OKONOMI
One Restaurant, Two Names - I went for the OKONOMI Japanese set breakfast meal.
Okonomi serves a traditional Japanese breakfast called Ichiju Sansai, which literally translates to “one soup, three dishes.” The set always includes rice and pickled vegetables, but the other dishes, including the soup, change with the season. I ordered the jumbo version with all the add-ons, so mine was more like “one soup, five dishes.”
What I love about Japanese cooking is the way it creates these canvases on which chefs can paint. There are traditional methods that truly work, but they also allow freedom within the structure. A traditional Ichiju Sansai must have rice, pickled vegetables, soup, and three dishes, but the specific dishes presented depend on the chef, the available ingredients, and the season.
Ichiju Sansai at Okonomi
You can see how meticulous they were in placing each ingredient on the plate. I grew up hearing that looks aren’t as important as the taste—but you can’t deny, it looks damn good. The presentation conveys how much they care about their food, and trust me, everything was delicious.
I loved the variety, the way I could bounce between each side dish, trying and tasting different combinations of flavors. Whenever I encountered strong flavors, I’d cleanse my palate with the lightly pickled yuzu watermelon radishes, then dive back in. My favorite part was mixing the Ikura (salmon roe) and Onsen Egg (poached egg) with my rice, then adding some salted salmon. The fattiness of the salmon blended perfectly with the salty bursts of Ikura, and the crispy salmon skin added a nice texture.
If each restaurant tells a story, this one told a story of precision, local ingredients, and calm. This meal made me feel as though I was sitting in a zen garden, with the sound of a babbling brook in the distance. Everything just worked—the ingredients were all where they should be, and nothing was overpowering or aggressive. It was subtle, delicious, and left me in a state of zenful bliss.
Final Rating: Go here.
Where: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
When: 9am - 2:30pm
Best Dishes: There are only two options, but I recommend going full force. Get all the add-ons (Onsen egg and Ikura).