Okonomi House

What is Okonomi House? Operating continuously on Charles Street West just steps from Yonge and Bloor since 1970, Okonomi House is one of Toronto's longest-running independent Japanese restaurants. With its cozy, wood-paneled dining room, vintage booths, and vintage Japanese artwork, the beloved institution provides a comforting step back in time, specializing almost exclusively in Osaka-style okonomiyaki cooked on flat-top griddles.

Okonomi House Menu & What to Order The signature draw is the okonomiyaki—a thick, griddled savory pancake crafted from shredded green cabbage, egg, and seasoned dashi batter, grilled until crisp on the edges and soft in the center. The classic Pork Okonomiyaki is layered with sliced bacon before being painted with sweet, tangy brown okonomi sauce, drizzled with Japanese kewpie mayo, and dusted with powdered aonori seaweed and dancing bonito flakes. Complement your pancake with a sizzling plate of wok-tossed pork yakisoba noodles or tender chicken yakitori skewers.

Know Before You Go Okonomi House is closed on Mondays, serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Due to its intimate footprint and legendary status among generations of U of T students and locals, small lineups frequently form outside during weekday lunch hours. It is located just a two-minute walk from Bloor-Yonge subway station.