Wa Dining Okan- Lunch (again)

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog.  Kirk, ed(from Yuma) and Cathy write about meals, cooking and sometimes vacation adventures.  All of us are unusually busy. Let's just say that one of us is on vacation and gathering photos and meals to write about, one of us is busy working and planning a vacation so blog posts can be written and the other one of us has a lot of upcoming activities revolving around the holidays as well as a vacation so that interesting blog posts will be written. Today, Cathy is blogging.

Hi.  I did write a post about lunch at Okan in July 2010 and have been back a few times, but didn't take photos.  Kirk has put up many, many, many posts about dinner. At one point, Kirk, ed(from Yuma) and I enjoyed a dinner here together.  Anyhow, a friend was in town, had seen the post about lunch and wanted to try Wa Dining.  We walked in at just before 2 p.m., when they take the last lunch order- Okan closes from 2:30 and reopens at 5:30 for dinner. 

Located in the corner of the mall at Convoy and  , in the corner next to Nijiya Market-one of few markets which sells an extensive amount of fresh and packaged organic foods as well as ready to eat food, Okan is easy to overlook.  

The small interior means making reservations for dinner is pretty necessary, at lunchtime not so much. There are 31 seats in the whole restaurant.

When you sit down at lunch, a cup of cold (no ice, not hot, just room temperature) tea is brought to your table.

The lunch menu consists of ordering a "set" ($6.50).  This is what our recent one looked like-(from 5:00, going clockwise) a vegetable filled miso soup, pickled cucumber and radish, rice with seaweed and a tray of small 'tapas'-nishime, a potato salad and chilled stewed vegetable.

This is a wonderful, filling item and you can just have this as a vegetarian complete meal. However each day there is a selection of add-on protein items. 

 

My friend ordered this grilled beef dish, which seems to be topped with kim chee ($4).  She said it was very good.  (I'm sorry, I wasn't overly reading the menu, we were chatting).

I tried the house made tofu topped with a miso/soybean sauce($3.50). Not a sweet sauce, quite hearty and the tofu was really nice, fresh and tasty.

The lunch choices (and really, most of the dinner choices) change daily here.  Because it is always current and fresh, I really enjoy whatever choices are offered. 
 

Wa Dining OKAN 3860 Convoy Street, Suite 110, San Diego 92111 (858)279-0941 

Lunch M-Sat 11:30-2:30(last order 2:00 p.m.) 

Dinner starts 5:30 p.m. and ends 11:00 p.m. M-T-W, 12:00 a.m. Th-F-Sat and 10:00 p.m. Sun (last orders 30 minutes before closing all days). Website 

 

 

Comments

[Carol]

I still haven't been to this place yet. The Mister hasn't enjoyed this type of Japanese food in the past so he's always reluctant when I suggest it.

[caninecologne]

hi cathy - i love the one shoulder aprons that the waitresses use. dennis asked them where they were from and they are ordered from japan. darn, i totally want one of those! their food is good there. i like the mix of their white and brown rice with hijiki. my husband and i had a very memorable anniversary dinner here a few years ago. we went based on your last post! :) we had great fried gizzards and oysters among other exciting dishes!

[Cathy]

If you ever do want to try it for yourself, Carol, I'll be available. The flavors here taste more like homemade than Japanese restaurant style.
I saw on the menu about the brown rice and will try that next time, cc.
I have liked all the dishes ordered here. We got fried gizzards for our birthdays last year.(I collect aprons and have wanted one of the style worn here forever.)

[foodhoe]

mmm, I'm curious about the wa... has anyone explained it? is it the wa from washoku? All of your dining adventures have really put this on the map for me, seriously if I'm ever in SD, I'm going!

[Yummieyummy]

I like their draft Sapporo in a ceramic cup :)

[Carol]

Oh yes yes, Cathy!

[Cathy]

I never saw an explanation, but if anyone has it, Kirk would be the one, foodhoe; perhaps he will reply here. I'm happy you like our posts. Thanks.
Everything tastes special when served from ceramic cups, Yy. Even water- I'm unsure why.
Soon, Carol...but you know I'm busy the next couple of days :)