Needing a bit of quiet time - Lunches at Okan and Chef Chin

Recently, when I've been able to make time to escape for an actual lunch. during the lunch hour, I've been wanting some quiet time. Here are a couple of recent lunch revisits.

Okan:

Now you might think that quiet time at Okan really doesn't happen.....it does on occasion. Like early in the week. And strangely, even though I'm sometimes elbow to elbow with someone sitting on the bar; there's something strangely Japanese about the noise level....most of the time. I am a creature of habit it seems and just went for my usual here, the Tori Nanban.

I keep forgetting to ask for the tartar sauce on the side....very mayonnaise-sy, but the slight sweet-sour tones cut the richness a bit and the crunchy batter on the chicken holds up fairly well. Lest you think it's all about small dishes here; this lunch is pretty hefty. The rice was really good this time around.

And the sides were also to my taste.

Especially that okra....pleasantly slimy, just salty enough. And like before, this was just what I needed on this day......a nice break; fried food, mayo......

Wa Dining Okan
3860 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Chef Chin:

**** Chef Chin has closed

Man, I hadn't been here in over a year. I really wanted some quiet and I got it here as there was not a single person in the place until I was leaving....when a party of 15 came in!

And I also got a nice laugh as I unconsciously started humming along with the muzak......until I noticed something....it was Christmas music......The Last Noel! Now I thought I was perhaps a bit confused, working too hard, maybe going tone deaf...but no; there it was "Silent Night". In a very strange way, it somehow lightened my spirits a bit...perhaps that's what we need to do....play Christmas Music in May!

Unfortunately, that was the highlight of the meal. Still a bit bummed by the lackluster Zui Ji I recently had at Tasty Noodle House, I ordered it here.

The texture of the chicken was lovely, but it had almost no wine flavor, and sigh......being the total opposite from the version at Tasty Noodle House, really needed some salt. The flavor tasted like some cold chicken you pulled from the fridge. Man, I should just give it up and head to Golden City.

I was in the mood for some noodle soup. Way back when; during those dark ages of 2012, the Niu Rou Mian here wasn't bad. But when I had it again it was not so good. Plus, they had changed the noodles. There were times when the Wuxi Spareribs here were decent, so I went with the Wuxi Sparerib Noodle Soup....my bad.....

Man, this broth was pretty bad, it tasted weirdly like tangy, burnt, five spice....with a cloud of sweetness hanging around. I also ended up drinking a ton of water as well. The noodles were the thin type and on the over-cooked side, heading toward mushiness. The spareribs were sadly very bland and, as you can tell, dry.....bummer.

It's back to the drawing board....but as a consolation prize, at least I got to listen to Christmas Carols in May, right? And the young lady working was very nice and I got some time to myself...

Chef Chin
4433 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

Comments

[Derek]

I find that I enjoy the setting at Okan just as much as the food. Had the beef udon last week - doesn't get much more comforting than that broth.

[kat]

bummer about the second place but at least you got some quiet time.

[Kirk]

I do too Derek....the udon sounds good.

Yes I did Kat!

[Soo @ hungryones]

I love Golden City!

[Junichi]

It's always good to find some positives from a lackluster meal. At least Okan didn't disappoint! I like going there late on weeknights. Pretty quiet. Stark contrast to the bustling Hinotez/Tajima/Rakiraki empires.

[Kirk]

I do really enjoy certain dishes at Golden City Soo.

For some reason going to lunch at Okan, even when they are busy is relaxing for me Junichi.