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Found another great spot to dine in Oakland! Our party of four made a reservation for Thursday evening, and the place was pretty busy -- always a good sign. Everything we ordered that night was delicious. My absolute favorite was the oxtail jjigae, and the desserts were just as impressive. If you're a foodie like me, you won't be disappointed. Definitely give this place a try!
Service was phenomenal!! Everyone worked together to make the experience seamless. The aesthetic was adorable and really liked how clean everything was. Even though it was almost an 'open kitchen' it was nice and quiet! The reservation notes didn't make it through, but they tried to make it right quickly with a baby chair and wishing us a happy birthday. The food was good but not great. We had both versions of the chicken wings and the szechuan was not spicy at all so that was a bit disappointing bc we were told the lime wedge was used to tone down the spice and balance the flavor. The okonomiyaki salad was awesome, as well as the potato cheese croquette. The jjajjang bolognese had a good flavor profile but I couldn't tell if the noodles were instant and that automatically downgraded the overall appeal of the dish for me. The bossam came with 4 oysters and a pork bone broth that was probably my favorite thing there. Overall would likely go again if someone wanted to but definitely doesn't fall into a "craveworthy" category.
I had the opportunity to dine at Oken for a friend's birthday and was lucky enough to try out almost every item on the menu. Dishes here are all meant to be family style so you will benefit greatly by coming with a large group so you can try out more items. Of the items that we ordered, there were a few highlights for me. First, the yukhwe onigiri -- crispy rice ball, beef tartare, soy, quail egg, perilla, was the dish that everyone nominated as their favorite dish. The onigiri is deep fried so it has a crunchy, beautiful golden outer shell. The soft texture of the diced beef tartare and creaminess of the quail egg made for the perfect bite. In hindsight, we would have gladly traded out some of the other dishes we ordered for more onigiris for the table. Another dish I personally enjoyed a lot was the okonomiyaki salad. If you enjoy okonomiyaki, you will love this version of it, which has a thin egg omelette across the top of the lettuce and is generously dressed with okonomiyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo and a mountain of bonito flakes. The Kurobuta pork belly -- a.k.a. the "wagyu of pork", is well-seasoned, deliciously tender with a great balance of fat, and holds up well to the strong flavors of the sauces. The other crowd favorite was the braised beef cheek dup bap. The beef cheek was tender enough that it could be easily broken into sharable pieces with just a spoon as we stirred the bowl of rice around. The egg yolk was a nice finishing touch on top, adding yet another level of richness to the already rich dish. The only improvement is possibly more rice, and heating up the stone pot a bit more so it could develop some crispiness on the bottom. If I were to come again with such a large group and order again, there's a few things I'd do differently. First, I would skip out on the Wagyu kalbi short rib saam and coppa dwaeji saam. Our group of 10 ordered two of each so everyone could have a bite. Although the meats were both delicious -- i.e. the pork steak and short rib was perfectly cooked, I think the group would have been better allocating the ~$200 towards other entrees we enjoyed more. Next, the gochujang glazed ocean trout was delicious -- melt in your mouth, fork tender, but it wasn't something that was so unique that you could only find it at Oken. Two last dishes that I would skip out on were the fried chicken -- with choices of either Sichuan spicy or sweet soy glaze, and the triple cooked crispy potatoes -- served with curry mayo. It's not the either dish was bad, but I feel like you can get better Asian fried chicken elsewhere (i.e. even at OK's Deli) -- that's butchered in smaller pieces and easier to consume, and the crispy potatoes were a bit mundane. For a dollar more than the potatoes, the maitake -- or "hen-of-the-woods", mushroom tempura with truffle crème fraîche is an obvious no-brainer as a substitute both in taste, value, and creativity. The only big miss was the "hwe dup bap" -- a Korean sashimi rice bowl reminiscent of a chirashi bowl with salmon roe, ocean trout, mixed lettuces, shiso, perilla, Koshihikari rice, sesame oil, and nori. Across the board, everyone felt like the sauce mixed in was far too spicy and overpowering compared to the subtle flavor presented in all the other dishes we had ordered. The dish arrived at the opposite end of the table so I couldn't get a good look at the details of sauce or quantity that was mixed it, but the sauce tasted like some variation of sriracha. Oken is definitely a nice spot to celebrate a birthday or special occasion, as opposed to a casual week day dinner. Staff and service here are both top-notch. I am very impressed by the OK's Deli team who put together this venture and would love to come back in the future to see how the menu evolves.
Came here on a Saturday for lunch and was impressed right away by the exceptional service and sleek, modern ambiance. The space feels thoughtfully designed and welcoming. It's definitely a great spot to sit and catch up with friends. We visited during lunch, so the menu was limited. The concept is interesting and creative, but unfortunately the execution didn't fully hit the mark for us. We ordered the pho ramen, which leaned more like bun bo hue with ramen noodles. The flavors were decent, but it didn't feel particularly cohesive or memorable. We also tried the oxtail curry which was ok. The curry itself had a nice nutty depth, but I wish the oxtail had been more tender. Overall, great service and atmosphere, but the food didn't quite match the level of the hospitality. Would be open to giving dinner a try to see a broader menu.
What is there not to love about a Japanese / Korean blend. Made a reservation for an early-ish dinner on a weeknight. I love the interior of the place. It gets such beautiful golden hour sun and the decor is cute with all the little cats around. My friend and I shared the yukhue onigiri, the maguro carpaccio, and the Dungeness crab dup bap. First of all, onigiri was 10/10. Deliciously crunchy and chewy and the flavor of the beef was just right. Could eat 10 of those if it weren't so expensive lol. Carpaccio was good as well. Loved the sauce and toppings. Dup bap had huge chunks of Dungeness crab which was delicious. Service throughout the meal was super friendly and we had a great experience. Only gripe is the price since the items are on the pricier side. But their menu sounded so good we had to try it haha. Perhaps I'll be back to try the other things
This incredibly busy follow-up to a beloved lunch counter in Oakland impresses. Some of the bites are among the best on the East Bay (don't skip on the onigiri tartare or the make-your-own-hamachi handrolls). It's pretty typical that restaurants shine more in their small-bite menu, and the mains here were pretty good (I enjoyed the kalbi more than the oxtail stew). Service is excellent, and prices are fair given how full you'll be by the end of the meal. The place itself is quite loud, and its a narrow room so expect to have to talk loudly to hear your dining companions. Reservations are strongly recommended, and insist on a table further back.
Tried this Korean restaurant for lunch with friends. A compact menu and since we like to eat, we ordered 3 out of the 4 entrees and the miso soup to share. Miso Miyugook was comforting and fulfilling with more in the soup to warm your tummy. Loved the Coppa Cut Bulgogi and Ox Tail curry. Nice flavors. The Hwe Dup Bap is very spicy. We ordered extra rice to be able to eat it. I would suggest asking for the sauce (assuming Gojuchang) on the side to control how much you mix in with the dish as even my friends who generally like spicy thought it was hot. But it was yummy nonetheless. No desserts at lunch time but we were full! A nice addition to College Avenue. Street parking.
It was good to try Oken but I was not impressed by the food. For those who are more cost-conscious, it's a high margin establishment. Food: B: I wanted to like it more, but I found it to be very overpriced for inventive, authentic Korean and Japanese food that was more modern and with a higher degree of presentation. Service: C+. It was good, not spectacular. Not much in the way of explanation or recommendation. We were offered still or sparkling and we selected the later, and it up being 2 bottles at $8 a bottle with no heads up before we switched to tap. I ordered a pint of Asahi, and we were given a large bottle of Asahi which cost $14/bottle before tax and tip. Ambiance: B-. The pace was fast, like a diner. We ordered dishes and they were out in minutes, so to me that's not coursing it out, rather premade. We were in and out of there in 60-minutes, which surprised me. Not too relaxing to be honest.
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Made a reservation via OpenTable and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking was easy on the street in the super safe Rockridge area. Loved the vibes of the restaurant. It felt like I was eating in Manhattan. The entire front of the house staff that helped us throughout the evening were cordial and helpful. Started off with the mizuna salad that was recommended by our waiter. Loved how fresh the vegetables were along with the crispy toppings and the fantastic dressing on the bottom. Moved on to the big eye tuna tartare which was also excellent. Super tasty tuna tartare topped over some avocado and served with a gigantic nori chip for dipping. The triple cooked potato was pretty unique with curry salt and served with a curry mayo and ketchup. This dish was slightly salty though The maitake tempura was decent. I was expecting more flavors from the matake mushrooms. My understanding was the dip was supposed to be a truffle mayo. I wasn't able to smell the truffle though... The wagyu short rib ssam was world class. The meat portion was very generous. The marbling of the meat was excellent and cooked to a perfect medium. It was also seasoned to perfection too! Ended the meal off with the chocolate cake which was also excellent. The cake on the bottom was moist and the whipped cream on top was excellent! ~$80/head after tax and gratuity for dinner with no employer mandates.
Rolled in on a super last-minute reservation and got seated at a communal table, which was expected, but it was actually really comfortable. They gave each party plenty of space so it never felt crowded or chaotic. Every dish we ordered went crazy. The wagyu kalbi short rib ssam was rich, tender, and packed with flavor. The oxtail jjigae was deep, comforting, and perfect for sharing. Do not skip the okonomiyaki salad. It sounds simple but it absolutely hits and balances everything out. Service was locked in the whole night. Attentive, friendly, and timed perfectly. Open kitchen adds to the vibe too. You can smell everything cooking and it just builds the anticipation. If you're into thoughtful, high-quality food with a chill but elevated East Bay energy, Oken needs to be on your list. Definitely coming back.
Came to Oken on a Friday and had the most amazing meal. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. We ordered the maitake tempura, hamachi hand roll set, potato cheese croquette, waygu kalbi short rib ssam, and mentaiko pasta. Everything came out very timely with great presentation. You could taste that all the ingredients were very quality and all the food came out tasting delicious. All the staff were so friendly and attentive. Oken is a perfect spot for date night, casual dinner, or any celebration.
My partner and I came here for our anniversary last month. We procrastinated on making plans, so we were thrilled they still had reservations available the week of. It ended up being a full house when we arrived, so we definitely got lucky! Service was amazing the entire night. They checked on us often, kept us hydrated, and even comped us celebratory drinks: sparkling wine for my partner and a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé for me (I don't drink). Such a thoughtful touch, and the rosé was actually so delicious! The food was so good. Highlights for me were the yukhwe onigiri, wagyu ssam, and the oxtail jigae, which I could eat that jigae every single day. We also loved the dessert. It was a melon granita when we went (not sure if it's still on the menu), but it was SO refreshing. Only regret was not trying the maitake tempura... we'll be back for it. I'd probably skip the sichuan popcorn chicken next time - good, but not super memorable. Overall, such a memorable night with delicious food, great hospitality, and a perfect anniversary spot. We'll definitely be back!
Genuinely one of the best restaurants I've dined at this year -- and I eat out a lot! Great spot for a date night. We ordered lots of apps and one main: - Miso Caesar Salad - so, so delicious. My partner and I still talk about it sometimes in passing. It probably helped that it was half parmesan cheese - Hamachi handroll - it was fun to make our own handrolls, and the sauce was packed with flavor - Maitake tempura - perfectly fried. Light on seasoning but paired well with the dipping sauce - Big eye tuna tartare - we were fighting to see who would finish this. I wish the nori chip was bigger! - Hwe dup bap - this was the only item that we likely wouldn't order again. It was good, but nothing too special The restaurant space is tight and intimate. Remember to make a reservation before swinging by! I was turned away the first time when I didn't make a reservation.
7 months ago
Found another great spot to dine in Oakland! Our party of four made a reservation for Thursday evening, and the place was pretty busy -- always a good sign. Everything we ordered that night was delicious. My absolute favorite was the oxtail jjigae, and the desserts were just as impressive. If you're a foodie like me, you won't be disappointed. Definitely give this place a try! read more
Service was phenomenal!! Everyone worked together to make the experience seamless. The aesthetic was adorable and really liked how clean everything was. Even though it was almost an 'open kitchen' it was nice and quiet! The reservation notes didn't make it through, but they tried to make it right quickly with a baby chair and wishing us a happy birthday. The food was good but not great. We had both versions of the chicken wings and the szechuan was not spicy at all so that was a bit disappointing bc we were told the lime wedge was used to tone down the spice and balance the flavor. The okonomiyaki salad was awesome, as well as the potato cheese croquette. The jjajjang bolognese had a good flavor profile but I couldn't tell if the noodles were instant and that automatically downgraded the overall appeal of the dish for me. The bossam came with 4 oysters and a pork bone broth that was probably my favorite thing there. Overall would likely go again if someone wanted to but definitely doesn't fall into a "craveworthy" category. read more
I had the opportunity to dine at Oken for a friend's birthday and was lucky enough to try out almost every item on the menu. Dishes here are all meant to be family style so you will benefit greatly by coming with a large group so you can try out more items. Of the items that we ordered, there were a few highlights for me. First, the yukhwe onigiri -- crispy rice ball, beef tartare, soy, quail egg, perilla, was the dish that everyone nominated as their favorite dish. The onigiri is deep fried so it has a crunchy, beautiful golden outer shell. The soft texture of the diced beef tartare and creaminess of the quail egg made for the perfect bite. In hindsight, we would have gladly traded out some of the other dishes we ordered for more onigiris for the table. Another dish I personally enjoyed a lot was the okonomiyaki salad. If you enjoy okonomiyaki, you will love this version of it, which has a thin egg omelette across the top of the lettuce and is generously dressed with okonomiyaki sauce, Kewpie mayo and a mountain of bonito flakes. The Kurobuta pork belly -- a.k.a. the "wagyu of pork", is well-seasoned, deliciously tender with a great balance of fat, and holds up well to the strong flavors of the sauces. The other crowd favorite was the braised beef cheek dup bap. The beef cheek was tender enough that it could be easily broken into sharable pieces with just a spoon as we stirred the bowl of rice around. The egg yolk was a nice finishing touch on top, adding yet another level of richness to the already rich dish. The only improvement is possibly more rice, and heating up the stone pot a bit more so it could develop some crispiness on the bottom. If I were to come again with such a large group and order again, there's a few things I'd do differently. First, I would skip out on the Wagyu kalbi short rib saam and coppa dwaeji saam. Our group of 10 ordered two of each so everyone could have a bite. Although the meats were both delicious -- i.e. the pork steak and short rib was perfectly cooked, I think the group would have been better allocating the ~$200 towards other entrees we enjoyed more. Next, the gochujang glazed ocean trout was delicious -- melt in your mouth, fork tender, but it wasn't something that was so unique that you could only find it at Oken. Two last dishes that I would skip out on were the fried chicken -- with choices of either Sichuan spicy or sweet soy glaze, and the triple cooked crispy potatoes -- served with curry mayo. It's not the either dish was bad, but I feel like you can get better Asian fried chicken elsewhere (i.e. even at OK's Deli) -- that's butchered in smaller pieces and easier to consume, and the crispy potatoes were a bit mundane. For a dollar more than the potatoes, the maitake -- or "hen-of-the-woods", mushroom tempura with truffle crème fraîche is an obvious no-brainer as a substitute both in taste, value, and creativity. The only big miss was the "hwe dup bap" -- a Korean sashimi rice bowl reminiscent of a chirashi bowl with salmon roe, ocean trout, mixed lettuces, shiso, perilla, Koshihikari rice, sesame oil, and nori. Across the board, everyone felt like the sauce mixed in was far too spicy and overpowering compared to the subtle flavor presented in all the other dishes we had ordered. The dish arrived at the opposite end of the table so I couldn't get a good look at the details of sauce or quantity that was mixed it, but the sauce tasted like some variation of sriracha. Oken is definitely a nice spot to celebrate a birthday or special occasion, as opposed to a casual week day dinner. Staff and service here are both top-notch. I am very impressed by the OK's Deli team who put together this venture and would love to come back in the future to see how the menu evolves. read more
Came here on a Saturday for lunch and was impressed right away by the exceptional service and sleek, modern ambiance. The space feels thoughtfully designed and welcoming. It's definitely a great spot to sit and catch up with friends. We visited during lunch, so the menu was limited. The concept is interesting and creative, but unfortunately the execution didn't fully hit the mark for us. We ordered the pho ramen, which leaned more like bun bo hue with ramen noodles. The flavors were decent, but it didn't feel particularly cohesive or memorable. We also tried the oxtail curry which was ok. The curry itself had a nice nutty depth, but I wish the oxtail had been more tender. Overall, great service and atmosphere, but the food didn't quite match the level of the hospitality. Would be open to giving dinner a try to see a broader menu. read more
What is there not to love about a Japanese / Korean blend. Made a reservation for an early-ish dinner on a weeknight. I love the interior of the place. It gets such beautiful golden hour sun and the decor is cute with all the little cats around. My friend and I shared the yukhue onigiri, the maguro carpaccio, and the Dungeness crab dup bap. First of all, onigiri was 10/10. Deliciously crunchy and chewy and the flavor of the beef was just right. Could eat 10 of those if it weren't so expensive lol. Carpaccio was good as well. Loved the sauce and toppings. Dup bap had huge chunks of Dungeness crab which was delicious. Service throughout the meal was super friendly and we had a great experience. Only gripe is the price since the items are on the pricier side. But their menu sounded so good we had to try it haha. Perhaps I'll be back to try the other things read more
This incredibly busy follow-up to a beloved lunch counter in Oakland impresses. Some of the bites are among the best on the East Bay (don't skip on the onigiri tartare or the make-your-own-hamachi handrolls). It's pretty typical that restaurants shine more in their small-bite menu, and the mains here were pretty good (I enjoyed the kalbi more than the oxtail stew). Service is excellent, and prices are fair given how full you'll be by the end of the meal. The place itself is quite loud, and its a narrow room so expect to have to talk loudly to hear your dining companions. Reservations are strongly recommended, and insist on a table further back. read more
Tried this Korean restaurant for lunch with friends. A compact menu and since we like to eat, we ordered 3 out of the 4 entrees and the miso soup to share. Miso Miyugook was comforting and fulfilling with more in the soup to warm your tummy. Loved the Coppa Cut Bulgogi and Ox Tail curry. Nice flavors. The Hwe Dup Bap is very spicy. We ordered extra rice to be able to eat it. I would suggest asking for the sauce (assuming Gojuchang) on the side to control how much you mix in with the dish as even my friends who generally like spicy thought it was hot. But it was yummy nonetheless. No desserts at lunch time but we were full! A nice addition to College Avenue. Street parking. read more
It was good to try Oken but I was not impressed by the food. For those who are more cost-conscious, it's a high margin establishment. Food: B: I wanted to like it more, but I found it to be very overpriced for inventive, authentic Korean and Japanese food that was more modern and with a higher degree of presentation. Service: C+. It was good, not spectacular. Not much in the way of explanation or recommendation. We were offered still or sparkling and we selected the later, and it up being 2 bottles at $8 a bottle with no heads up before we switched to tap. I ordered a pint of Asahi, and we were given a large bottle of Asahi which cost $14/bottle before tax and tip. Ambiance: B-. The pace was fast, like a diner. We ordered dishes and they were out in minutes, so to me that's not coursing it out, rather premade. We were in and out of there in 60-minutes, which surprised me. Not too relaxing to be honest. read more
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Made a reservation via OpenTable and our table was ready upon arrival. Parking was easy on the street in the super safe Rockridge area. Loved the vibes of the restaurant. It felt like I was eating in Manhattan. The entire front of the house staff that helped us throughout the evening were cordial and helpful. Started off with the mizuna salad that was recommended by our waiter. Loved how fresh the vegetables were along with the crispy toppings and the fantastic dressing on the bottom. Moved on to the big eye tuna tartare which was also excellent. Super tasty tuna tartare topped over some avocado and served with a gigantic nori chip for dipping. The triple cooked potato was pretty unique with curry salt and served with a curry mayo and ketchup. This dish was slightly salty though The maitake tempura was decent. I was expecting more flavors from the matake mushrooms. My understanding was the dip was supposed to be a truffle mayo. I wasn't able to smell the truffle though... The wagyu short rib ssam was world class. The meat portion was very generous. The marbling of the meat was excellent and cooked to a perfect medium. It was also seasoned to perfection too! Ended the meal off with the chocolate cake which was also excellent. The cake on the bottom was moist and the whipped cream on top was excellent! ~$80/head after tax and gratuity for dinner with no employer mandates. read more
9 months ago
Rolled in on a super last-minute reservation and got seated at a communal table, which was expected, but it was actually really comfortable. They gave each party plenty of space so it never felt crowded or chaotic. Every dish we ordered went crazy. The wagyu kalbi short rib ssam was rich, tender, and packed with flavor. The oxtail jjigae was deep, comforting, and perfect for sharing. Do not skip the okonomiyaki salad. It sounds simple but it absolutely hits and balances everything out. Service was locked in the whole night. Attentive, friendly, and timed perfectly. Open kitchen adds to the vibe too. You can smell everything cooking and it just builds the anticipation. If you're into thoughtful, high-quality food with a chill but elevated East Bay energy, Oken needs to be on your list. Definitely coming back. read more
Came to Oken on a Friday and had the most amazing meal. We made a reservation and were seated immediately. We ordered the maitake tempura, hamachi hand roll set, potato cheese croquette, waygu kalbi short rib ssam, and mentaiko pasta. Everything came out very timely with great presentation. You could taste that all the ingredients were very quality and all the food came out tasting delicious. All the staff were so friendly and attentive. Oken is a perfect spot for date night, casual dinner, or any celebration. read more
11 months ago
My partner and I came here for our anniversary last month. We procrastinated on making plans, so we were thrilled they still had reservations available the week of. It ended up being a full house when we arrived, so we definitely got lucky! Service was amazing the entire night. They checked on us often, kept us hydrated, and even comped us celebratory drinks: sparkling wine for my partner and a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé for me (I don't drink). Such a thoughtful touch, and the rosé was actually so delicious! The food was so good. Highlights for me were the yukhwe onigiri, wagyu ssam, and the oxtail jigae, which I could eat that jigae every single day. We also loved the dessert. It was a melon granita when we went (not sure if it's still on the menu), but it was SO refreshing. Only regret was not trying the maitake tempura... we'll be back for it. I'd probably skip the sichuan popcorn chicken next time - good, but not super memorable. Overall, such a memorable night with delicious food, great hospitality, and a perfect anniversary spot. We'll definitely be back! read more
Genuinely one of the best restaurants I've dined at this year -- and I eat out a lot! Great spot for a date night. We ordered lots of apps and one main: - Miso Caesar Salad - so, so delicious. My partner and I still talk about it sometimes in passing. It probably helped that it was half parmesan cheese - Hamachi handroll - it was fun to make our own handrolls, and the sauce was packed with flavor - Maitake tempura - perfectly fried. Light on seasoning but paired well with the dipping sauce - Big eye tuna tartare - we were fighting to see who would finish this. I wish the nori chip was bigger! - Hwe dup bap - this was the only item that we likely wouldn't order again. It was good, but nothing too special The restaurant space is tight and intimate. Remember to make a reservation before swinging by! I was turned away the first time when I didn't make a reservation. read more
Came here to celebrate a birthday! Glad we made a reservation. The aesthetic of the place made dinner feel special. We ordered chicken wings, the hamachi handroll, and the wagyu ssam. The chicken wings were delicious with just the right amount of crisp. However, the size of the chicken wings were much smaller than expected. The wagyu was deliciously seasoned. All of it was beautifully presented. The prices and portion sizes definitely make this place a spot for special occasions rather than just a casual weekday meet up. read more
6 months ago
Solid Asian fusion - we loved the baechu salad and the handroll set! Oxtail jjigae was nice and comforting, but wish it had more veggies inside. Service was friendly, and restaurant was perfect for a little date night. read more
Has quickly become a favorite for dinner, and so excited that they are open for lunch now! Great service and great ambiance inside. The outside of the restaurant is deceptively simple/plain. The inside is lovely. Good for smaller groups. read more
1 year ago
We kept the order curated but every plate turned into a standout. Sichuan Spiced Popcorn Chicken -- Crispy golden bites dusted with spice, paired with jalapeño, cilantro, and a honey mustard dip that leans sweet heat. It's playful bar food vibes, but elevated -- like they found the balance between Korean fried chicken crunch and a California snack plate. Addictive. Omelette with Gochujang Gulf Shrimp Sauce -- Fluffy, almost custardy eggs folded over with a silky dashi undertone, then punched up with a spicy, savory shrimp sauce. It's comfort food dressed for fine dining -- subtle but memorable. Yukhwe Onigiri -- A crispy rice ball with prime beef tartare tucked inside, finished with soy and topped with a delicate quail egg. Crack the egg, mix it in, and it becomes rich, velvety, and deeply umami. Probably the most "wow" bite of the night for me. Maitake Tempura with Truffle Crème Fraîche -- A showstopper. The mushroom is earthy and meaty, the tempura light and shattering, and then that truffle cream ties it together with indulgence. This is the dish you order once and then think about for days. Oak Wood Smoked Hiramasa Sashimi -- The yellowtail was silky, kissed with smoke, and brightened with ponzu, chili oil, shiso, radish, and peas. Every bite felt like contrast: smoky yet clean, rich yet refreshing. Big Eye Tuna Carpaccio -- Draped thin with avocado and onion, dressed in nori soy and wasabi olive oil, finished with cilantro and a nori chip for crunch. It's lush and delicate at the same time, letting the tuna shine without overcomplicating. Prime Kalbi Short Rib Ssam -- Marinated short ribs grilled just right, served with lettuce, perilla, kimchi, pickled daikon, and ssamjang. It's hands-on and fun -- you build each wrap yourself -- but the flavors are classic, bold, and deeply satisfying. Hwe Dup Bap -- A vibrant rice bowl layered with salmon roe, ocean trout, lettuces, shiso, perilla, sesame oil, and nori. It's fresh and light, but still filling -- almost like a build-your-own poke bowl's refined cousin. Chocolate Cake with Kinako Sesame Cream -- Dense, devil's food richness with a nutty, toasted sesame note from the kinako. Decadent without being heavy -- the perfect finish. Every dish had a sense of balance: crispy with creamy, smoky with bright, indulgent with refreshing. It felt like Oken knows exactly how to remix familiar Korean/Japanese flavors into something Oakland-specific, young, and exciting. read more
I'm a fan of Ok's Deli, so I had to try their new restaurant Oken!! The ambiance is super cute and the service was great. We came right at opening (5pm) without a reservation, but the restaurant filled up quickly as we were dining. I'd recommend making a reservation if you can. All the food felt light and refreshing. Portions are on the smaller side so I'd recommend doing family style to try more from the menu. We ordered: - Baechu Salad - Light and refreshing - Chilled Sichuan Chicken Breast - I loved the cucumber and cilantro on the side. It paired perfectly with the chicken and house-made chili sauce - Maitake Tempura - Was excited for this since I love mushrooms and truffle. The truffle crème fraiche was delicious! I mostly tasted the batter over the mushroom though - Ganjang Fried Chicken - Get this! Perfectly fried with a sweet soy glaze that paired well with the house potato salad - Hwe Dup Bap - Surprisingly good! It was refreshing with a salty kick from the fish roe - Wagyu Kalbi Short Rib Ssam - Also get this!! The wagyu was flavorful and the ssam was refreshing Shoutout to our server Binh! He even surprised us with complimentary sake to try which was sweet. Overall the vibes, food, and service were all amazing. Highly recommend, and I'll definitely be back! read more
A new Korean centric a Asian Fusion restaurant in Rockridge area. They have great sake selections too. We made reservation and got seated promptly at arrival. Asian inspire decor, with table spacing comfortably. Host and staff are attentive and friendly. Food arrived promptly and spacing well. Truly nothing stood out to us, chef made effort to re-fried our somewhat pink chicken thigh and also comped it, a very generous and unexpected gestures which we have much gratitude for. I did pay for it regardless as I wod never wanted anything comp knowing the cost of running a new business. I was just worry about my sensitive stomach and somewhat pink inside chicken so I asked for it to be cook a bit longer. Overall, as much as I appreciate the modern fusion take I have had better version not in Oakland but in SF. Good concept for this side of the bay but if you are expecting traditional then this won't your go to place. It's fun to try out new restaurant and supporting new business however I will have to think twice before returning. Overall more like 3.5 stars . read more
The more, the merrier! Loved the surprisingly delightful cabbage salad, oak-smoked hiramasa sashimi, yukhwe onigiri, and oxtail jjigae. Next time we'll bring more mouths to feed so we can try more dishes at Oken. Reservations recommended. read more
Food was good, albeit a bit on the pricey side. Service was attentive, although the staff had some trouble pronouncing and explaining the dishes. Ambiance was good - it's an intimate setting and I think it's well suited for parties of 4 or less. Oken was a good time! read more
I love Ok's Deli so was excited to try the new Oken. The ambiance is lively, and the service was excellent. I don't always like to go to a place when they first open because they're still sorting things out- but overall the staff did well. I did see some slight confusion on orders near me or everything appearing all at once, but the servers were professional and I'm sure the kinks will be worked out over time. Overall I loved the food - we tried the beef tartar onigiri, the fried chicken, the trout, the ssam, and the potatoes. My favorites were the chicken and onigiri. The crunchiness of the rice was a nice pairing to the egg and beef, and the chicken was crispy, juicy, and flavorful. I liked the ssam as well, yummy bites wrapped in various leaves (the large perilla being a happy surprise). The potatoes were thin crispy on the outside and so soft. The trout had a good flavor, but for me it was too oily. The sesame chocolate cake was light, not too sweet, and delicious. We were so full by then but were still able to finish it. Only thing I'm not sure if anything can be done - the bbq / grease smoke from the kitchen was pretty apparent to me in the air after sitting for a little while and became stuffy. read more
This restaurant is a bit unassuming from the outside, but it was quite the treat to be able to dine here for dinner. Inside, there was nothing too flashy, but it was certainly a nice restaurant and a good atmosphere. The menu has a variety from Korean to Japanese cuisines and we were able to try a handful of them. This ranged from the beef tartare onigiri to the Szechuan flavored fried chicken. The sashimi hand rolls were a standout from the appetizers for me. I got the Wagyu Short Rib entree and it was delicious. The steak was cooked to perfection with lots of sides to go along with it. After the meal, I felt very full and pleased. The most notable piece about this restaurant was the service though. Everyone was so kind and it really felt like we were being taken care of. It was the attention to detail, making everything just a tad bit nicer, that really stood out to me from this experience. Overall, I had a lovely time here. While this restaurant is expensive, you're getting tasty food with amazing service! read more
From the guys who brought you Oks Deli, Oken is a really great welcome to Rockridge. Not really centered on a particular cuisine, this place gets inspiration across Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Using high technique, such as smoking Hiramasa for their sashimi, the restaurant pushes out dishes with great flavor. The baechu salad was a favorite, with awesome acidity with great mouth feel for crunch. Ganjang fried chicken had the balance of sauce and breading. While the oxtail jigae had tender meat, the flavor was not as punchy as you'd get from a traditional Korean restaurant. Overall, a delicious place and I'll definitely be coming back. One knock was that the open kitchen resulted in the overall interior of the restaurant being really smokey, the stuffy air seeping into the dining room. Given it's still in soft opening, hopefully this will be something they iron out. read more
We came in with a reservation on a busy Friday night, and while the restaurant was packed, there was no designated waiting area. The restaurant itself is fairly small but not too crammed. The food came out quickly, which was appreciated. We started with the maguro carpaccio, which was unique and full of flavor. The oxtail jjigae was good with a generous amount of meat. We also tried the wagyu short rib; although it was good, we didn't feel it was worth the price and probably wouldn't order it again. Overall, we weren't too impressed by the food but glad we tried it. read more
11 months ago
Oken is one of the best new restaurants I've tried in a while. We've been here twice now and gotten completely different dishes each time and loved it. Highlights include the okonomiyaki salad, short rib ssam, maitake tempura, yukhwe onigiri, hwe dup bap, and the jajang bolognese. read more
This location has had a curse since the closing of the Claremont Diner, many moons ago. This is in my neighborhood so I'm always rooting, then disappointed with the many restaurants that have tried to make it here, such a heart break, knowing all the blood sweat and tears that goes into opening a restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, I'm immediately pleased by the redesign of the space, I have hope again for this space. After the meal, I'm ecstatic, the food is fantastic and the bottle of sake excellent. We ordered most of the small dishes, and two entrees. Everything was so good. I took a photo of everything except for the bolognese pasta that was also delicious. I predict Oken will have great success in this space. I'm rooting for them. read more
Such a cute spot! My friends and I really enjoyed our dinner here, food was excellent and the service was great! Our eyes were way bigger than our stomachs and we probably ordered one too many dishes. Our favorite dishes includes the Baechu salad, Yukhwe onigiri, the prime kalbi short rib ssam, the Hwe Dup Bap and the melon granita! I would love to go back and try some other dishes on the menu. read more
I had tried OK's Deli before, so I wanted to try Oken, which is from the same founder. Oken serves Asian fusion and consists primarily of dishes inspired by Korean and Japanese (with a little bit of Chinese). At around 12:30 pm on a recent Friday, I made a reservation on OpenTable for 5:30 pm on the same day. The reservation was for the kitchen communal table, which was the only table open at that time slot. Unfortunately, my placement at the communal table, which was on the kitchen side facing the door, allowed the sun to shine on my face, so I had to shift a little or block it with my hand for part of the meal. My spouse and I ordered the following: Sang Makeoli - This was a great pre-packaged makgeolli. It's milky, sweet, and lightly sparkling. Yogurt Soju Cocktail - Wonderfully tasty and creamy. It's similar to a pisco cocktail. It came with a hay straw! Yukhwe Onigiri - The rice had a great crisp, and the tartare was decent. Maitake Tempura - The mushroom was juicy, and the crisp was light. The dressing complimented the tempura well. Omelette - This was fluffy and tasted great, which is saying something because I don't really like omelettes (though I do like shrimp). Kalbi Ssam - This took a long time to arrive, but when it did I enjoyed trying all possible wrap combinations. There was a small hamburger patty ball, which I thought was weird, but it tasted good. The kalbi slices were tender and tasty, but it tasted more like really good steak than the kalbi you'd get at most Korean restaurants. The kombu/radish didn't really have any flavor, but the other items were good complements to the wrap. Chocolate Cake - The big thing you must watch out for with chocolate cake is that it's too sweet or too rich. But this one was moist, light, and not too sweet (even my mom would approve). The cream on top was also light and not too sweet, but there was too much of it (it's literally a mountain). This restaurant had an excellent assortment of reusable foodware (see Eco Notes) with great drinks and food. It's a perfect place for date night. I'm looking forward to coming back so I can try the other dessert! ECO NOTES (Dine-In) Dine-In Dishware: Reusable plates and bowls Napkins: Reusable cloth napkin Utensils: Metal fork, spoon, and chopsticks Water cups: Short highball/type glasses on reusable coaster Cocktail straw: Hay cocktail straw read more
6 months ago
Absolutely awesome. The shrimp Caesar salad was wild, highly recommend. I wasn't able to capture a picture but the milk toast dessert was SO good. read more
1 year ago
New favorite spot alert! High quality, creative, perfectly balanced dishes that were as beautiful as they were delicious. Simply stylish interior, knowledgeable wait staff and bonus cat portraits in the bathroom. We got: Tempura maitakes - the crème fraiche with nori was beautiful and dramatic. Ganjang fried chicken with potato salad - hello crispy skin! Baechu salad - light and refreshing with wonderful crispy bits Smoked hirasama sashimi - loved the English pea and chili oil Kalbi short rib ssam - the quality of the meat was outstanding and the mini burger! But the surprise of the evening after all that amazingness, was the marinated peaches with yogurt whip. Peaches and cream taken to the next level! Simple and summery and I could eat that dish every day. The chocolate cake with sesame cream was memorable too. Will be returning soon! read more
9 months ago
One of my favorite restaurants! The food is amazing, but what tops it all off is the service! Our server was so kind and knowledgeable. This time we tried everything we didn't order last time, and it blew our minds! The brisket fried rice was amazing, the okonomiyaki salad was mind blowing. read more
6 months ago
6 months ago
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