Wa Dining Okan
$$ • Japanese, VegetarianAbout Wa Dining Okan
Customers' Favorites
Japanese Premium Beef and Vegetables Grilled on Magma Plate
Thinly Sliced Grilled Beef Tongue
Seasoned Deep Fried Baby Octopus
Raw Scallops with Sea Urchin Uni
Braised Pork Nagasaki-Style
Takoyaki Fried Octopus
Wagyu Beef Skewers
Fried Squid Legs
Agedashi Tofu
Nabeyaki Udon
Wa Dining Okan Reviews
248 ratings
Share your opinion about Wa Dining Okan
This is easily one of our absolute favorite spots in San Diego! My wife says the food tastes exactly like traditional Japanese home cooking. Honestly, everything on the menu is incredible, so you truly cannot go wrong. The service is always fast and friendly. We have been coming here regularly for over 12 years, and their quality has never dipped.
For lunch, their bento boxes always hit the spot. For dinner, we love ordering a mix of individual dishes and sides to share....read full review
For lunch, their bento boxes always hit the spot. For dinner, we love ordering a mix of individual dishes and sides to share....read full review
Absolutely delicious !! Every single dish was amazing! Absolutely recommend
This is a low-key long-standing local spot with mostly regulars. Tucked right next to Nijiya Market, it never relies on marketing—only authentic home-style flavors and consistent quality keep customers coming back. It’s a cozy Japanese izakaya with warm yellow lighting, just like a traditional neighborhood pub in Tokyo. Perfect for casual drinks and enjoying a genuine laid-back vibe.
I ordered the eel kamameshi, which took about 20 minutes to serve. Their house-marinated...read full review
I ordered the eel kamameshi, which took about 20 minutes to serve. Their house-marinated...read full review
Hours
| Monday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 9:30PM |
| Tuesday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 9:30PM |
| Wednesday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 9:30PM |
| Thursday | 5 - 9:30PM 11AM - 2PM |
| Friday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 10PM |
| Saturday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 10PM |
| Sunday | 11AM - 2PM 5 - 9:30PM |
Wa Dining Okan is a restaurant that offers authentic and varied Japanese dishes, perfect for those who enjoy traditional flavors. The atmosphere is welcoming and family-oriented, with friendly staff. The menu features recommended dishes like sliced wagyu, sweet potatoes tempura, and fried squid. The parking is convenient, located in a large parking lot next to Nijiya Market.
Customers describe the restaurant as a busy but cozy setting, with food that resembles what one might find in Japan—small portions but high quality. The lunch specials and dishes like yakitori, soba, udon, and beef soba with clear broth are especially praised. Diners enjoy the miso taro & eggplant appetizer and the eel rice dish, which is tender and melts in your mouth. The creamy mentai udon is flavorful and tastes even better after each bite, with roe adding a nice touch of spice and umami. Portions are perfect for sharing. The octopus fried tentacles and kama are also popular choices. Servers are attentive and friendly, making the overall experience enjoyable. While some feel that certain dishes like seafood kamameshi could have more seafood or better value, many find Wa Dining Okan to be a great place for small Japanese eatery vibes and authentic cuisine.