$20 Fish Bento lunch offering at Iwami in the Chefs Hall
I was expecting more of a Bento Box, with other stuff. It was fine for a $20 lunch.
They had me until they said butterfish.
" KYUSHU YAKITORI IZAKAYA, Steeles/Yonge, Thornhill " - Another satisfying and delectable Japanese nosh at our favorite neighbourhood casual Japanese joint. Tonight, the five of us feast on the following:
Great food, Great service, Great company combined to create a Great evening!
Oroshi’s Futomaki ($16) and California Roll ($9)
Went to Oji Seichi again, because it is the best ramen within 3 blocks of our house.
We shared a sake flight:
We started with a new appetizer, curry beef spring rolls, which came with sour cream and sweet chili sauce. Quite yummy.
Our other starter was the seaweed and cucumber salad ,with tiny pickles and sesame - a bit too heavy handed with the vinegar.
We shared a shoyu ramen, with bamboo shoots, corn, extra noodles, and chili oil - still good, although not my favourite style of noodles.
The yuzu chicken sausage sandy with iceberg, cabbage, daikon, spicy mayo - very enjoyable, but the yuzu was MIA.
For dessert we tried the soft serves, one with sesame strawberry crunch (nice) and miso caramel with bits of salty fried noodle (fun).
The last time I went to Okonomi House was back in the 80s, so I figured it was time for a revisit. It remains a good source for simple and filling Japanese comfort food.
The reason to go are the okonomiyaki, which are riddled with cabbage, green onions, and your choice of protein (we had chicken and pork). They are topped with the usual sauce, mayo, and for a bit extra you can add aonori and bonito flakes. Nice crisp edges and a moist interior.
Original Beef Curry featured delicious slow-cooked beef in a fragrant curry, served with pickled radish and steamed rice - very comforts and satisfying.
Yakisoba included tasty stir-fried noodles, with chicken, beef, shrimp and vegetables (onions, peppers) served with steamed rice.
We were too full for any dessert.
Wow … didn’t realize they were still around. I loved the nearby Japan Deli when I lived in the city.
Carbs with a side of carbs? 
I’ve never seen that before with yakisoba.
We had the same reaction. We still enjoyed the rice.
I went to Japan Deli all the time, especially between 1989-1992.
Wonder if we crossed paths.
I haven’t been to Okonomi House since around 1998.
Small world eh … an old boyfriend introduced me to it. I’ve went back on my own and also with subsequent boyfriends 
The owner was such a sweetie.
I introduced my teenage friends to sushi at Japan Deli. Most of them had never tried sushi up until that point.
I was the tastemaker. 
Good for you! A friend introduced me to sushi at a Japanese/Korean restaurant at or around College Park. I want to say Osio or Oshio but can’t remember exactly. Loved raw salmon and tuna but my unrefined palate didn’t like enjoy much else in terms of raw fish.
All this discussion of Okonomi House, yakisoba, and early Toronto sushi experiences has prompted this note.
My wife and I have eaten at/taken out from Okonomi House for almost as long as it’s been around. It’s for their yakisoba. We lived in Tokyo for a year in the very early 70s (it was where we met.) We taught English conversation, usually worked until 9pm. We made little money, so finding quick, cheap, and filling dinners after work was a priority. A little restaurant tucked into the train station near our school was the site of many yakisoba dinners.
Coming back to Canada, and finding a place that made great yakisoba was a real treat. Now that we live just a few blocks from Okonomi House, it’s a regular meal.
Not long after we got back, I also discovered what I think was Toronto’s first sushi restaurant. Wish I could remember the name. It was at 103 Yonge at Adelaide, on the 3rd floor above a JB’s Big Boy restaurant, and a “regular” Japanese restaurant, Taste of Japan, on the 2nd. (Though there weren’t many Japanese restaurants at all here then.) A few years ago, I came across the obit of the guy who opened the sushi place.
Almost all the customers there were Japanese. I remember occasionally seeing some non-Japanese coming up the stairs, and peering in to the sushi place. Some would quickly leave when the staff immediately started yelling at them. (It’s a Japanese tradition to all loudly call out “Irasshaimase!” (welcome) to customers as they entered.)
I could never have pictured the hordes of sushi restaurants, and grocery store takeout that exists now.
Related: last week we had a wonderful omakase sushi dinner ($98) at Sushi Umi, just a few doors west of Okonomi House.
Sushi umi hmm I walk by that area often and have been meaning to try as they didn’t look like worth trying before the renovation. I recall it was called sushi club or something. Their lunch combo looks decent as well. Might visit soon thanks for sharing
My family and I had a memorable Omakase experience at their Richmond Hill branch a few weeks back. At $98, the offerings were pretty good value in terms of both quality and price. BTW, head-chef/owner manned the sushi bar at the downtown flag ship store. As such, I would expect the experience to be even more enjoyable?!
No it sure if this is the right place to ask but just read about Okinawan black sugar. Is this something I can find at Hmart or do I need to hit J-Town?
Thank you!
OMG Japan Deli. That was my very first experience with Japanese cuisine. A real awakening.
Rooms Coffee at 915 Dupont has a Japanese aesthetic and a few Japanese snacks available.
Very popular with hip millenial parents and their hip toddlers on Saturday at 10 am. Dovercourt Park was empty. The toddlers were hanging out at Rooms. lol.
I haven’t tried the Japanese snacks or speciality drinks that are more Japanese- inspired.
