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Okonomi House Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
23 Charles St WToronto, ON M4Y 2R4
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 925-6176
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Okonomi House Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The okonomiyaki here is so so good."
(in 26 reviews)
"shaved bonito flakes and dried seaweed powder."
(in 12 reviews)
"...friend and I shared the seafood deluxe okonomi and it was..."
(in 3 reviews)
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Emma A.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2012
Okinomi Yaki are, basically, a disgusting concept. Weird giant cabbage and egg pancakes with your choice of meat, smothered in barbeque sauce and a dollop of mayonaise - gross, right?
NO. Holy lord these things are delicious, and cheap. I can't say I know much about the other food on the menu because I only every have the okinomi yaki. I've been with people who have had teriyaki and other dishes and they seemed satisfactory, but really, we all know why we're there. Weird pancakes, decor that hasn't changed since my father frequented the joint in university, and Asahi and Sapporo that are (at least the last time I was there) imported, which you don't see often.
If you're in the Yonge-Bloor area, there is literally nowhere better to go (although that's not technically saying a ton, since that area is a waste-land for food). -
Review from Q H.
North York, ON
1/25/2012
I had never had okonomiyaki until I visited this restaurant. So I had no idea what a good okonomiyaki is. I still have no idea what makes a good okonomiyaki.
I had scallop okonomiyaki. Very confounding in its texture and appearance. It had glue-ish chewy texture with some bits of hard veggies in my mouth. To be honest, the flavors of the ingredients seemed to have been lost in strong soy sauce. Those ingredients weren't just communicating with each other to form a unified taste. The soy sauce didn't really enlighten whatever was on pancake. Instead it killed them. overall, it was a bit lifeless. But for around $7, it was a decent meal.
The restaurant is very small. There are only several tables. Tables are small too, and they are placed close to each other. I wouldn't really say the restaurant is clean either. It isn't really well organized. It is very stuffy too with all kinds of smells. Server was nice, but she wasn't really attentive at all. Actually, since the restaurant is so small, you can just call the server by raising your hand.
Will I go back? Not likely. Will I ever have okonomiyaki again? Maybe... Unfortunately, okonomiyaki is one of the meals that didn't strike chords with me to leave a good impression. -
Review from Kim M.
Niagara Falls, ON
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Where to start? I can't even say the name of this place without smiling. 1st off, this is clearly not a 1st date place. I would suggest this is a 3rd or 4th date place. It says that you are fun and don't take stuff too seriously, but still enjoy good food. We all know good food can come in many forms and it doesn't require fancy or pretentious surroundings. Okonomi is about as unpretentious as you'll find.
Inside it is cramped. Finding the bathroom is an adventure unto itself. I was lucky enough to have my Indiana Jones hat on which I am sure helped me immensely. The whip, as always, is optional. You are bathed in a warm orange light from the hanging paper lanterns and sit at small tables obviously designed for the Asian stature. While I find that atheistic pleasing, you do become somewhat acquainted with your neighbours quickly as you will be touching elbows. Try to keep your conversations to safe topics, avoid any recent sexual adventures or medical conditions. Also refrain from picking up their glasses of beer as you are describing a recent jaunt to the ER for a rather embarrassing condition.
The signature dish is called an okanomi yaki. Hard to explain to Westerners, it's considered "fast food" in Japan. It's a hearty savory pancake with optional fillings (pork, shrimp, beef chicken) topped with a sauce called tonkatsu and a dollop of mayo. The 1st time I had one I loved it, and figured that it must be a rice batter, since it's from Japan and everything from Japan is rice based correct? I fell off my chair when I found out that the batter is actually cabbage, well that and several nice warm bottles of sake, which IS rice dammit so my point is valid. After professing my love to the owner and that I thought his place was lovely, his staff was lovely, the food was lovely and that this was in no way related to the aforementioned influence of sake. He gave me a quick tour of the "kitchen" I say that because in keep with the Asian theme here, it was tiny....I mean small! I couldn't believe how much food they bang out of such a small place.
The sides were all good and standard fair, miso, udon, were all fair. It's hard to screw those up. This place is charming, affordable and unique. If your date turns their nose up at being there dump them. They are high maintenance. If they like it there you've got a keeper. -
Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant: Okonomi House
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: Yorkville
Address: 23 Charles St W
Price Range: ~$10
1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very Good 5: Excellent
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ambiance: 2
Overall: 2
Extra information:
*Specialize in Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake)
*Small restaurant
*Vegetarian Option Avail
When a restaurant specifically specializes in something, as in their name clearly states what they serve- they must be real good, no? That's what I thought when I decided to visit the Okonomi House hidden away from busy Yonge Street.
Okonomi House looked very run-down and seemed as if they've been there for awhile just looking from the outside.
I dropped by the Okonomi House for a quick lunch and they gave me a menu and a paper order chart to fill out. Their menu was very old and sticky from some type of food....I did not want to touch it.
Ordered: SCALLOP OKONOMIYAKI 2/5
*Japanese pancake made with scallop for $6.55
*This is very small in size, so if you are only having this for lunch- you might want to order a side of rice
*I found it kind of ridiculous how I had to order bonito flakes for extra 50cents
*It's not that I don't want to pay extra 50cents, it's normally just served on top
*Okonomiyaki is very thin and there wasn't much cabbage
*There was decent amount of scallop and they weren't those tiny frozen ones either
*I think this might be good for a snack
*Personally, I just thought their Okonomiyaki was really sad and disappointing
*I had okonomiyaki in Japan, as well as tried making it at home, and it tastes so much better
*This lacked in cabbage (which is not expensive at all) and in texture (it was too mushy)
*Didn't live up to my expectations especially when they are suppose to specialize in this dish
Ordered: SEAFOOD YAKISOBA 2/5
*Japanese style fried noodles with seafood served with miso soup for $11.95
*This was just like your regular yakisoba served at food court
*Came with shrimp, scallop, imitation crab meat and strips of squid
*Good portion and it had lots of seafood but it was nothing special
Throughout my meal, I realized how weird their store layout was. It's shaped like L, which makes it so hard for the server to see customers and vice versa. I had to wave my hands and twist my neck so many times just to ask for some more water. The restaurant is old (which I don't mind) but it doesn't look very clean (which I do mind).
Clearly they need to go under renovation. I comment on the state of their restaurant because if they were some kind of authentic Japanese restaurant that focuses on quality of food over their interior and surroundings, it wouldn't matter but that's not the case here. And I would like to add that usually I am not a picky person when it comes to sanitation of restaurants- sure, I don't want to get food poisoning or see bugs as extra condiments on my dish. But I am one of those people who actually prefers dingy hole-in-the-wall places because it always makes me feel like I've descovered a hidden gem. Plus I do believe that many of the authentic restaurants lack in the atmosphere department (at least asian nes). But obviously, Okonomi House failed to impress in both departments, taste/quality and atmosphere.
Summary: I would never go back to this place. Just with their quality of Okonomiyaki, it might as well be served at a food court (and I still wouldn't go). Maybe I expected too much but honestly, I can make better okonomiyaki at home. -
Review from Emily H.
11/21/2011
Tonkatsu sauce + mayo + bonito flakes + aonori = the best.
It's been a while since I've eaten at Okonomi House and I'm glad we rediscovered our friendship! Neither the location nor interior is very exciting, and definitely not the service... the red lights give me a headache. BUT don't let this deter you!
Regardless, their food is a thumbs up. If you are curious what authentic okonomiyaki tastes like, try it here and you'll know anything less is not good enough. Being a huge fan of scallops, I always have the scallop okonomiyaki. I was quite surprised and impressed with the large scallops they gave! My girlfriend had the squid one and discovered a squid mine as well. It was her first time there and she kept saying how good it was and how happy she is to have been brought there!
I hope the owner dude gets a nice letter in the mail or wins a small lottery or something because the whole experience would be so much better if he smiled.
Atmosphere - 2/5
Service - 3/5
Food - 5/5
Price - 5/5 -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
9/27/2011
It's been a while since I've had authentic Japanese food. Like, a Japanese man cooking on a large teppanyaki hot plate, using Japanese ingredients and flavours.
It's been a while....
Okonomi House provided the authentic experience I wanted. It was like Pikachu had a baby with Godzilla and gave birth to this Japanese beast of a restaurant. When I say beast, I don't mean that the interior is large because it's not. Those were just the first Japanese icons that came to mind when I thought of Japan...
Anyways, it's small and decorated like a Japanese restaurant, one you would from in Japan.
All of the workers spoke Japanese. The menu items were typical Japanese dishes. Their specialty is of course the Okonomiyaki which is a savory Japanese pancake that has some kind of seafood or meat in the batter. It's topped with Japanese mayo, Tonkatsu sauce, Nori slivers and bonito flakes. These are so good. I've had some in Vancouver, and these are on par.
I also ordered the Yakisoba, which is a stir-fried noodle with chicken. Delicious as well.
Okonomi House is authentic Japanese. It had the qualities I look for in a good restaurant, and then some. I was happy eating my food with Japanese speaking owners and servers. I was starting to get tired of Chinese speaking waiters at Japanese sushi restaurants.
This was a refreshing experience, one that you should try soon. -
Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2011
The time has come for me to pay my respects to the joint that first got me hooked on Japanese food. I've been coming to this place for a *minute* -- way longer than I can recall -- and it still makes me smile all goofy.
Some of us have lived here long enough to remember the time when there were like 5 Japanese places in the GTA, and this was the only place serving anything other than mediocre sushi. It was a revelation then, and so it remains. As Japanese cooking goes, it doesn't get much simpler than this, but something magical happens when something simple is done PERFECTLY, and that is how these guys do it. I'm so happy it's still there for me. And that I'm finally old and wise enough to appreciate bonito flakes and mayo.
Pancakes and pork for dinner? Does it get any more Canadian? -
Review from Kathy H.
Mississauga, ON
10/3/2011
I took my friend here on our long-time-no-see date. It was around 12, so we witnessed the restaurant get full with nearby office working folks. The waitresses were indirectly telling us to leave, but I didn't catch their "drift" until maybe 10 more minutes after they gave us the bill (that I didn't ask for) hahaha, but no complains from me :)
Their ordering menu is a very small piece of paper to check your items. They have a menu book that explains the 10 dishes of food they serve. welllll maybe not 10, but I just remember it being small... I've never had okonomi, so I had that with squid I think. My friend ordered teriyaki chicken.
The okonomi was very very good :) very filling. Definitely WONDERFUL for lunch in a work day, cheap!!!!! I've had better teriyaki chicken elsewhere, but theirs was still okay. Lots of bean sprouts, and only a small scoop of rice. I looooveeesss bean sprouts, so no problems on that.
Small little place, gets absolutely full during lunch hours. Loud! Quick service. Clean place :) Good price, I had to pay for tea.. -
Review from Yi Qing S.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2011
Okonomi House is pretty much my idea of the perfect restaurant, which explains why I am giving it my first (and probably my only) five-star review. I came here way too many times in my second year at university (I use the superlative only because it was bad for my wallet) and if I still lived a five minute walk away from it, I probably would still be coming here at least once every fortnight, if not once a week.
So why do I like it so much? It's not just the food, I can tell you that, even though it is undoubtedly very good. It's a combination of a lot of factors. Okonomi House takes something that no one else does and does it really well. I have been there countless times and not once did I have anything other than a nice dining experience. The atmosphere is pleasant, the service prompt and the food always "excellent as usual". There was a period of time when they had a waitress with a perpetual stinkface on staff but it seems her employment there was short-lived because I don't see her working there anymore.
I will say, however, that Okonomiyaki is not everybody's cup of tea. I have brought friends here who basically went, "meh" while I was busy stuffing my face with a Pork Okonomiyaki. Should that be the case, I would highly recommend the Yakiniku for those who aren't big fans of the pancakes.
Again, if I lived closer to it, it would be my go-to place whenever I was too lazy to cook, whether for eat-in or takeout. You can't go wrong here, people. I can't emphasize this enough. -
Review from Jack W.
Toronto, ON
6/24/2011
HOLY PERFECT, BATMAN!
Allow me to explain. I am from Vancouver, where there is a lot of Japanese food. My favourite restaurant for many years was The Modern Club, a teppan/okonomiyaki place run by a wonderful lady named Haru-san. We became friends with her, her food kept us happy and healthy for many many years. Then... she left and went back to Japan. She sold the restaurant to someone who had no clue, and it went down the tubes. Sobbing, tearing of clothing, wailing, etc. I didn't even get to go before this happened so I went there one day and HONK HONK she was gone. =(
Anyway, there were certainly other places that served okonomiyaki around, but none that was plain, simple and traditional. Heck, even non-traditional would be okay if someone did the basic cooking right, or the right proportions, etc. Vancouver is a great sushi/sashimi city, but not always so hot on the regular Japanese food. I resigned myself to probably never finding real okonomiyaki again.
Until TODAY. I had a pork okonomiyaki, and I am proud to say that Haru-san would have been happy to eat here. I am satisfied appetite-wise, thrilled emotionally to have found a place for my okonomiyaki looove, and generally feeling great because it's not expensive either. A very hungry person might want two, but they're only $7 for the average okonomi, so splurge, why don't you?
I told the waitress and the chef how happy I was and he was thrilled to pieces, and started clanging his implements around to show off after I talked to him. I feel pretty happy about that part too, because he deserves it - that was truly fantastic traditional stuff, and I am going to eat here again and again. So. Happy. If you like okonomiyaki, and can live with mostly okonomi with only a few side dishes, this is the place for you. And me. =) -
Review from Ted A.
Toronto, ON
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
After having eaten at so many Westernized sushi places, my wife and I craved something new. Okonomi House fit the bill perfectly, providing an authentic Japanese food experience that was different than what we were used to.
The menu isn't what you'd expect at a typical Japanese restaurant in Toronto. It is very limited, consisting of basic appetizers (Japanese soups and salads), lunch and dinner specials (e.g. different meats on beds of rice), and of course, the Okonomiyaki section. If you're going to come out, the Okonomiyaki is the feature food you should be trying.
I didn't know what to expect, but Okonomiyaki is basically a Japanese pancake with whatever feature ingredient you choose baked within it (the options being beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, veggie, or seafood deluxe). On top is a type of soy sauce, with a small blob of a sweet mustard/cream.
I had the pork and my wife had the shrimp. We made one order of the Katsuobushi (it comes as a side which you can easily split), which are very thin flakes of fish that "dance" on top of the Okonomiyaki from the heat. They were both delicious! Though I felt that the pork made for a better combination than the shrimp. They are more filling than they look, and you could probably leave feeling comfortably full with just this, but you're safer ordering a small appetizer along with it.
The place is pretty small, and we had to wait a couple of minutes for a spot to free up, so I wouldn't bring a large group. It's a humble place that feels like a small diner, but it has an authentic, non-Westernized feel to it. It's nice!
Trying this delicious new kind of food was a great experience, and we'll definitely be coming back again! -
Review from Ryna D.
5/12/2011
Yay for Toronto for having an authentic okonomiyaki house! Not even NY has that.. Well, we have Otafuku ko but it's not a sit-down place..
The okonomiyaki here is so so good! Definitely go for the deluxe special with the meat and seafood toppings. -
Review from Moritz H.
Toronto, ON
Sitting at the counter. Watching your food being prepared. Is there anything better than this? Great price and nice staff.
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Review from Tara Z.
8/30/2011
Greasy food? Forgetful wait staff? Check and check. The food is tasty, but it's heavy and oily, and the waitress never brought out the miso soup I ordered (though they remembered to bill us for it). Not a fan.
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Review from Steve B.
6/2/2011
I recently had my first experience with the Okonomi House and in fact okonomoyaki in general. The restaurant is an interesting little place, it has the look of a lunch joint and quite a casual feel. I would even say the restaurant has a "well-worn" look, which may turn some off, but isn't exactly a negative.
The menu here is very basic, a few staple Japanese sides (like miso soup, edamame, etc...), what seemed to be some teriyaki bento boxes, and the eponymous okonomoyaki.
I can't tell you how "authentic" theirs are, or even how good they are in the gamut of other okonomoyaki, but mine (with shrimp inside and bonito shavings on top) was quite good. Not the best thing I've ever eaten, but I would come back for lunch sometime.
One thing to bear in mind, however, is that the size is perfect for a lunch or a slightly heavy snack but not really dinner worthy. If you're extremely hungry you'll either need a side or another dish (and in that case probably another restaurant as okonomoyaki are what they seem to specialize in).
The miso soup was good, if a little salty, but there's rarely much to say about miso other than, "It tasted like fermented soybeans diluted into a soup, and I liked it."
All in all I'd recommend it to my friends, but with the caveat of, "if you're really hungry, try it another day instead". -
Review from Ander R.
Toronto, ON
9/14/2011
Okonomi House is great
Not only one of the only places to get okonomiyaki in Toronto, but fantastic quality too.
Its good for people who dont like sushi or other Japanese cuisine, Okonomiyaki is quite a different culinary experience. I would recommend this place without reservation to almost any type of diner. its not an upscale place, but still a great place for a date, unpretentious and tasty. -
Review from Eric L.
7/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
I didn't eat here, but I am upset with this restaurant. We called in advance to reserve for a party of 15.
Although they do not take reservations, they said if we showed up, they could accommodate us. However when we arrived, they wanted to seat us in groups of 4 at staggered times.
1 star for lying.
EDIT:
I decided to go back and give this place a proper review.
To my original dismay, this place kicks ass. It has all the 3 qualities you want when you are hungry. Good, Fast, Decent Price.
If it is your first time, try the "Japanese Pancake" It is basically a pancake filled with meat veggies and topped with BBQ and Hollandaise Sauce.
We were 4 people.
4 miso soup
4 entrées:
2 beef Teriyaki
1 sea food terikyaki
1 chicken pancake
2 cokes
1 beer
1 sake
60$ including tip
I don't suggest bring groups larger than 4. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2010
Yummmmm. I've been meaning to try here for a long time, and it's one of those you see all the time, but never get a chance to go.
Thursday evening, there was a few tables left. It's a lot smaller than I thought.
Menu consists of Okonomyaki ($6.95 the flour, soy, with sauce and a choice of beef, chicken, bean sprouts/veggies, shrimp, scallop etc - or all at a cost + 0.50 seaweed and bonito flakes), some bento boxes and appetizers.
It was really good, just a patty with some sauce and mayo on it. Real tasty tho. Lower expectations will make it really good.
We also got a bento box ($10.95) comes with soup, very minimal salad (like 5 leaves), some carrots/radish floating in some ice water (??), beef/onion/teriyaki sauce/bean sprout stirfry, and scoops (using a ice cream scoop) of rice.
Was ok, beef was a bit dry.
I'd come back if in area. I liked the egg on it in the photo! I want to get that next time!
and P.S. what's up with the suggestive logo?! We had lots of fun trying to figure out what it means.Listed in: In the Annex.Yorkville area
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Review from Chris P.
8/3/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This is a one star review simply because the guy I talked to lied to me. We went here for a UYE. There were 15 of us which is a rather large group for this small place. Kat F. had called ahead and though they don't take reservations was told that it wouldn't be a problem to accommodate our large group.
Upon arriving I went inside to see how long we would have to wait. The gentleman I spoke with told me it would be a half hour, if not a little longer before he could seat us AS A GROUP. A few minutes later when Kat arrived she went in and spoke to the guy. He then told her that he would not seat our group together and would not hold tables for our group and would continue to seat small groups/couples as they came in.
If you can't accommodate a large group just be upfront about it, don't waste our time when someone calls ahead and tell them it won't be a problem when obviously it is.Listed in: You're Dead To Me
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Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Okonomiyaki: It's like a pancake-omelette thing, with stuff inside it and topped with a sweet-ish sauce. Cheap and filling. I recommend the Seafood Deluxe, which is chock full of goodies from the ocean: giant shrimp, scallops, and squid. I also like the burger steak, which is a Japanese-style hamburger patty topped with sauce and served on a bed of cooked bean sprouts with a little helping of rice. (It sounds gross, but it's tasty.)
Not good for groups, though, so keep your party small! -
Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2010
Wow, I can't believe how many times I've passed this place over the years and dismissed it as some regular normal Japanese restaurant!
This was my first okonomiyaki experience, and not bloody likely to be my last! The shrimp okonomiyaki with extra veggies (and bonito flakes) went for about $8, enough to quench my appetite on an empty stomach.
For those who don't know, okonomiyaki is a delicious Japanese pancake made with egg, topped with a bbq like sauce and a dash of mayo. Can you say flavor explosion?
There's really nothing bad I can say about this place; the prices are great, food is fantastic, staff is nice, and the service is FAST!
Correction, one bad thing I can say is that there's limited seating. I don't recommend going in groups larger than eight. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
8/4/2010 2 photos
I walked in somewhat greeted by a nonchalant older lady and a somewhat interested mid-age lady but didn't notice the MAN that Chris P. conversed. I chose my own spot on this Wednesday afternoon with only one other table of 2 having Burger Steak($7.55) and Yakisoba($7.55).
I was given an order list to check off my Shrimp Okonomiyaki($6.55) and Aonori & Katsuobushi($0.50) where I saw the Cook behind the OILY glass display cook on the Teppan. While I wait I notice the decor is definitely fitting of a Fast Food restaurant but however notice on their sign outside they define themself as Fine Dining.
The Shrimp Okonomiyaki came and I was somewhat underwhelmed as it didn't have the overall appearance I had imagined or had during my past trip. The PANCAKE was unusually thin with the uncharacteristic dollop of Mayo rather than the "Well" pattern which is the criss-cross, as well the Aonori & Katsuobushi was given on the side rather than placed on top. Maybe I had too much high hopes?!? Not really!
The GOOD part of the Okonomiyaki was that the Shrimp was perfectly cooked but still I am reminded of an Omelette here rather than an Okonomiyaki. For the size of this item, I would say it is an acceptable Snack or Pre-snack which was my intent as I was heading for the next meal. 2.5 *Stars*Listed in: 2.5 **Stars**, Oishii
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Review from Lauren M.
8/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I don't have anything really unique to add to what's already been said.
I thought this place was OK. It's a cool place because you can't really try okonomiyaki anywhere else around here. But I didn't think it was anything too fantastic.
I tried a scallop okonomiyaki-pancake-mabob with extra veggies (add $1). It was decent. I could have probably eaten more, so I imagine big boys could easily eat 2 of these, which would make it not so cheap. -
Review from Patty L.
North York, ON
This is a great little spot to have lunch when you're shopping around Bay & Bloor since it's just one street south.
It's a cute little family-owned restaurant close to the UofT campus and their prices are very afforable to those on a student budget. Average menu items are about $5-6 for okonomiyaki, and a cup of green tea was $0.50. The bonito flakes on top of the okonomiyaki costs a little bit extra ($0.50 for a generous portion!), but it's worth it! It amuses me to watch them swaying on top of my food, but it's very tasty. Their yakisoba is delicious - very authentic and the portions are very generous.
The restaurant is quite small so it can crowded during peak lunch hours. Don't bring a large party of people with you or they will be scrounging for chairs and will have 5 people mushed into a bench area that usually only fits 3. The kitchen is completely open so you can watch them making your lunch - it's also nice because they have nothing to hide.
Highly recommend this little gem! (I wish they were open on Sundays!) -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2010 ROTD 8/3/2010
I have never tried okonomi before today and now I am a devotee!
I went for lunch with a couple of friends today. Be forewarned, the lunch portions are HUGE. My friend and I shared the seafood deluxe okonomi and it was delicious and extremely filling. Huge shrimp, calamari, really generous servings in this dish. Our other friend had the chicken teriyaki and it was a very full plate of large pieces of chicken on a bed of rice.
This place is not very big and quite popular. Quick, efficient service, though and very affordable for the large portions. I want to go back and try the non-deluxe pancakes because maybe that deluxe pancake was extra-large in comparison. I'll let you know! -
Review from Janelle W.
12/6/2009
Hiroshima, Japan, is famous for three things: momiji manju, okonomiyaki (http://en.wikipedia.or...), and the atomic bomb.
Since my family hails from Hiroshima, it's a foregone conclusion that I'll eat a whole box of momiji in one sitting, that okonomiyaki is my "last meal on Earth", and that I've devoted my career to the peaceful applications of nuclear physics. Fortunately for me, I can buy momiji online, and I get paid to spend my days antagonizing over sub-atomic interactions. It's the fulfilling of my okonomiyaki habit that's a bit trickier to accomplish.
So when I learned of a restaurant that specializes in these savory Japanese pancakes, I was all over it like bacon on a fat kid's candy bar. Of course, Okonomi House does the more conventional Kansai-style okonomiyaki (all ingredients mixed together), as opposed to the regionalized Hiroshima-style layered okonomiyaki. But I gave up the right to be picky about okonomiyaki the moment I left Japan.
As soon as I stepped inside Okonomi House, though, I was transported back to the motherland. The glowing red paper lanterns, the tiny wooden seats, a sizzling griddle, and servers nimbly weaving in and out of the kitchen--all they were missing was a rowdy group of Japanese businessmen throwing back Asahis like there's no tomorrow. It was the perfect setting to meet T.O. all-star Yelpers Christine C. and susan c., and the now-New Yorker Deanna W.
We started with two okonomi--bacon-shrimp and pork-squid--then later ordered two more bacon-shrimp, which erroneously materialized as one bacon and one shrimp. That's when I reminded myself that I don't speak good enough Japanese to order without the using the sushi-bar-inspired checkbox-style menu. Not that I even *tried* to order in my rusty Japanese.
The okonomi are fluffy and eggy. The Worcestershire sauce is thick, sweet, savory, and laces the pancake with wonderful umami. The dollop of Kewpie mayo is tangy and smooth. The katsuobushi flutters like butterfly wings when sprinkled atop the steaming pancake. And the fatty bacon gives the okonomi that authentic Japanified American flavor (think Japanese interpretations of American food, like corn soup and mayonnaise pizza).
Takusan taberu!
I could nitpick about how the okonomiyaki should be crisper, with a thin layer of crunch on the outside of the pancake... How the edges of the pancake are too smooth and rounded, because not enough cabbage and green onion have been added to the batter... How the okonomiyaki should be grilled at your table or at least at the counter in front of you... How the pork should be sliced paper-thin...
But I'm just going to sit back, enjoy my pancake, and relish in the idea of being able to get a reasonably good okonomiyaki this side of the Pacific.
...and I think I'll have some momiji manju for dessert. -
Review from susan c.
9/27/2009 2 photos
Do you have a food soulmate? Someone with whom you share a deep affinity in all matters edible? And when you read each of her Yelp reviews, you blurt out, "Yes!" "So true!" "I love this girl!" even though you're at an Internet cafe and people are shooting you strange looks as you practically snort coffee through your nose laughing at her comedic genius? No? Well, it's amazing when you feel like someone out there "gets" you on some level.
I have long sung the praises of my food soulmate: janelle "if you only eat american food, i'm not interested" p. (http://jjsp.yelp.com) in Detroit. And when she told me she'd be visiting Toronto, I jumped at the chance to meet her last night for dinner where we were joined by her husband, and TO Yelpers Deanna W. and Christine C.
Mr. and Mrs. p. decided on Okonomi House, and because she's my FS, she instinctively knew that I love okonomiyaki, the savory Japanese pancakes that are the specialty of this restaurant. Okonomi House is located in the culinary dead zone just south of Bloor & Yonge, and the interior gives the impression that a Japanese family took over a small down-and-out coffee shop that had a big griddle for eggs and flapjacks, so they decided to put it to good use by cooking up their native style of pancakes. They left the formica tables and menu board intact but strung up a bunch of red paper lanterns to give it that ole Land-of-the-Rising-Sun touch.*
We ordered two okonomiyaki by writing in our choice of fillings on the order slip; one with bacon and shrimp and the other with pork and squid ($8.55 each). Instead of cooking it ourselves on the tabletop, the okonomi-maker/short-order cook fried them on the big griddle and they arrived on our table moments later for us to share. Okonomiyaki usually comes pre-loaded with katsuobushi and aonori toppings** but for some reason, we had to order them for 50 cents extra. (Shrug.)
The pancakes were puffy and moist, but what I loved most was the combination of the sweetened Worcestershire-y sauce, dollop of Kewpie Japanese mayo, enhanced by the awesome umami-ness of the toppings***, chased with swallows of cold Asahi beer. The pork and squid filling was good but it was outshined by its smoked pork belly brother so we ordered two more bacon and shrimp--which unfortunately arrived as one bacon and one shrimp okonomiyaki because our not so fluent in English waitress misunderstood :( So remember to stick to the pen-and-paper ordering system!
It's not the best okonomiyaki**** I've ever had but Okonomi House has a certain quirky charm that I like and their prices are ridiculously cheap so I will definitely come back here.
Actually, I lied. What I loved most was meeting janelle p. and her hubby. They're adorable! I met my food soulmate and she didn't try to kill me. Or does that only happen when you meet your doppelganger?
(See photos.)
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*I have no idea if this is true or not.
** shaved bonito flakes and dried seaweed powder
***especially cool when the gossamer katsuobushi topping dances on the hot okonomiyaki
****that would be the DIY okonomiyaki I had in Tokyo's Monja Street where every restaurant serves this dish! -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2010 ROTD 5/16/2010
Until today I didn't even know Japanese pancakes (okonomi yaki) existed. I've been working in the Manulife Center for over 2 years and never noticed Okonomi House. Today I finally stumbled upon this place randomly.
Okonomi House looks more like a old school diner than a Japanese restaurant. The service is super quick and the food is cheap. I ordered a vegetable pancake ($5.95) and had no idea what to expect until it landed on my table.
What I got was a 20cm pancake filled with bean sprouts, red & green peppers, and onions. It reminded me more of a potato latke than a pancake; there was no potato though. The pancake was smothered in a dark sauce that tasted like HP sauce and topped with a dallop of some creamy yellow mystery sauce.
At first I was a little skeptical because the flavours weren't what I was expecting. But, after a few bites, I was loving it. It was like Japanese comfort food. Definitely an interesting experience and a tasty lunch option in the Bloor & Yonge area. I'll be back.Listed in: East Asian Favourites
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Review from Ramanan S.
Toronto, ON
8/13/2010
This is the only place I'm aware of in the city to get Okonomiyaki. If you've never had the stuff before, it's a Japanese savoury crepe like dish. Well sort of, anyway. It's so damn good. Thankfully Okonomi House does a great job cooking it up. There are all sorts of varieties: beef, chicken, scallops, shrimp, seafood, etc. They are all served with a sort of BBQ sauce on top, and a dollop of sweet mayonnaise. Okonomi House serves other Japanese dishes, but it seems like a waste to come here and not try Okonomiyaki.
This place has been around for ages. It's tucked away behind the Manulife centre -- a very convenient and central location if you're in the city. The place is pretty small. I wouldn't come here with a giant group, things won't work out well. The atmosphere is very casual. It's a charming little place. All the dishes are quite cheap, which is another plus.
They serve Kirin beer, which is next to impossible to find in the city when compared with Asahi and Sapporo.
I'm not sure everyone will like Okonomiyaki, but it's definitely worth trying at least one. -
Review from Andrea W.
Toronto, ON
8/12/2008 1 photo
As a former resident of Osaka, Japan, I do love my okonomiyaki. I can cook it myself at home but the smoke alarm goes off every time.
For $5.85, I sample a bacon okonomi here on Charles Street. As I eat, I fall into reverie: so many happy memories of enjoying this dish in far-off places with far-off friends...
I like my okonomiyaki to be big, thick and crispy on the outside. This Okonomi House one is not. It needed way more special sauce, too. Next time I have a craving, I'll cook my own. I just have to remember to take the batteries out of the smoke alarm. -
Review from Joyees Y.
Scarborough, ON
4/1/2010
Two stars seem like a harsh rating for someone who is completely clueless about okonomiyaki. I swore I had it before going here but I forgot so let's just say this is the first time.
As I said I don't know much about this but I know what tastes good and this did not. I thought the okonomiyaki was too thin, I actually like the rice flour cake part. The sauce was too overpowering. And it was very boring. But I thought I just don't like them in general so I wasn't going to review since that didn't seem fair.
HOWEVER!! Recently I went to T&T (Middlefield one) where there is a Japanese owned Japanese restaurant that makes good takoyakis, I noticed they have okonomiyakis so I decided to try theirs. WOW! What a difference, I love this one. Little bites of shrimp in a chewy "cake" with vegetables, with seaweed powder, sauce, and mayonnaise that all balance with each other. I loved it! And I didn't eat it until two hours later when I forgot about it.
So meh, I've experienced better. -
Review from Joan L.
Mississauga, ON
3/22/2010 2 photos
More Japanese comfort food!! I was having a rough week at work: tons of critical tech issues to fix. So, I just wanted to cuddle into a booth and eat my sad heart out.
Anyhow, this time, it was Okonomi House. I did not even know of this restaurant until I stumbled upon it after hitting up Burger Gourmet Co (sweet potato fries are DELISH) and, subsequently 'yelping' it to find out what was being served here.
I don't really know what to make of it - it is essentially a cabbage pancake that is mixed with your ingredient of choice (mine was scallop). Seasonings include seaweed sprinkles / huge bonito flakes / mayonnaise / sweet Okonomiyaki sauce.
I didn't mind the taste so much but I was a little bored of it after a few bites. I didn't find the flavor intriguing in any way. I would like more salt and spice. The presentation seemed meh as well (a big blob). Perhaps I was already in a foul mood and was nitpicking on the poor pancake for my disastrous morning. Maybe the little thing didn't have a chance in hell to satisfy me. Perhaps I should have downed a beer or two while I was at it. The waitresses did make my visit enjoyable by being attentive and friendly, and I did leave the place feeling a little bit more loved.
So, I will give this one another go: round 2 will involved bacon and perhaps shrimp (to increase the complexity of flavors). FYI, I did google this baby up when I got back to the office. Apparently there is another Hiroshima version that is layered rather than mixed. I think I would like to try the former so if anyone knows of a restaurant that does that, PLEASE message me. I also googled up some recipes and might try this out on my own (doesn't appear so hard). So, my Okonomiyaki story has just started ... and I can thank Okonomi House for that! -
Review from Archana R.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2011
Yummy food. friendly food. Cheap prices. All in one!
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Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2010
Many reviewers wrote it... it does not worth it! their pancakes are far from the real and so goood nippon okonomiyakis... well, I should have trusted them and (not those who said it was OK but never went to Japan) and I should have gone somewhere else. In addition, I would not be hungry now, looking for what is left in my fridge to survive (for the same amount of money I paid there, I am usually OK for at least 6 hours!!).
Well, this place is good Ok, but what I got on my (not really hot) plate was a thin (so thin!!!) pancake, as compared to what I ate at Kyoto and Osaka, and it was not even tasty at all indeed. I want to go back to Kyoto and have a real one!!!
The waiters are nice (but not the old lady!! and she will not hesitate to pick up remainings on the left clients' plates, and put them on the next clients' ones! I saw her through the kitchen glass window (stupid idea to have a glass wall, if you want to do this), and I think it even was for my own plate.... (she might have thought I was a dumb tourist, easy to abuse...maybe I am???). BUT not sure, so... perhaps I just imagined it, so take this last remark with caution.
It can be fun to go there if you do not know what okonmiyaki is (it looks like this, but tastes better), but otherwise, don't be such an a...e. as I am. Trust those people who tell you it is NOT okonomiyaki, AT ALL, and SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE (or spare it for your next trip to Osaka, and taste a real one _ see picture of what you will NOT eat at this Toronto simulacre) . -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
10/12/2009
3 1/2 stars
Ok, I confess. As a hard core Yelp foodie I can honestly say other than sushi or tempura I just don't know all that much about Japanese food. What I do know though is that one of the best all time Yelp writers Janelle P. had sent me a note letting me know that her and her honey T.J. were on their way to the Hog Town and was I interested in meeting up with them and a couple of other Yelpers for a bite to eat. Oh my gawd, I'm not worthy! I devour Janelle's reviews like they were Kobe beef so I was over the moon to say the very least at the prospect of breaking bread with such a respected Yelper.
The invite was to the Okonomi House who's specialty benchmark dish is Okonomiyaki. So ya got me here. I'm thinking Okonomiyaki is a Japanese art form involving folded napkins. What the hell, for a chance to gobble niblets with Janelle and a couple of A-One primo Yelp wordsmithers, Susan & Deanna, I'd have been ready to twist up my legs like a couple of Origami pretzels.
The simplest way I can describe Okonomiyaki is to say that it is a Japanese pancake/omelet about the size of a miniature frisbee, cooked until it is crispy and dark and then slathered with a brown savoury sauce that is a combo of some sort of Japanese mayo and what I thought was a cross between Hoisin meets Worcester sauce. It's odd but it works. Then we sprinkled added toppings such as paper thin slivers of dried fish that began curling up and dancing on top of the pancake as soon as they adorned the hot surface of them. You choose the fillings which can be anything from bacon, shrimp, squid, pork....you get the idea. Okonomiyaki is delicious, however, with that being said, ultimately what I'd prefer is for them to be a bit crispier. They are deceiving because at first when I dug into them I was expecting the crunch factor because they are dark and on a cast iron plate but in fact they were soft, much like an omelet. Hands down my fav was most definitely the bacon option.
This small little restaurant is tucked in behind the madness that is almost Yonge & Bloor meets the Manulife centre. If you go in the evening just look for the orange glow. The biggest upside of this little spot is the price point. Okonomi is just downright reasonable and our wallets remained safely intact and not much lighter than when we arrived. Okonomiyaki for five...cost $50 bucks.....Dinner with Janelle P. and my fellow FARC's Susan & Deanna....priceless. -
Review from Fiona F.
10/12/2009 2 photos
a little authentic japanese eatery tucked in a little corner intersecting charles st and yonge, specializing in okonomiyaki but also serving other fast food type japanese like yakisoba and hamburger steak with rice.
i usually have their okonomiyaki when i visit, and make sure you include the seaweed topping (loaded with MSG goodness) and bonito flakes. choice of okonomiyaki toppings include scallop and shrimp, and of course there's beef, chicken and pork.
service is quick, price is cheap (expect $10 per person excluding taxes) and it's quite hearty. and okonomiyakis are always a good experience, especially if you've never tried it before. -
Review from Rosie S.
Toronto, ON
11/19/2009 1 photo
Yummy. This is the only place that I know of that specializes in Okonomiyaki (japanese pancake.) I had the scallop pancake and it was... really tasty. It's a nice departure from the standard sushi/teriyaki/tempura. And prices are very fair as everything comes to less than $10 with tax and tip. Be warned that if you're really hungry you might not be satisfied with ONE pancake. I would consider it more on the lighter side but it's the perfect amount of food if you're feeling a lighter lunch.
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Review from Denise S.
4/13/2010
Mmm... yummy okonomiyaki just like in Osaka! (different from the Hiroshima-style that has noodles at the bottom). It's hard to find Kansai cuisine in Toronto, so this restaurant is pretty unique.
This is probably the most satisfying and cheapest meal you could find in Yorkville. Not a ton of seating room, but service is fast and efficient. Like in some Chinese restaurants, the menu is on a sheet of paper and you just tick which items you want and wave to your server when you're ready.
Okonomiyaki (literally "as you like it") ranges from $5-10 roughly. Vegetarian is the cheapest and the mixed seafood one is the most "expensive". It's served hot off the grill with lots of sauce and a dollop of mayo. It's pretty filling, but if you want to add to your meal, there is miso soup, edamame, sunomono salad, and green tea ice cream. You can drink Japanese beers or cold drinks like Calpico (Japanese yogurt drink).Listed in: Oishii!
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Review from Tom I.
11/13/2009
BEST comfort food, I was in town winter time (3 yrs ago) and I was so glad to find this place. As far as I can tell they are very authentic (they have some Canadianized version of Okonomiyaki too). The owner and people working there were very nice Japanese peeps. I "think" they were using otafuku sauce, not bulldog(someone please find out). I had Okonomiyaki in many cities outside of Japan, but this was probably the best I had so far, including many Izakaya type place in NY or Torrance (these days most places offer frozen ones...yikes) I can't wait to visit them next time!
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Review from Peter G.
10/30/2009
Perfect Okonomiyaki ya for T.O. The Okonomiyaki was good, inexpensive, and they have fast service. Too bad the atmosphere is not nicer - it's a bit "fast food" like. Also, seems silly to charge extra for bonito flakes and seaweed. However, they do what they do well - very tasty okonomiyaki.
