Okan Diner

mmm-yoso!!! welcomes you back to perusing posts about places to eat.  Cathy is writing today while Kirk and His Missus continue on their vacation.

One of the trio of Japanese restaurants (Wa Dining Okan, Robotaya Oton), Okan Diner has been open since 2017 and serves lunch only on Saturday and Sunday.  The Mister and I stopped in  twice during late summer. 

 The diner closes between lunch and dinner; the only way I was able to get a photo of empty tables. 

 The handout menu is pretty extensive (this is not all of it).  The weekend lunch specials are similar to those at Wa Dining Okan on weekdays.
     There are plenty of additional suggestions taped to the wall .

 Vegetable tempura ($10) is perfectly made here.  Light fry with light breading.  Flavors of everything are bright, even the dipping sauce.
 Chicken Liver appetizer ($6.50).  Broiled chicken liver in a sweet soy sauce.  Excellent.  I first had chicken livers with a summertime roommate from Indonesia.  She sautéed those with broccoli and topped with sesame seeds.  To this day, chicken livers prepared that way are a comfort food.
 Yakko ($4).  Cold tofu with ginger, green onion and topped with bonito flakes.  An excellent tofu.

 Tsukemono ($6).  Assorted pickles.  So fresh flavored and crisp!  These were an excellent 'side' instead of  an appetizer. 

 Of course I ordered the Zaru Soba ($10.50) the quick chilled buckwheat noodles were tasty and chewy, the dipping sauce, wasabi and chopped green onions complimentary.  Many flavors in each bite. 

 This menu page caught our eye. 

White curry udon ($10) Add beef ($4).
 Fat, fresh, chewy udon in a white curry soup topped with freshly whipped cream and a poached egg (sorry no photo of the beautiful orange yolk).  The added beef was thin and nicely flavored but almost unnecessary.  This as a wonderful unexpected meal.
 Blue Crab Salad ($12) was a filling meal in itself.  Mixed greens, tomato, avocado and blue crab with a mayonnaise based dressing.  

 Carbonara Udon ($14.50).  Bacon, mixed mushrooms, a four cheese Alfredo sauce...
 and there's that poached egg with its colorful orange yolk. Mushrooms! This was great; everything here was prepared and served in such a beautiful way. 

Okan Diner 5430 Clairmont Mesa Blvd, Suite G San Diego 92117 Open Mon-Fri1730-2130 Sat 1130-1400, 1700-2130 Sun 1130-1400, 1700-2030 Website

Comments

[Som Tommy]

I didn’t know OkanD was open for lunch again.

[Soo]

Nice looking tempura. I like chicken livers too. I usually make them with ramen and bean sprouts.

[Loren]

Do you prefer one of the Okan family to the others? I've only visited Wa Dining and have never seen a reason to visit Okan.

[alnc]

Great review, as always. A weekend lunch sounds good. Thanks, Cathy!

[kat]

white curry sounds interesting!

[Cathy]

But only on weekends, ST. It was nice to see a 'lunch specials' menu.

Excellent fry on the tempura, Soo. Chicken livers are underrated; a tasty protein.

Since we try to eat before shopping (anywhere), Wa Dining is a logical stop for us us before Nijiya, Loren. Since it is open for lunch on weekdays, it's a one stop trip. But the Oakn Diner has a bit of a different menu and we really liked it.

Thanks, alnc. Going out to lunch is fun.

The flavor of th white curry was a bit sweet, kat. I think maybe pear was in it. Unique.