OKAN Brixton Village — Restaurant in London

Unfortunately this appears to have become the poor Cinderella branch of the three okan outposts, despite (I think) being the original. A real shame.

When we arrived, we were seated by a very brusque waiter who insisted on cramming 3 of us (two of us coming in at 6’2”) on to a (wobbly) 2 person table despite us querying our comfort, noting bluntly that “oh we’re not gonna push two tables together for 3”. This despite the fact that as suspected, three okonomiyaki plates did not even fit on the table properly when they arrived. This was exacerbated by the fact that the empty four person table inside that we weren’t offered was then given to newcomers while we were dining.

Food was fine, though not up to the standard of the other two restaurants -starters of gyoza, miso soup and okra were tasty and thankfully not presented all at once (important with the tiny table). But my okonomiyaki was ok at best. And our edamame was forgotten (whilst still initially charged on the bill until we queried it). This is on top of other otherwise more minor service shortcomings, such as when asking for the usual cutting spatula that comes with okonomiyaki in both other branches (and in Japan), being given a normal cutlery knife.

(On an aside there were no toilets available due to a refurb - whilst this is presumably the responsibility of Brixton markets I’m not even sure it’s even legal to have restaurants with this many covers serving food and alcohol that don’t offer a toilet?).

At the end, when we queried the edamame on the bill, the manager in charge partially redeemed things with a genuine apology.

Unfortunately by that point we had spent the meal getting annoyed by the service.

Overall an incredibly unpolished and frankly disappointing experience.

3 stars due to faith in the overall brand based largely on the other restaurants, and the hope that the issues are addressable. (Otherwise...

This was my first visit to Okan and I can highly recommend it to everyone who wants to get delicious food and professional service. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the stage for a memorable dining experience. The decor, with its subtle Japanese touches, added to the authenticity of the place.

But it was the food that truly stole the show. Every dish I tried was a burst of exquisite flavors that transported me to Japan with each bite. Gyozas was incredibly fresh and beautifully presented, while the Okan's special noodles with omlette had a rich flavour that was absolutely delightful.

What truly made the experience outstanding was the impeccable service provided by restaurant manager Kamil and his attentive staff. Kamil's dedication to ensuring that every guest had a fantastic time was evident in his professionalism and friendly demeanor. He went above and beyond to make sure our dining experience was flawless.

I can't recommend Okan enough for those seeking an authentic Japanese culinary adventure. Whether you came for a quick lunch or to meet a friends Okan will exceed your expectations. Thank you to Kamil and the entire team for making our visit truly special. We'll definitely be...

I had high hopes for this Japanese restaurant but left thoroughly disappointed. I ordered the Danbury Bowl (£15), which was described as a special mix of pork, kimchi, and squid. Unfortunately, the dish was poorly executed: • The kimchi dominated the bowl but wasn’t spicy as expected – just overly vinegary. • The squid was rubbery and lacked any flavor. • There was barely any pork – just a few tiny pieces, which felt like an afterthought. • The plain rice was unseasoned, and mixing everything together didn’t improve the dish.

To their credit, the gyoza and miso soup were good, but they couldn’t save the overall experience.

Service was also subpar. The waiter struggled to communicate as they didn’t speak good English, making it hard to ask questions or make requests. Additionally, the staff was inattentive – I had to repeatedly flag someone down to take our order, clear the table, and bring the bill.

To top it all off, I woke up the next day with a stomach ache and what I suspect was...