Legit good Japanese izakaya-style place specializing in okonomiyaki. Overall all the food is solid if not spectacular but certainly better than you might expect in London. Even though your okonomiyaki options in London are limited, they're still strangely plentiful compared to the USA where the embrace of Japanese food culture is much more codified into life; it's still strange to me that during the last 30 years the Japanese cuisine that took off was sushi instead of ramen and all things izakaya. But here in the UK capital you have Abeno, which is good but takes itself a little too seriously for what is supposed to be the most casual and customer-focused of dishes (the translation is basically "as you want it"), and Jeux Jeux which is solidly meh. Okan sits right inbetween and feels as close as you can get to eating the famous dish in Osaka. I don't want to stretch that comparison too far but squint a bit and suddenly you might imagine for a moment you're eating in the middle of Shinsekai instead of Brixton. You can order your okonomiyaki as western as you like it (take out all that seafood, add the cheese!) and it'll still be just as delicious if you had ordered something closer to the spirit of the "nation's kitchen". Vibe is good, food is good, people are pleasant. Recommended! read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Okonomiyaki of course! - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Just happened upon this specialized okonomiyaki place in Brixton Market, but the food is top quality. I guess such goodness comes from cooking the same item over and over, until it gets to perfection. The okonomiyaki here has a good balance between salty, tart, sweet and savory, without anything too overpowering. The portion is quite generous and well executed. Personally, I found it to be quite authentic Japanese street food. Service is super friendly and attentive, even though it's essentially a food stall. It's easy to tell why this place was able to expand to several different locations in London. Good job! read more

Whoa! Great Japanese street food! So I totally fell in love with Brixton market today on our walk through - so many cool stores and hip places to check out - but took one look at this place and decided we had to come back for dinner. One green salad, yuzu and honey tea, and savory pancake later, I'm super sated and very happy we stopped in here. All the food was lovingly crafted, the flavors were great, and the staff was helpful but not overbearing. Yay! read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Special pancake with squid, prawns, kimchi, and corn. - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Yattaaaaaa!! Okan made me very very happy! Finally London has decent, inexpensive and authentic tasting Okonomiyaki. Yay!! (I know central London has Abenos...but I was never keen on that place) Okonomiyaki is the ultimate comfort food. It is a bit like a fat, cabbage filled pancake; you choose your favourite toppings, then they make it for you. You can pay an extra pound to have yakisoba on top (a 'modern-yaki') I had the Okan special (with squid, prawns, kimchi and corn), while my boyfriend tried the pork and noodles option. Nom nom nom. We also tried the 'onasu' which was a bit like nasu-dengaku, so squidgy, aubergine joy. The waitress made a mistake, so we actually had two portions of this (she decided to let us munch it when she arrived to see we had just finished the previous bowlful.) The owner is from Osaka (this is probably why it tastes so good...Osaka folks grow up on this stuff- it's never as good over in Tokyo!) The only way it could be better is if they had those tables with the hot plates so we could make the Okonomi ourselves. However the lazy side of me likes okan just the way it is. read more

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Every time I've passed by this place it has been full, so I was excited to find a table. They primarily make two things: okonomiyaki (a Japanese pancake street food with various fillings) or noodles, again with a variety of ingredients. The great thing about okonomiyaki is that you can choose what to put in it and this customisable element is what this restaurant loves. I went for their special which is seafood based and I loved it but you can plea around and create it the way you like it. I think the pancake is better than the noodles so get that and then a starter. I recommend the aubergine. The kagua beer is really good too and rare as it used to be only one guy making it in Japan and it has only recently been licensed to a Belgian brewery too. In general, the food is delicious and you should go try it out and the atmosphere feels very authentic, they even have Japanese music playing in the radio (which I ended up shazaming to find what they were). Go eat there... Go now... read more

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Check me out getting down with the Japanese vibe! I thought it was about time to try Okan & it was worth the wait. Announcing on their menus that they made 'authentic street food', I was intrigued as I had no idea what that meant. Scanning the the line up, I spotted a dish that had all my favourite things - squid, prawns, kimchi (huh?) and sweetcorn. 'The Okan special for me please', completed unnoticed by me that is was nested under okonomiyaki, not that I knew what that was either. When the giant bubble and squeak looking hash arrived, I was a little surprised having expected a noodle dish, but got stuck in anyway. It actually did taste like bubble meets an omelette - eggs, cabbage, onion and all of the above goodies. I was a little disappointed there was no bit to it, and when I asked the waitress for some chili she said there weren't any to be had. Sad face. Things to know. - You may need to queue, Okan is small and popular. - It's BYO. Not sure if cockage is charged. - Not the place for a hot intimate date as you may need to share a table. - Cash only. Definitely one to bookmark & try! read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Okan Special! - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

I never tried okonomiyaki before so this was cool to try! Tried some from my friend who ordered it. It tasted like an omelette with all types of vegetables (and meat of whatever kind you desire) mixed in. We came from a nearby coffee shop and the hosts were unhappy for us to keep the cups; however they allowed us to pour our coffee into their restaurant cups which was nice of them :) read more

We were wandering round the village on the hunt for Asian food when, lucky us, we spied a spare table at Okan. Japanese it was. I realised I'd been before. All I remember is: eurgh, fish flakes! no-one seems to have mentioned the fish flakes. I love fish, btw, just not when it overpowers all other ingredients. I avoided the pungent, unwelcome taste by ordering the veggie cheese and corn pancake - mercifully fish-free. Packed with crunchy veg, stringy cheese and sweetcorn. My companion seemed happy with their huge portion of noodles. And, we washed our food down with beer and plum wine. If you like a powerful, fishy taste, you'll love Okan. If not? Ask them not to add the flakes - or go veggie. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Cheese and sweetcorn pancake sans fish - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

While wandering around the Brixton Market, I came across this okonomiyaki place and immediately knew where I had to eat dinner. I've only had okonomiyaki once before, in Soho, but it was delicious, and it's hard to find anywhere outside of big cities. They have the traditional flavors as well as some interesting ones. Out of intrigue, I ordered the mochi and cheese okonomiyaki, and it was delicious. Basically a big pancake made from cabbage, rice-based mochi (which is usually sweet, but was savory in this case) and cheese, with a magical sauce on top. Yum. The place was small, but the service was good, and I had a happy, filling meal. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Mochi and cheese okonomiyaki! - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

I had never heard of okonomiyaki before so was excited to try it and enjoyed the pork & kimchi option although personally I didn't really like the mayonnaise component, it was quite overpowering. The starter set is a nice combination of edamame, salad, kimchi and some of kind of delicious aubergine. Enjoyed the black rice tea too, although apparently it shouldn't have come brewed from a bag? Not an expert on tea at all...I liked it. I think I heard one of the waiters saying they just got their alcohol licence, jfyi. Still cash only though. Overall I have to say that I found Brixton Village Market a weird experience. The restaurants and other business are fun, innovative and beautifully presented, but it's kind of sad to see this area being taken over by hipsters. read more

Fantastic king prawn okonomiyaki: chock full of prawn, huge size and drenched with Worcestershire sauce. Amazing flavors: salty, sweet and I'm between. I got it for takeaway and it was just as delicious at home. Make sure to have plenty of napkins as it's messy! I went around 5pm/5:30pm on a Friday and it was quiet; later and on the weekends it's slammed. They DO accept card so not sure why the description says cash only. read more

So this review is for the county hall location, but I HAD to write a review because of their OKONOMIYAKI!! It seriously took me back to my time in Osaka! Oh the nostalgia!! The miso udon and curry rice were also wonderful. What a lovely treat for our short stay in London!!! If I lived here I would seriously be back all the time. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Delicious! Also it was quite cheap. I'll visit nexttime if I get there. They have limited space so if you get there around 12-1 lunchtime. There are going to be some queue. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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This place, while tiny, consistently serves very tasty okonomiyaki (think japanese bubble and squeak meets bbq pizza then forget all that and just enjoy it) and yakisoba - or both at the same time if you're feeling greedy. You'll probably have to share a table if there's fewer than 4 of you, and if there's more than that you'll probably have to sit outside (not that much fun in the winter, although there are blankets). I kind of miss the seats at the counter that they used to have for single diners (sniff sniff) but I can see why they needed the extra space for the extra grill and for space to move inside. I'd recommend the pork (with kimchi if you like it spicy) okonomiyaki if it's your first time. Thin slices of pork are added to the base ingredients and fried near crisp. Oodles of okonomiyaki sauce (sort of like HP but again, forget that, it's completely different) is basted on the thick pancakes until they get a deep lustrous shine, and it's all then dribbled with Japanese mayo - slightly sweeter than ours - and topped with seaweed powder and dried fish shavings that waft magically in the heat! It sounds like it shouldn't work but it does, in an amazing umami-savoury way. While you're here you should also try the onasu - their take on nasu dengaku: aubergine in a sweet miso sauce. It's delicious. Also note that they've got a full licence now and serve beer, wine and sake, and as a result I don't think it's BYO any more. Yummy food, just don't expect luxury. And if you are expecting luxury, what are you doing in Brixton Village in the first place? Duh. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Squid & noodle okonomiyaki and a cheeky Sapporo - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

This place endlessly drives me insane. While I love the spicy udon noodle miso and curry soups (you can only get in the restaurant, not via delivery); the service and seating is an endless nightmare. The servers are almost always extremely rude (except for the Japanese woman) yet expect their "optional" 12.5% tip. They make you wait to be seated by standing at the door and blocking pedestrian traffic as well as fellow diners trying to exit, and if/when you do get seated - they'll try to squeeze multiple parties onto your tiny little table. Treat your customer with respect, as they are your sole source of income. This restaurant needs to get its act together. read more

Marginally cheaper than Abeno... but I guess there you're paying for the 'cook yourself' experience and a more upscale ambiance... Nothing like some Osaka-style street food to make any day brighter. Even if it is a bit chilly out. Though mid-winter, we sat outside (it is within the covered market) and were perfectly comfortable. At any rate, at Okan you can get them with noodles (Hiroshima style!) which is great. I love okonomiyaki, and if you have never tried it, go watch the youtube show called 'Cooking with Dog' on okonomiyaki before you come. Will get you all excited in your mouth. I've tried both the sweet corn and cheese, as well as the Okan special, and both were fab. A bit of a wait, even on a Tuesday night, but wasn't too bad... maybe 20 minutes? Oishiiiiiiii!!! read more

"Charlotte, I am taking you for a surprise dinner" is probably my favourite phrase ever. And I am quite adamant when I say that I prefer street food over posh restaurant food a thousand times over. Maybe it's the grub. Or maybe because it's just awesome. "Charlotte, I know you miss Japan". YES I DO. And boyfriend scored mega points when finding Okan just a small bus ride away from our new crib. It's small restaurant at the heart of Brixton Village, and you'll probably end up eating on a crate. But that's fine. Okan are specialised in Japanese Omelettes (okonomi... something). Their recipes are relatively simple, but the products are fresh and tasty. They are traditionally made out of egg, cabbage and your choice of meat - I just went with the squid - because nothing seems quite as Japanese as squid in things. I didn't find them as nice as Abeno Too, BUT they weren't far off. And well, when that Japanese kicks in, it just hits the spot. read more

Unreal food and service. My friends and I were in the area and did not know where to eat. Saw this hole in the wall restaurant in a market and the food did not disappoint. My friend got the Japanese pancake and I got the egg noodle dish. The flavors and the overall presentation were phenomenal. The price was also very reasonable and I could not ask for more. If you still have room after dinner stop across the walkway at Whipped for another 5 star cookie ! read more

Okan, Ohayo! As mentioned in previous reviews, I love a good Okonomiyaki. Unfortunately, there aren't that many places to get them here, the other main one being Abeno Too. Okan's way smaller: just a few tables (including some vaguely heated tables outside the shop), but the food's really good. Be prepared to queue though...who'd have thought that cabbage pancakes would catch on here? The menu here is pretty straightforward - a small selection of okonomiyaki and some yakisoba/yakiudon dishes. I had a pork/kimchi okonomiyaki with extra noodles and sweetcorn. The extra noodles (modan-yaki) are a really nice touch for boosting the dish. The okonomiyaki is great and well put together - good mix of flavours and textures. I like the kimchi too and the slight tanginess it provides to cut through. We also had an aubergine snack dish (onasu) - with ginger. It's ok, although some people may not enjoy the texture so much. I think it could do with a little more flavouring. As well as this, they do some nice teas (genmaicha, hojicha) - hojicha goes nicely as it has a toasty earthiness. Nom. I can definitely recommend Okan wholeheartedly - it's a nice little corner of Brixton Village and I'm looking forward to the return journey. There's not a huge amount of variety in their dishes, but I'd be happy to have the same again every few weeks. It's also really reasonable (especially compared to Abeno) - about £8.50 for a pork/kimchi and £1.20 for each extra topping, so the value's really quite good. Happy pancakes! read more

I love love love Okonomiyaki and Yakisoba...and Okan serves both. Although not quite the mountain of food that you'd get at a Japanese izakaya, the serving size was still pretty good, and the food authentic. I took a friend who'd never tried this type of food before and she was blown away. The only reason I didn't give Okan 5 stars is the long wait(which just proves how good it is). It's a pretty small place(which makes it feel more like an izakaya...if only I could sit at the bar and have the food cooked right in front of me), and we had to wait for about 20 minutes. I wouldn't normally mind, but it was very cold outside and Brixton Market was chilly! However, my friend and I just stayed bundled up, distracted ourselves by chatting with people in line and were lucky enough to score a seat indoors. The waitress happily explained a few of the dishes to my friend and recommended some sake for me. Once I got my bottle of hot sake, and soon after my delish okonomiyaki(complete with some Japanese mayo on top)....I'd forgotten all about my wait in the cold...and imagined myself in Japan. I'll definitely go back...although may wait until it warms up just a bit! read more

I had the pork and noodle okonomiyaki (japanese omelette/pancake with savoury ingredients), and my husband had the Okan special. Oh, I so regretted not getting the special! I was worried that the kimchi would be too hot for me, but it was really delicious. The texture of the okonomiyaki was better with the kimchi than with the noodles too, I thought. The squid was cooked so nicely in the special too. My pork was okay. Would definitely recommend the Okan special. We also got onasu to start (fried aubergine cooked with soy, honey and ginger with miso dressing) which was lovely but we expected it to be hot. This place is tiny and we were lucky to be seated straight away. Be prepared to share your table with others. There are a few tables outside (which are still full in the winter...people be crazy for Okan's okonomiyaki). read more

Brixton is full of amazing and interesting spots to eat, which makes it wonderfully difficult to decide on a place. I wandered around the two archway areas for about 30 minutes ogling the food and drink options before finally settling on Okan. To do this meant forgoing Pakistani food, Chinese street food, multiple lively Caribbean spots, Franco Manca's sourdough pizza, Honest Burgers, etc. etc ETC. You get why it causes great pains to choose just one. This is one of the more unique options you can get in the area though, as there's hardly a place to get okonomiyaki (a slab of cabbage-based pancake cooked up to order) elsewhere in London. (Meanwhile Honest Burgers and Franco Manca are so great that they've managed to expand to multiple other locations around London, so you want to have it, but not necessarily here). Besides, Okan pretty much does ONLY this, which means you know its done right, and with whatever filling you want - pork belly, squid, prawn, beef, tofu, kimchi. Choose any or ... if you want, all... of the above and then you see them mix it all up and cook it over the griddle, the dining area shares space with the kitchen. A brown sauce (similar to eel sauce?) and mayo is laced over top and then the whole thing is covered with seaweed and dancing bonito. I think we made the right decision. read more

Great place to eat in the vibrant Brixton Village ! Lots of choice to experiment Japanese food (other than sushis) ! You may have to queue to enter this tiny place. You may be elbow to elbow and hear all the conversation of your table neighbours (not the good place for an intimate date). You may smell food as this place has an open kitchen. But damned ... The food is soooooooo good there :) read more

I was not impressed. At all. Half our order was forgotten, it was a fair wait, it was all a bit disorganised and we were absolutely starving... but all would've been forgiven had the food been worth it. The sauce was too much and too strong and the meat wasn't nice. It was sad seeing Okonomiyaki getting reduced to that. :( read more

I came here on a quiet Tuesday afternoon. So there was no other customer but my friend and myself. The okonomiyaki was nice and big for roughly £7 or 8, yet since I haven't tried this particular dish anywhere else, I can't confirm of the tastiness here. On the other hand, it took like 20 minutes to make only 1 okonomiyaki whilst there was no other customer, so it was a bit of a let down. But I probably it was because their stuff was not ready when we came though read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Sometimes, just sometimes, I feel like I should be able to tag Yelp reviews as #boozythoughts. Because I went to Okan after a few, and it was great, but also: I wonder whether I would have given a half-eaten tube of Pringles 4 stars in that state, too? All I can do, folks, is go with what I remember. And what I remember is: OH MY OKONOMIYAKI. Tucked away in the Brixton market with limited seating (a little more outside), Okan is a nice find. We sat right next to the cooking action and got the pork noodle Okonomiyaki and also some stir fried noodles. Beers for all, natch. In future visits I would pass on the noodles and lunge straight for the pork noodle pancake. It was good. I could have used a little more gear atop the pancake, but it was good. The pork was the standout, and I'm not proud to say that I totally hoarded those thinly sliced pieces of belly. It's a tough world out there, guys; gotta fight for your right to pooooooorkay (sorry, Beastie Boys). In sum: I got chatty with the people pancake-making and they were lovely about it, the price was great, the food was warm and tasty and I would totally visit again. Good review, right? Yelp note: no bathrooms, but a weird co-ed bathroom neighbouring? Hilarity (with a touch of trauma) ensued. read more

The food here was delicious and comforting. Simple menu with lots of choices in filling. Hadn't had this type of food before, but I can see why people rave about it. Really enjoyed getting to try some Japanese craft beer. The staff was really nice and it was fun watching the kitchen prepare your food. This restaurant really made me want to visit Japan! read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Noddles with beef - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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+ Serves Japanese savoury pancakes + Lunch menu good value for the money + Nothing mind blowing but good to try once if you are curious Located within the Brixton Village market, Okan is a small restaurant that serves Japanese savoury pancakes, okonomi-yaki. Their okonomi-yaki is a chewy thick pancake with a lot of chopped cabbages and other vegetables in it. On top is layers of sauces starting with thickened sweet soy sauce, a drizzle of Japanese mayonnaise, complete with a sprinkle of dried seaweed. The result is a rather uncoordinated mixture of textures and flavours. There are a lot of distractions and I don't know what I'm supposed to focus on. For instance, chopped vegetables within the pancake mix prevents me from appreciating the texture of pancake itself. And the sauces are so overpowering that you don't taste anything else. I believe the pancake itself is pretty tasteless. But as strong as it may be, the combination of sweet soy sauce and mayonnaise doesn't offer any of the depth associated with Japanese cuisine, which comes from the use of broth and fresh ingredients. As far as Asian street food goes, Okonomi-yaki offers nowhere near the level of fascination to me as does ramen or pho. But it is probably worth trying it once to see what it's all about before making your own decision. Lunch menu was a good value for the money though. It came with a miso soup. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Okan outside - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Simply put, Okan is the real deal and well worth the trip down to Brixton. I rarely find okonomiyaki this good outside of Osaka, and the variety is a huge plus. Admittedly I almost always get the okan special, which comes with shrimp, squid, kimchi, and corn, along with all the usual bonito and seawood and mayo toppings - but it's nice to change it up sometimes and do the sliced pork belly, the tofu, or even the mochi and cheese! Yakisoba here is top notch as well, and I love that it's available as omu-soba too. I also love the elderflower and ginger soda drink that they whip up fresh on order. Go at lunch or in the afternoon to avoid queues. They recently introduced a lunch special, too (usually two types of okonomiyaki offered, along with miso soup and a side salad). Overall, a must-visit for okonomiyaki and yakisoba fans who find themselves in London. read more

The restaurant has a very authentic Japanese restaurant feeling. The decoration is very simple but nice, and the workers there are super nice. The okonomiyaki is just the right size to fill you up, and the flavor is great. read more

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Friendly, perky service and good okonomiyaki. We stopped by for lunch one afternoon and shared the Okan Special which was okonomiyaki with kimchi, prawn, squid and corn topped with bonito flakes and tofu soba. Both were very yummy and highly recommended! I'd definitely come back. One caveat, I was full but my (male) partner was still hungry. You may need to order a bit more for hungry appetites! read more

I really wanted to like this place, as it is one of the only two okonomiyaki places I know of in London. I love okonomiyaki and I was excited to order the beef one. Unfortunately, the okonomiyakis here seem to be dropping pieces of cabbage with every bite, it is almost ridiculous how many fat chunks of cabbage fall out. The sauce on top is also too strong and overpowering in flavour and the beef was in very very large slices, all at the bottom. The only way I could even get to the beef was to yank it out from the bottom with my chopsticks, and it really wasn't very good. I tried other ways to get it out but none succeeded. I am used to a more evenly mixed okonomiyaki and I am sad that I cannot like Okan. The service here was very friendly and helpful though and I appreciate that. Perhaps the noodles here are good and I may come back another time to try them. read more

Okan Okonomiyaki - Beef okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - London, XGL

Go with the server recommendations (Squid, Prawn Okonomiyaki) it is delicious with a Pint of Kirin. Had a very nice lunch and the staff is warm and attentive, will be happy to keep going to this place in the future. read more

This place endlessly drives me insane. While I love the spicy udon noodle miso and curry soups (you can only get in the restaurant, not via delivery); the service and seating is an endless nightmare. The servers are almost always extremely rude (except for the Japanese woman) yet expect their "optional" 12.5% tip. They make you wait to be seated by standing at the door and blocking pedestrian traffic as well as fellow diners trying to exit, and if/when you do get seated - they'll try to squeeze multiple parties onto your tiny little table. Treat your customer with respect, as they are your sole source of income. This restaurant needs to get its act together. read more

Delicious and authentic Okonomiyaki, better than any I've found in New York.

It is an okonomiyaki and soba place. Not bad if one is hungry. okonomiyaki better than soba but neither stellar. (London needs a chain of Fuugetsu restaurants...) +1 star coz of the location and ambience read more

Nice chilled out cafe in the Brixton Village serving up okonomiyaki. The two vegetarian choices were both nice and the addition of fried noodles was good value for money. I felt there was slightly too much cabbage, but still very light. I've written a review here: http://www.naomisnotes.co.uk/2013/02/okan.html read more

Just a wonderful little lunch place. I'd never had a Japanese pancake before, but the pork Okonomiyaki was just excellent. It's also a great experience being in such a small place so close to the cooks. I think I got the lunch special of soup, pancake and a drink for something like 7 quid. Great price in London for sure. A very memorable spot in Brixton. read more

This is a must go! Best and freshest Miso soup I have ever had. The tofu pancake was delicious, but the "house special" udon noodles in a omelette literally blow us away. Staff incredibly lovely - can't wait to go back!! read more

I've been craving okonomiyaki for a while, but it's one of those things that is very hard to make at home yourself, at least in a way that is relatively authentic. I looked up the ingredients once, and was just overwhelmed by the dried bonito flakes, the Japanese mayonnaise, and the okonomi sauce, with some recipes calling for even more niche Japanese items. And thus this fell into my personal category for food that is better to order in a restaurant. But once we were at Okan, I was really overwhelmed by the large selection of various meats and toppings, and there was no clear choice. The server recommended the Okan Special with prawn, squid, kimchi and sweet corn. Personally I found it rather strange and in hindsight I think I would have been happy with something simple like pork and beef. It was really unclear to me what ordering something like pork & noodle would have been like, and they didn't do a great job explaining it to me. I would love to come again and order it with another filling, and the yakisoba smelled amazing so I'm sure that is worth a try as well. read more