Food here is really good, we got the salmon teriyaki and boy oh boy did it blow our expectations out the water! Went back but was only able to catch their dinner menu, no salmon teriyaki :( but their udon was good. The vibe here is also excellent, the staff got along really well, our orders were taken extremely fast. The staff also shared a beer with some regulars, if that doesn't put a smile on your face I don't know what will! Their menu on the walls was also so visually appealing. It felt like I was in Japan again! Just kidding I've never been ;( To the restaurant! ADD THE SALMON TERIYAKI TO THE MENU AGAIN please I am on my hands and knees. Arigato Gozaimas ititakimas!!!! read more

We got the agedashi tofu and the deep fried baby octopus to share. Love both of these sides, the tofu was extremely soft and flavorful and the octopus was crunchy, chewy, and just so flavorful. I got the Nabeyaki Udon, it was delicious, hearty, and filling. It really hit the spot on a cold cloudy day. The broth was light and clear and the udon was bouncy and chewy. I also loved all the ingredients, the chicken was tender and the shrimp tempera were light and crunchy. read more

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This is a low-key long-standing local spot with mostly regulars. Tucked right next to Nijiya Market, it never relies on marketing--only authentic home-style flavors and consistent quality keep customers coming back. It's a cozy Japanese izakaya with warm yellow lighting, just like a traditional neighborhood pub in Tokyo. Perfect for casual drinks and enjoying a genuine laid-back vibe. I ordered the eel kamameshi, which took about 20 minutes to serve. Their house-marinated eel is incredibly fragrant. The Creamy Mentai Udon is a must-try: rich creamy flavor, savory pollock roe with no fishy taste, and perfectly chewy noodles that are absolutely addictive. Their grilled beef tongue is cooked to perfection--tender, juicy, and well-balanced in salt and sweetness. The teppanyaki is also very flavorful. Price range is mid to high, around $40+ per person. The staff gives off classic old-restaurant regular vibes: efficient and no overly formal small talk. It feels like a neighborhood comfort spot--warm and relaxed without forced hospitality. read more

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The sukiyaki is really yummy! Broth is sweet, not oily, and served over a cute fire pit. I like that they serve the beef raw so you can choose how cooked you want the beef to be! Service is average. The workers aren't super friendly but not the most rude either. ambiance is a small shop and great to come with friends, might be tight for families read more

Wa Dining OKAN - sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Saturday, 3-28-2026: My son & his friend were anxious to share their favorite Japanese restaurant with me. They raved of its authenticity and delicious, complex flavors. The interior was dark and very compact. They did have a bigger area outdoors for dining. My son explained it was a traditional Japanese design. Their menu is extensive and there are specials pinned to the walls. Our server came by and was shy & sweet. I chose the Chicken Soba. I cannot recall what my son had (it was a delicious curry dish). Our food came out rather quickly. They order a delicious beef appetizer, it was seasoned well and the beef was so tender. My dish was very tasty & the chicken was tender, too. The noodles were so filling that I had to take the remainder home. I really enjoyed it. Our server was friendly and attentive. I can see why this eatery is a favorite of my son & his friend. Looking forward to returning! read more

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Delicious food! Definitely a very homey spot, and I could tell it was a favorite for many locals there. My favorite dish was the mentai butter udon. The service was quick, and it was crowded when we got there on a Sunday night. There is outdoor and indoor seating. The menu was very extensive, so we got the opportunity to try many new things. read more

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So happy to have discovered this place, because the mentai butter udon was absolutely delicious. We came here with a large party on a Friday night and got seated right away. The creamy uni udon was alright in my opinion. After a few bites, it was too creamy and not as enjoyable. The place also gets busy but thankfully the plaza has stores you can walk around while waiting read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Still as delicious as my last review, but delicious enough that I wanted to add my new pictures. Staff was still very friendly with quick service, and the inside of the restaurant still has that homey, Japanese bar feeling. Make sure to check the walls for off menu items! Will be coming back :) read more

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I thought this was a nice little izakaya tucked away near the bottom of Convoy. I liked their lunch specials and ended up getting a fried chicken plate. It was delicious! I know it's so simple, but I love how they just dressed the salad with something like a ponzu vinaigrette. It just hit so good. The service was also really good! It felt like a pretty casual spot, and I can see why customers always come back. In terms of affordable and authentic feeling Japanese restaurants. This place ranks pretty up there! read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

A cozy and authentic izakaya with amazing udon and rice dishes! The creamy mentai udon was rich and filled with umami flavor, and the udon had a great chew. The sauce was very creamy and clung to the noodles. My friend order the salmon ikura kamameshi, which was seasoned perfectly and had a good amount of salmon and roe. (Pro tip: I added some of the sauce from my creamy mentai udon to the rice and it created a rich and flavorful risotto-like bite!) We also split a beef tongue appetizer, which was tasty but I don't think I would order it again considering the portion and price. Service was great, and there is bar and table seating for your meal. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Beef tongue - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's easy to miss Wa Dining Okan since it's tucked away and almost hidden by bushes in a busy plaza surrounded by a supermarket and other restaurants. We were rushing to find somewhere for dinner since everything nearby was starting to close. I was a little confused about their hours because Apple Maps and Yelp listed different closing times, and their Facebook mentioned last call at 9:30. We decided to try our luck and walked in hoping they would still seat us. Luckily they did, although we had an awkward start. Signs say to wait at the entrance to be seated, so we stood there for a few minutes. An employee even noticed us waiting but didn't say anything. Eventually another employee came out and seated us. Once seated, things improved. We were given menus for food and drinks. The restaurant was still pretty busy around 9:00 PM. There's bar seating, outdoor tables for larger groups, and smaller tables inside. The menu is fairly large and includes pictures for each dish, which I personally appreciated. Wa Dining Okan focuses on Japanese comfort-style dishes with a mix of skewers, rice plates, udon noodles, and small bites. After looking through the menu we ordered the chicken skin skewers, rice beef burger, carbonara udon, and butter mentai udon. Service moved quickly from there. Water was brought out and the food arrived slowly in batches. The chicken skin skewers were a little on the salty side but still good. They were brushed with a sweet soy sauce that helped balance the saltiness. I would probably order them again. The rice beef burger was definitely confusing. I imagined something like crispy rice buns with beef in between, but it was more like pressed rice with seaweed with Japanese BBQ beef, lettuce, and a sauce that tasted similar to In-N-Out spread. It wasn't bad, but the execution could be better. By the time the rest of the food came out, the seaweed had absorbed moisture from the steam of the rice and didn't add much texture. It was also $10.50 which didn't feel very reasonable for what it was. Butter Mentai Udon is a dish that features thick udon noodles tossed in a buttery sauce mixed with mentai, which is seasoned cod roe. The roe adds a slightly briny seafood flavor and a bit of richness to the dish. This one also had a nice peppery kick that helped balance the buttery sauce. I didn't get to try much of it since it was my sister's order, but the sauce tasted balanced and the udon noodles were perfectly cooked with that chewy texture udon should have. The carbonara udon was on par with other versions I've had before. It had a creamy sauce that thins out once you mix in the egg yolk. I also liked the bacon they used here. It was thin but not so thin that it disappeared in the sauce. Overall I think this is a solid place to dine, but nothing completely wowed me or blew my socks off. read more

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I have been wanting to come here for so long! As someone who lived in Japan for 3 years, I was looking for authentic Japanese food, not sushi or romen but the authentic dished and I found that here! The inside was small but inviting with plenty if room. I walked in and was immediately seated at the bar and handed two menus. A food menu and a drink menu. I took a look and decided to stick to water. For food I ordered the Tako Kara (fried octopus), the Tan Shio (grilled beef tongue) and the Creamy Mentai Udon. The Tako Kara was fried perfectly and paired so well with the lemon, it honestly tasted as good as the ones I had in Japan before. The Tan Shio was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. I added some lemon juice on it but it honestly didn't need it because it was so good! And the Creamy Mentai Udon was amazing! It was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Creamy, delicious, well balanced with a bit of heat. My first bite of it really just relaxed my shoulders and made me feel so nice because it was so hot and this cold weather really did call for some warm noodles! Over all it was a great meal. This had got to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in San Diego! read more

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Very cozy spot. Locals come by and chat up the restaurant staff and seem to all know each other. The place feels very authentic, but I feel like I may have ordered the wrong thing. The goboten udon just didn't taste like much and I got bored of eating it after a while. The curry udon had a more interesting flavor but I only tried a few bites of it. Overall, I prefer marugame udon, but maybe I just go the wrong item. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Curry udon and goboten udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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They have a lunch menu from 12-2pm I want to say first and foremost the staff is very kind and welcoming and that is always a plus. It's clean and feels very authentic Japanese restaurant and I saw that dogs are allowed for outside dining! Now the food: Salmon onigiri - bland it didn't have much flavor at all neither the rice or the salmon filling... I'm so so sad cause I went to Okan Diner and LOVED their onigiri ($4.50) for the price and bland taste I was disappointed. It did come out warm and that's the way I believe it should be and that does give them some positive points. Pork Katsu Curry - perfectly crisp pork cutlet, crunchy and juicy. Curry was mild and I didn't think to add spicy but it was thick and creamy and had a good amount of potatoes and I think carrots, no overwhelming and perfect amount with the rice. My miso was good and the salad was good, I didn't finish the miso cause I was that full. ($17.50) Yaki Udon - husband thought the meat to veggies ratio was decent and he was pleased and ate every bite, idk his dish price but he seemed pleased so positive points there. Tuna rice bowl (not pictured) - my SIL got this it came with generous amount of wasabi and soy sauce... a hearty helping of rice, like a ton... To me it was way more rice than meat and toppings. She ate up all her fish and didn't seem to have any issues, idk dish price either. Not pictured: 3 cokes, 2 apps: a small bowl of cucumber in "spicy" soy sauce and 2 tiny pork belly skewers that were super delicious but like super crazy tiny, only 3 pieces on each skewer. Total without tip: $84.58 Total with tip: $100.00 I wasn't sure what to expect but my curry was delicious but the bland onigiri and the prices did play a role in my rating. read more

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Food wasnt bad, but it wasnt great either. Ordered the karaage, tempura udon, and the braised belly rice kettle. The karaage felt like it was lacking something. The tempura udon, it felt like they were too generous in the pouring of the dashi because the fish flavor was strong. The braised belly was just ok. Service was good. We sat outside. This place was recommended to us but the price of the food was a bit high for what we ordered. More than likely, probably will not return. There's seating outside, counter U shaped seating inside as well as about 6 tables inside as well. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Braised pork belly rice kettle - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Wa Dining Okan is an izakaya at the corner of the plaza. They have bar seating, tables inside, and a couple tables outside. Smaller parties only (at most 4 to a table), unless they are willing to combine some of the tables for larger parties. They have a lot of seasonal or off-menu items advertised on the walls. I've had the pleasure of eating at this location about 3-4 times. My most recent visit was yesterday (Saturday) at 5pm. Since they had just opened it wasn't busy yet, but while eating the dinner rush was steadily rolling through. Our server was attentive. Appetizer came out first, and then our main udon dishes shortly after. I ordered the chicken cartilage as an appetizer, which is a favorite of mine and was my first time trying it at this location. It was served with garlic salt and a slice of lemon. It was piping hot when it was served, but delicious and crunchy. I love mentaiko. The Creamy Mentaiko Udon I ordered for myself was perfect and delicious. My husband ordered the beef curry udon which he enjoyed. read more

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Wa Dining OKAN is located next door to Nijiya Market. There are actually a handful of Asian restaurants in the same plaza that also happy to have outdoor seating. What brought us here to Wa Dining OKAN was outdoor seating, as my husband and I wanted to have an early dinner with our little girl dog. We came here this past Sunday, a few minutes after 5 pm, just in time for their dinner service (they close between lunch and dinner). My husband went inside to let a server know that we wish to sit outside. After looking over the menus, we ended up ordering: Crab Hand Roll, $8 prior to tax- This crab hand roll was good but heavy handed on rice and wished there was a little less. Tonkotsu Ramen, $15 prior to tax- My husband opted for the ramen for dinner. But he didn't really like it. He felt that the broth was very oily and there was also a lot of pepper in the broth. He also thought the broth was bitter. I tried it and thought it tasted okay but agree with my husband on how oily the broth was and didn't really care for the black pepper. Mentai Butter Udon, $16 prior to tax- I decided to try this udon dish. It was very saucy and really thought a bowl of rice could go really nicely with it. I did like the dry style udon dish and it really was significantly better for me when I added the bowl of rice. But with the udon itself, I felt like it was a little too rich for me. Side order of steam white rice, $2.50 prior to tax ------------------------------ (Total= $44.72 after tax, prior to tip) Because we were the only ones sitting outside, service was very minimal. My husband did go inside to ask for the check once we were done. Seating inside is pretty small. Also you will not be seated until your whole party has arrived (we saw a family waiting outside for the rest of their party to come before being seated). The unisex restroom was clean during our visit. Overall, I thought this place was just average and really had higher expectations because of how highly rated this place is on Yelp (4.3 stars with ~ 1.5K reviews at the time of this review). I don't see myself coming back but would be interested in trying some of the other restaurants in this plaza. read more

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Love this little corner spot on Convoy. Been a few times now and it consistently hits that old-school Japanese izakaya feel. Vibes come correct. Menu is small-plate tapas style like a proper izakaya, which makes it dangerously easy to over-order (zero regrets). Gobo salad: super crispy fried burdock strips over bright, vinegary greens. Addictive. Eggplant with mountain yam -- don't let the slippery yam situation scare you. It's delicious and very good for you, so basically health food. The cucumber dish balances the friedness. Asparagus wrapped in pork belly -- a little chewy, might skip next time. Okonomiyaki (savory pancake) was correct and satisfying. Yakitori was solid. Curry udon was cozy, familiar, hits the comfort nerve. Agedaahi tofu was yum. Everything tasted like the Japanese pub food you want it to taste like. Service was warm and on it. Perfect spot to meet friends, share a bunch of plates, and drink cold beer like civilized people. Parking on weekends is... tough. No reservations. A few outdoor tables, but inside is cozier and the ambiance is worth the wait. read more

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This is authentic Japanese food. It's a small place. It's not fancy and unassuming it has really great heathy feeling and delicious delishes. You won't find typical Japanese food here but unique ones. My friend and I had the mackerel and they were really good. I think her miso mackerel was a bit better than my salted one. read more

Overall the food was good and there were definitely some standout dishes, especially the creamy uni udon and the short rib kettle rice with the runny egg. Service was friendly and sitting at the bar made the experience more enjoyable. That said, the price point felt a little high for the overall atmosphere. The decor felt pretty worn down with random elementary school coloring book drawings on the walls. So the ambiance didn't really match what we were paying for. Still enjoyed the meal, but expected a more polished experience for the cost. read more

chicken and mushroom kamameshi! so warm and inviting. the flavored rice was mildly savory and comforting. it was such a delicious meal!! the staff did confirm with me that it takes 20 minutes to make which is well worth the wait. i would come back and order this dish or even try another kamameshi. my friend ordered the salmon ikura one and it was good! another friend ordered the mentai udon and it was very indulgent and delicious. the leftover mentai sauce mixed with the salmon ikura rice made it even more tasty! we ordered beef tongue as an appetizer but it wasnt my favorite. it was too salty and a little too tough for beef tongue. read more

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This has been one of my favorite restaurants that I have been consistently going to for over a decade. Located in the nijiya market, koon Thai and sunrise buffet, theres enough parking to go around even if some spots can be tight. They have a second location also in Clairemont Mesa in the alladin plaza. The ambiance and food is more traditional home food with skewers, sashimi, lot of traditional dishes. The dishes tend to be towards the smaller side so order lots to try! Even tho small the flavors are amazing! The staff are very attentive and fast. They have a bar area and small tables around, theres also a patio area. My go to orders are always the skewers: scallops the best! Some meat dishes: pork cheek with green onions, super tender! Gobo salad is something unique i dont usually see so like to get it. Nabayaki udon is flavor and good to have a soup item. And I also get a kettle rice for their fragment. (My favorite is the chicken and rice!l read more

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Came here for Monday night dinner date and for the 1st time in a long time I was not impressed with the food or service. Service was too quick for me that felt impersonal and rushed. There were two girls taking turns welcoming, seating and serving the food for the entire restaurant. Mind you it's a quaint spot, but still would have functioned much better if there was another person. We ordered assorted Sashimis, Quick seared US Kobe Beef with Garlic Ponzu, Okonomiyaki, Wagyu Beef Uni Sushi and Sapporo - close to $100. I mentioned the price because we left hungry still. Not hungry like I need dessert, hungry like my tummy is asking "where's the main course". read more

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Rumor has it that they serve the best udon in San Diego. Right when you're seated, you notice the cute drawings of their specials plastered on the walls. Really gives the restaurant a personal touch! We ordered the Nabeyaki Udon, Creamy Mentaiko Udon, and Duck Ramen. The food was brought out pretty fast. The nabeyaki udon came boiling, but it didn't overcook the egg yolk. I personally found the broth to be a bit bland, but maybe it just isn't for me. The duck ramen was flavorful, but I wish there were a bit more duck pieces. The creamy mentaiko udon blew everything else out the ballpark, it was so good. I highly recommend! The serving size is plenty and very filling. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Nabeyaki Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: 5/5. All the dishes were crispy, came in about 10-15 min after ordering. I especially liked the soft shell crab-definitely try for a fun new experience if you also enjoy calamari. Uni pasta is MP, so that day we were charged $27. I do wish that for a pasta that expensive more uni should be top.. but I do recommend it Service: service was fast, attentive Ambiance: we went around 5-6pm (right around opening time) on a weekday so we were the first one to be served. Cozy ambiance. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Uni pasta - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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We wanted Japanese skewers but Yokohoma Yakitori's wait time was long so we decided to check out Wa Dining Okan the next plaza over. We were seated right away and our servers were very friendly. I did not enjoy my negitoro handroll though. It tasted liked canned tuna and the texture felt chunky. Also I didn't know they charged for wasabi and ginger!! read more

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Sukiyaki Meal Set (10/10): This sukiyaki was SOOOO deliciously amazing!! The beef was flavorful and slightly sweet. The vegetables were also super delicious because they were cooked in the sweet soy broth. I HIGHLY recommend getting the chopped roasted pork rice bowl for the entree. The pieces of roasted pork went so well with the rice. The miso soup was also super flavorful and not too salty at all. The salad had a tasty dressing that made the salad very enjoyable to eat even though I was never the biggest fan of spring mix. Saba-Shio Meal Set (8/10): This dish was pretty solid. You can definitely taste the grilled flavor, which is to be expected. I highly recommend adding lemon on top because it enhances the flavor of the mackerel. Overall Thoughts: I've been here many times, so this time I brought my girlfriend and her cousin. We were seated very quickly because there weren't too many people in the restaurant. They were both super impressed with this restaurant because everything from the entrees to the main dishes were incredible. The employees were very kind while taking our orders and the wait time for the food was very timely. If you visit this restaurant, I would definitely recommend the sukiyaki meal set, deep fried chicken gizzards, raw octopus, creamy mentai uni udon, chicken dishes, and cold soba noodles with tempura. read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Salmon Meal Set, Sukiyaki Meal Set, Saba-Shop Meal Set - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was super busy when we came, so we had to sit outside. It is a nice little small bites spot, so it's great for casual dining and catching up. Food was super delicious! read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Udon carbonara - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Overall, it was a good experience. I had the shishito peppers, monkfish liver and chirashi bowl. The peppers were spicier than usual. The liver was creamy. I enjoyed the chirashi bowl. The rice was perfectly seasoned and the fish was fresh. The place was homey and reminds me of restaurants in Japan. Service was quick and friendly. read more

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The food and vibes definitely very authentic. Small inside and sat at the bar. The curry ramen was a little too rich for my liking but I'd definitely come back to try more things! read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wa Dining OKAN is a really nice and cozy spot that serves amazing food! We got the Tofu, the Curry udon, the takoyaki, and a creamy version of the udon. All were amazing! I had eaten a little snack before this and the fact that the flavors still were able to wow me says a lot about the quality! For me, I htink that my favorite was the takoyaki. I may be biased because takoyaki is one of my top appetizers alongside an order of french fries but I thought they did amazing! We went on a weekday night so the lines were not bad at all and we had no wait time. This may differ if you go on weekends. The service is really nice and they are very attentive to you as you eat here! Overall, I recommend that you go here and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! read more

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Delicious udon and great service! I have gotten the carbonara udon so many times its that good! Always tell others to come here when they ask for food recommendations! read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food is fine, appetizer are overpriced for their size, we ordered two kettle rice and they were quite good, there are smell and taste of tea in the rice and the egg and pork and eel were well cooked and seasoned. The service is certainly not on the good side. Servers were mostly chill out around bar and we were almost begging them to come when we want to order; poker face all the time and they bring out utensils and water very late. They asked for 18% tips minimum, which I think is unfair for the more hardworking servers in other restaurants. read more

So good here. Love the eel kettle bowl. Will take 20 minutes, but the flavor rice was good and complement the eel. Ordered a Chicken Katsu Curry as we were waiting. The miso soup was great unlike others around the area. The chicken katsu was crispy and flavorful. The curry was delicious as well. My daughter loved the miso soup and kept eating. After our meal we enjoy the cream puff we got for dessert after my daughter ate the miso soup, then went to sleep. We will come here again and try other items in the menu as everything looks so good. Love how the restaurant put drawings of the menu on the wall. My daughter was looking at it and lucky did not rip it off the wall . The staff were super nice as well as they brought my daughter a separate bowl to eat as well. read more

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Unfortunately, the service was poor, and I felt unwelcome from the moment I arrived due to the behavior of the two female staff members at the front. Furthermore, the quality of the food did not meet expectations. Given this experience, I do not plan on returning to this establishment. read more

Good service but with even better food! Perfectly grilled yellowtail kama as appetizer. Nabeyaki udon was so hearty and delicious... stayed warm in clay pot till the last bite. Chirashi sushi was colorful and delicious! Fresh and hard to get shellfish were generously served over rice!!! Cute horseshoe shaped bar was comfortable and fun... very Japanese! Will definitely come back again. read more

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I've been to this location as well as their other location in Clairemont. This location felt super homey and I loved all the menu items posted around! Our server was attentive and quick and we were able to place our order and receive our order really easily! While the food isn't mind blowing, it's always what you expect from OKAN: authentic and yummy Japanese dishes. I normally come here when I crave udon or soba because not many other places do it right in San Diego! read more

Wa Dining OKAN - Tororo soba and Takoyaki (6pc) - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is my favorite Japanese restaurant of all time. I come here often and always get the creamy mentai udon and takoyaki! It's so delicious the carbonara udon is also good though! Service is quick and efficient as well which I love. It's a small restaurant, but we've never had to wait for seating. If anything the bar is usually available for seating! read more

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I am so very happy with Wa Dining OKAN! I come from a city with lots of great Japanese food, and Wa Dining hit the spot. My experience was great. It's in the corner of the plaza and easily missed with so many other restaurants nearby, but definitely one of the best! We were sat quickly and service was great. Prices were very very reasonable. SO many items on the menu I wanted to try, but I ended up choosing the tororo soba for something lighter and refreshing. Food came pretty quickly as well. I am already waiting to come back! read more

Stopped by for dinner on a Friday evening around 6 and there was no wait. Ordered a salmon and rice bowl, super fresh fish! Yakitori sticks were all good except the ribeye. I'd order everything again except that. Eating here reminded me of eating in Japan. Tables and groups close together but enough space for workers and groups to move in and out. Pretty loud inside but you can still hear the workers and your group. read more