I'll find parking on the street. Service was okay. Initially, the server was alone and then 20-30 minutes later, another server arrived. They were personable and answered questions and checked on us during our meal. The place did get busy while we were there and soon got packed. I think reservations are probably a good idea. We are fans and will definitely be returning. 4.3 / 5: Food 4.3 / 5: Service 4 / 5: Cleanliness 4.2 / 5: Overall (rounded up to 5 for being delicious)