Okan in Lambeth

It was our second visit here and it is an interesting place. It’s quite small, so booking is essential. The food offer is good, and it’s authentic and great value for London. We tried sake with our meal this time, which was a first, and we really enjoyed it.

We arrived 10 mins before our booking and we were told to wait! We ordered a beer (which took a while) and when it arrived it was warm - not a great start When our time came to get a table we were told that we could sit at the bench in front of the cooking area which was smoky to say the least so we politely asked to pay for our drinks! The bill came with a service charge on which was very surprising! Unfortunately we didn’t get to try the food as having booked a table we weren’t actually offered one. We were looking forward to trying Japanese food (particularly okonomiyaki) in the uk but we’ll keep looking!! Don’t go here in nice clothes the food/cooking smell is strong!!

Tipico ristorante giapponese nel centro di Londra, Ottimi piatti della cucina giapponese di Osaka, ben presentati, personale gentile e veloce. Lo consiglio

On y a mangé pour 15h, c'était très bon. Les plats avaient une sauce okonomi et il y avait de délicieux mochi glacés. Serveurs sympathiques et prix moyen.

Il faut connaître l'adresse ! On y atterrit pas par hasard je pense . C'est tout petit ! Il faut qu'il y ait de la place ou bien avoir réservé. Au menu , du frais ! Franchement tout était très bon . Ce qui m'a gênée un peu c'est le coca à 7£ et un verre d'eau à 2£50 .... Coup de coeur pour les mochis glacés. Chocolat. Une tuerie ! Pour les WC c'est cocasse. Il faut sortir et aller aux WC du county hall, au bout d'un couloir, avec une porte à code.

My first experience of a Japanese street food restaurant, it feels strange to sit and watch the chefs cooking the food in front of you, but it is fascinating. The menu is a bit confusing to newbies, but the staff were helpful to explain. A good range of dishes and what we had was lovely, very filling, good value and we had green tea which was very refreshing. I would definitely return and recommend to others. I think a few visits are needed to try the whole menu!!

We stopped by Okan for some drinks and snacks as we were staying at County Hall and saw a sign and decided to pop in. I'm so glad that we did! We enjoyed some sake, and several delicious snacks, including edamame and gyoza. The restaurant is very small, but has a very authentic vibe. Definitely would recommend!

Authentisches japanisches Essen in einer sehr typischen Umgebung. Das Restaurant ist klein, erinnert an die Essensküchen auf dem Markt. Es wird vor den Augen der Gäste zubereitet in einem sehr kleinen Restaurant, Küche auf engstem Raum, so wie man sich dies in Asien vorstellen könnte. Der Service und das Essen war sehr gut. Man sollte auf jeden fall reservieren da es nur einen Handvoll Sitzplätze gibt.

It's always going to be difficult to judge this place having loved okonomiyaki in Japan and experiencing it there. This was the first time I'd eaten it since then. The place itself is small - so make sure you book! The menu is authentic but limited - not a great selection of "starters" and limited in terms of mains. We had gyoza, squid and kimchi (added pork) okonomiyaki and pork noodle dish. The gyoza weren't good which was a shame. However, the mains were nice and enjoyable. I found the noodles slightly bland but the okonomiyaki was good. I would come back but wouldn't be in a rush. Staff were very friendly

I absolutely love Okonomiyaki but there's no Okonomiyaki restaurant near my home town so I was quite keen to visit Okan South when I was in London. First impression was amazing! I have been to Asia before (albeit not Japan) and to me it def had that vibe. Very positively surprised! After we sat down, it took about 20min for someone to take our drinks order and drinks arrived promptly afterwards. However, we then had to wait for another 30 (?) minutes until we managed to order our food. The food was amazing! Everything we had was absolutely delicious. So service could be a bit quicker but the food more than makes up for it!

I wanted everything on the menu. Luckily we were a group of four, so could order loads and share. Little gem of a place, make sure you book as it's tiny. You won't be disappointed.

Japanisches Restaurant mit wenigen Tischen. Speisekarte schmackhaft. Netter Service. Kann ich nur empfehlen.

Blown away by this unassuming hidden gem. Every dish was a taste season. The service was faultless & they were extremely accommodating. Wish we could have ordered every dish! Please write a cookbook!

Endroit assez petit et difficile à trouver (merci d'avoir sorti le panneau). Service plus ou moins rapide et efficace, selon le serveur. Produits frais, plats très bons. Dommage que nous n'ayons pas assez senti le porc & le curry (dilué ?) dans le curryudon. La garniture y était aussi en faible quantité... Devient rapidement bruyant & bondé. Tarifs corrects, surtout dans un quartier comme celui de Westminster.

Solid food, basic decor, about 65 £ for curry, noodle dish, soup, gyoza, and corn dish (best of the dishes). A but salty, but everything seems salty here. Service was prompt. Tap water to drink but lots of options. Small place, not fancy, get reservations.

Such a horrible experience in this restaurant!!! The chef is unbelievably rude!!! And also a liar!!! The male chef said to the female chef in Japanese" I deliberately gave them less food in Oden because they are Chinese and don't order the wine. " From the very beginning, I just noticed there were no Daikon in my Oden. I asked the male waiter and he told me they don't have this. My seat was just in front of the Oden pot. I saw they have this. They said they forgot and said sorry in English then shortly afterwards used Japanese to express discrimination!!!

Absolutely loved it. It’s tiny but beautifully formed. Buzzy as anything. Great service. Funky food. Felt like I was in downtown Osaka. My adult children thought it was fab. We had a blast.

When we turned up there was no availability for a midday lunch on Sunday for two. It’s a tiny cramped place with only 4 tables. We needed to use the toilet but we’re firmly rebuffed as we were not customers. It’s near the London Eye so since toilets are scarce around there I can understand not letting all and sundry use the toilets. We went to an Italian place across the road. So ring ahead to check availability. But of course we at least will never go back.

Tiny place serving wonderful Japanese food close to the London Eye in Southbank. We ordered two types of Okonomiyaki to share, braised eggplant, lotus root, dumplings and thick udon noodles.

Found this place by accident, a small cozy rustic feeling restaurant, haven’t actually eaten anywhere like this before, extremely welcoming, to the point we really didn’t want to leave, the food was amazing, & even though they were extremely busy the service was outstanding, a lovely evening had by all & if your in the area I would highly recommend a visit.

Our family includes a mix of vegans and vegetarians. I had found Okan online months before our trip when looking for a lunch spot in the area. I made reservations, which I had seen in reviews were recommended, so we sat right down. We were at the South Bank location and it is small inside, so definitely make reservations to help avoid a wait! There were constantly people coming inside to find a table or wait (a great sign!). The service was quick and the food was great. Reminded us of our time in Japan a few years ago!

Situated a couple of minutes from the South Bank, Thames and London Eye. Terrific food and great value for money for “tourist” London. Many Japanese people eating here - always a good sign. Lovely food and decent wine/beer. Don’t be late; a strict 2 hour table rule is in place for this small eatery.

The ambience was exactly what the TV had taught me to expect of a Japanese traditional eatery, very different from a traditional western restaurant (think small tables and stools). I found it charming, but if you are after an airy and roomy experience, this is not for you. The foot was delicious and the staff very attentive. As a group of three, we had to appetisers and three mains, two beers and two alcoholic drinks. The total was just shy of £90. I do not consider it cheap, but considering it was a graduation celebration, it was good value. I would go back for a special meal and I would strongly recommend it for someone who wants to experience (what I think is) a much more authentic Japanese experience.

Terrific value for money on London’s South Bank. Seating about 20 people only, lovely freshly cooked Japanese food. Plenty of Japanese people eat here, suggesting the food is authentic. 2 hour maximum time limit so don’t be late.

Incredible, delicious, authentic casual Japanese food. Best hole-in-the-wall discovery by our family EVER. We were also so happy with what we ordered and wished we had more time on our vacation to go back. DO make a reservation even for lunch as it is a very small place with limited seating. Near the London Eye.

Oh boy! So glad we had dinner here before seeing the play at London County Hall (Witness for the Prosecution). It was one of our favorite meals during our vacation. Definitely make reservations - the place is tiny. We loved the Okonomiyaki.

This is my second time going to this Okan and each time it gets better. We went around 5:30on a Friday so an earlier slot but it was perfect for us as I have some sensory issues when things get too loud. We visited as...

This is a very very small restaurant so you'd expect them to be able to look after 10 tables. The waiting staff were slow but the food was delicious

Fantastic food and atmosphere. Part of a family day out with everyone clearing their plates. Tasty street food feel to it.

my friend and i had to wait around an hour to get seated even tho i had a reservation , because they had an issue with their card machine. waiter didnt seem apologetic at all. the food was also not that great, and took way...

had the worst dining experience here. as a japanese person im very disappointed by the quality of service provided by the waiters in this restaurant. my friends and i came on time for our reservation and they told us to wait a little bit to...

We book a table for three because apparently it js really full there. However when we get to there, they gave us a table that is literally at the door but there is still tables inside. We request to get one of those table but...

It took over 30 minutes to order drinks and food and only happened after getting up and asking to be served, then a wrong dish came, also took a long time to get anyones attention to get bill and then was over charged an extra...

Staying in South Bank happened across this restaurant, all had ramen with pork and kimchi, sake, was excellent, quick, cosy, authentic so much so we eschewed everywhere else to come back the next night. Recommend booking.

We were searching specifically for somewhere to get okonomiyaki, and are so glad that we found Okan. Inside feels like a okonomiyaki bar in Osaka, and is very small so booking is a must. The menu options are limited, but the food is great if...

Tucked away behind the bustling south bank in county hall you will find this tiny oasis of Japanese charm. Cooking Okonomiyaki, noodles and various other delights in their open kitchen. Good vegetarian choices. Perfect for lunch before visiting the National theatre or anywhere else on...

The food was yummy every time we went. The service can be hit and miss, depending on the day and who is serving you - possibly a bit of a language barrier. Still - overall a very friendly and nice attitude, and willingness to 'correct'...

Atmosphere great , cozy kitsch- y Osaka street feeling. Waitress was friendly but served someone who arrived after me, beer slow to arrive. Shabu-shabu pork was chewy & dry, but nice 100 ml sake. Tea was very disappointing, worse than supermarket tea! Come on !

I would not have know about this gem if not for Google Maps. Make sure you book on Open Table. If you don't have a reservation chances are you will be waiting 20-30 minutes for one of the few tables. The food was fantastic and...

Really cosy restaurant, very reminiscent of places you find in Japan. The staff were super friendly and attentive, and the food was great! One of the few places you can get okinomiyaki - super delicious and decently priced! A really good range of high balls...

Great Japanese food,served in authentic surroundings. We had traveled around Japan before Covid and this meal was a catch up and a chance to reminisce about the Japanese holiday. Food was just like we has eaten in Osaka, and was really amazing; okonomiyaki as good...

Food and atmosphere were great. Definitely need to book as the place is quite small. Slightly on the pricey side but worth it. Loved the decor inside. Felt like we were in Japan for a while!

This was our second visit to Okan South Bank and the meal was, again, excellent. Every dish was flavoursome and the staff were really friendly and lovely, making helpful recommendations. Great selection of dishes for vegetarians - we were spoilt for choice. Atmosphere is also...

Had a wonderful work lunch here. You need to book as it’s small, but oh so worth it. The food is of the highest quality and so tasty. Staff extremely friendly. It took me back to japan!

It's a well hidden gem of a place! We went there for a birthday dinner before our film in BFI. And we loved the food, the teas and of course, wonderful friendly staff, who cooked our meal in front of us :)

We went there with a couple of friends. Okonomiyaki and curry rice were both delicious. However, the service was very slow. It took us a good 20 minutes just to order, and, in the end, we couldn't have dessert because the waitress never came to...

I'm really glad I chose to go to this restaurant. It's tiny, and tucked away, giving it a really nice cozy atmosphere. The food was delicious; in particular I really liked the okonomiyaki. The price seemed really good, particularly for central London, and the service...

Delicious food and friendly staff. Thank you for the great meal. The spicy miso was amazing. All of the food was fresh and tasty.

We loved Okan! This was the best and most memorable restaurant on our trip to London and Scotland. The food was phenomenal and we felt as if we were at a little restaurant in Japan. Try everything including the matcha tea cheesecake. The staff was...

This is a tiny restaurant which is tucked away and would be easy to miss. We weren’t really sure what to expect as there’s no menu online but we absolutely loved everything about this place. The food was amazing and great for vegetarians. We loved...

We booked a table here before going to a play at the National Theatre. When we walked in it took me right back to my trips to Japan. It really felt like we were in Japan. So authentic. We were seated at the counter and...

Good restaurant, and I hope to return to try other dishes. I broadly agree with other recent reviews so won't repeat the points, however also my waitress didn't speak english well, but we worked around that and it was fine. I noted most of the...

Cute, cosy venue with open kitchen serving tasty Japanese bites and dishes. Good sake menu with plenty of unusual dishes and drinks to try. Freindly staff and a vibrant atmosphere. I'd definitely come back again.

Quite hard to find - there's just a small sign in one of the entrances to County Hall. Very small and draughty! The service was OK - the waitresses were mostly hidden in the kitchen and you had to grab them (metaphoriically) when they made...

Tiny, informal, quirky restaurant. Smaller menu but more unusual if you're not that familiar with Japanese food like us, we like sushi but was good to try other things which were all very nice.

I'm really glad we stumbled upon this little place. The décor felt very authentic. Like we'd stepped off a Tokyo street! The staff were very friendly and attentive but also gave you space. Service was quick and fuss free. The food was fantastic. We shared...

An absolute hidden gem in tourism central! The food is cooked right in front of you in this tiny but authentic restaurant. We had the king prawn yaki soba, pork and noodle okanomiyaki, pork donburi, edamame and pork gyoza. Everything was delicious and we’d love...

Hands down the best eating experience I’ve had in London and that’s not even taking into account how cheap it is. A true secret authentic Japanese experience and better than I’ve had even in Tokyo.

What an amazing place! Excellent food (all of the dishes we chose were very yummy), excellent service (all of the staff were very polite, friendly and helpful) and great ambience! One of the best Japanese restaurants in London. Definitely worth going there.

Been recommended by a friend and loved every part of it ! The food, the service and the atmosphere ! Good selection of sake, their miso soup is simple and delicious, and of course the star of the show: okonomiyaki.

Very limited menu and even so, They ran out of over half the menu food listings and half the sakes noisy and uncomfortable seating Will not repeat many better choices even in the south bank

What an absolute gem. First time dining here. Not familiar with Japanese cuisine. Asked our waitress to recommend everything. she made our choices and it was all scrumptious. If you want posh surroundings not for you. We love informal . Will defo be back. Chaz

Great, wholly authentic food. Very friendly. Easily as good as Okonomiyaki I have eaten in Kyoto. Authentic Japanese atmosphere.

The restaurant is very cute and the menu has a brilliant authentic Japanese menu. However, when I visited Japan and having eaten in Japanese restaurants, Mayo on dishes was not a thing. I get that it has become trendy in 2021 (I googled this during...

My partner and I ate here and I can't recommend it enough. We both had gyoza and okonomiyaki, which were easily as good (if not better) than anything we had in Japan. The food and decor is very authentic and the staff were extremely friendly...

Absolutely brilliant! Authentic tiny restaurant serving delicious food, felt like we were back in Japan. Staff were very welcoming and we can't wait to return. You must try the okonomiyaki!

Friendly staff. Unexpected location. Authentic feeling. Quality food. All round, an excellent find. Happy to have experienced it.

The interior is like a small authentic Japanese diner and the food well, it’s as authentic as they get. They are very welcoming and the place is very cosy The Okonomiyaki is really good and they make it near you and it is of reasonable...

Just visited Okan for the first time & it was fantastic - the flavours in the gyozas, & teppanyaki were layered & delicious, and the Okan Special okonomiyaki was superb - the squid & prawns were cooked fantastic. The atmosphere & decor was great fun,...

Me and my brother just arrived in London for a weekend and we were looking for a nice place to eat. My brother was triggered by Okan as it is an izakaya. So we made a reservation. The restaurant is a bit hidden in a...

Wonderful place. The food is delicious. Fresh and authentic Japanese. So nice to find an independent place like this on the South Bank

Nice japanese atmosphere but no cosy. Staff is japanese which is a plus. Food is nice but take ages to arrive. The okonomiyaki was nice as expected nothing more. We were very lucky to arrived as restaurant open and were the first to be served....

It’s authentic as it’s run by Japanese and also all of the staffs were Japanese when I was there but the quality of food and service was just average. The reason why I felt that might be just because of the way the food Okonomiyaki...

Run by a group of talented Japanese friends, they bring the simplicity of the delicious cuisine of Osaka and more. Less than 10 main dishes on the menu but you can see it was thoroughly researched as they are the most popular everywhere. Cosy and...

A tiny cafe style restaurant which is very authentic and serves good food. The range of drinks is disappointing though.

The food was delicious and amazing. I tried the Okan special and it really is a delight, the kimchi gives it a nice spicy kick which made the beer I had with it even more refreshing. The atmosphere is fantastic and the staff are extremely...

We had wanted to come to this restaurant for ages after a Japanese acquaintance told us the okonomiyaki was excellent. So right. Fabulous freshly cooked food. Great to sit watching the cooking and chatting to the chef. Very friendly and helpful staff. Cannot wait to...

Nice atmosphere that felt like we were in Japan and tastiest Kansai food we've had since being near Osaka. Oishii!

A nice, cosy spot hidden away near the London Eye. They had the Hiroshima style option (in addition to the more common, Osaka style), noodle based okonomiyaki which I was quite impressed by having tried it once in Fukuoka a couple years back. Good value...

Really nice place. Osaka style japanese food. I haven't been in anything similar in London. Also cheap (20£ per person with 2 starters, 2 mains, dessert and 2 drinks).

On vaca and had no idea this place was here. We weren't finding anything we were interested in and then walked by and thought we'd give it a try. This place is small. Its like this building had some left over closet space and decided...

I discovered Okan after I watched the drama next door last year and I got addicted to their food ever since. I come back to London again this year so I come back again after trying the Michelin restaurants. There is a big variety of...

My colleague and I had a fabulous experience In The wonderful Okan. It’s like a family run place with seats near the main grill for close ups of the action. The food was wonderful and cheap for London and it’s even family friendly. Annoy wait...

Okonomiyaki= Egg with many other things, tofu one is good but then so is the beef one! Great food, all of it. Casual, small & cosy good value. We sit at the grill/bar and talk to the staff about Japan (when its quiet). The lunch...

But prepare for some waiting time! Even if it’s cold me and my friends had to wait for about 20 minutes before we sat down. Pretty unusual in this spot, as the market is pretty busy with fast turnover. I may come back some time...

Okonomiyaki is alright, with big chunky prawns and fair quantity of seafood. But the soupy udon (non spicy) is flavorful and perfect for rainy winter days, chock full of umami. Pork Gyoza is a winner too, with fresh meat and nice crispy char to the...

we stumbled upon this place as we were walking one night. We were hungry. It was dinner time, and the place looked authentic and interesting. It was small...but they had a little table that fit the 4 of us. A woman was cooking something I...