Okan Diner Okan Diner

SIGNATURE DISH

Kamameshi in San Diego

Kamameshi is a rice dish cooked and served in a traditional iron pot, prepared fresh in about 20 minutes. It is the signature specialty at Okan Diner, and it arrives at your table hot, ready to share.

Our kamameshi is priced around $15 and sits alongside the rest of our broad izakaya-style menu in Clairemont Mesa, where guests come for ramen, udon, sushi, and yakitori. Diners rate us 4.5 stars from 453 reviews, and many come back for the pot.

Okan Diner kamameshi, a Japanese rice dish cooked and served in a traditional pot at our San Diego restaurant in Clairemont Mesa

What Is Kamameshi?

Kamameshi is a Japanese rice dish cooked in a small iron pot, with toppings and seasonings mixed right into the rice as it cooks. The name comes from kama, meaning pot, and meshi, meaning rice. The pot holds the heat evenly, so the rice finishes with a lightly crisped layer on the bottom that many people go back for.

Because everything cooks together, the flavor builds layer by layer. The grains take on the seasoning and the toppings, and every spoonful carries a little of each. It is a comforting, hearty plate that works as a meal on its own, and it is one of the dishes that sets Okan Diner apart from the sushi-focused spots nearby.

The crisp bottom rice is the reason to order it.

Kamameshi is one of the specialties at Okan Diner, alongside a broad izakaya-style menu of ramen, udon, sushi and yakitori. If you have never tried it, ask your server which toppings are most popular, or browse the full menu before you come in.

From Order to Table

Kamameshi is cooked to order, so it takes a little planning. Here is what to expect from the moment you choose it to the moment it reaches your table at Okan Diner.

  1. 1

    Choose your kamameshi

    Pick one from the menu, or ask your server which kamameshi they recommend; most entrées run about $8 to $26, and kamameshi is around $15.

  2. 2

    Give it about 20 minutes

    Your pot is prepared fresh, which takes roughly 20 minutes, so order it early and pair it with a few izakaya plates to share while you wait.

  3. 3

    Served hot, ready to share

    It arrives still bubbling in its pot, and we open daily from 5 to 10 PM, so plan your visit around dinner and call (858) 278-4228 to reserve a table.

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