Okawari

My partner and I went to Okawari on my birthday and I was very disappointed. We do not live in or near Ealing so the decision to dine at Okawari was entirely based on the positive online reviews I found. I remember thinking to myself, this better be good. Too bad it wasn't.

Firstly, this place isn't authentic, despite the floor seating that some reviewers raved about. So how do I know? Because the staff spoke Chinese and played Chinese music. And I'm Chinese. Now I am not a food snob, and I don't need my pasta cooked by Italians, and so on, but the food served was below par and lacked finesse.

The sushi was expensive and the prices on the menu was for ONE piece! Most Japanese restaurants at least serve sushi in a pair! The inarizushi (tofu sushi) I ordered was not sweet enough, and the rice looked suspiciously like long grain rice. You are supposed to use short grain for sushi, not the egg-fried-rice long grain!

For mains, I had a vegetable tempura and curry. Unfortunately the curry was cold. There was no dipping sauce for the tempura and the server had taken away the soy sauce after we had our sushi as starters. There was also a lack of table condiments.

Service was ok although my server did not once smile, but I can handle that. Deco - pretentious and definitely a bone of contention. Most reviewers here thought the deco looks authentic but such seating is a common feature in many Japanese restaurants. 

All in all, very average food, regardless of authenticity. Definitely not worth travelling all the way to Ealing for.

i am shocked to have read so many good review about this place. i have been misguided.

this restaurant is run by Chinese, not japanese. the tempura we ordered did not come with the right sauce (it was just soya sauce) and there was no grated radish.

we ordered a bento box, the vegetable on the side was stir-fried bean sprout. just like you would get in a chinese take-away- shocking!

the rice was hard, wasn't cooked in proper japanese way.

perhaps this restaurant appeals to people who know very little about japanese food.

I’m really surprised that this restaurant has had any bad reviews. Every time I’ve been here (at lunch) its been fantastic. I always go for one of their set lunch menus and have never been disappointed.

Would love to treat myself to an evening meal, but it is a little bit pricey for their main menu.

Reasonable value, fast service, nothing too fancy but does the trick - the sunken seats are also quite exciting for friends who’ve never tried it before

Okawari is a smallish restaurant which serves a wide variety of Japanese dishes from sushi, noodles, rice dishes, curries and teriyaki dishes. The most entertaining aspect for me was walking in to see that everyone appeared to be sitting on the ground to have their meals tatami-style! In actuality it were holes cut in underneath the tables so you could sit comfortably at the table though one of us opted to go the cross-legged sit anyway!

The restaurant was fairly packed when we walked in so you could see that it was quite a favourite for Ealing lunching. They have a lunch special which gets you a main dish, miso soup and green tea (free refills.) Portions were generous and food was fairly tasty so good value for money. Staff are friendly. I would have liked to have sampled their sushi and sashimi.

I am not the biggest fan of this type of food, but I have to say, on the 2 occassions I have been here, I have always left very satisfied.
There is loads to choose from, the staff are very helpful and as restaurants go in Ealing, this is one of the best VFM’s available.
I wouldn’t recomend this to a novice in the raw fish department, but for those who have eaten sushi before this will be pleasant experience.

I simply cannot agree with the previous reviewer about Okawari. Although it’s true that some of the sushi/sashimi is pretty expensive, the thought of cheap sushi simply doesn’t appeal. They do an AMAZING lunchtime deal (Sun - Fri) which is why the place is always busy then, with set meals for between £4 and £5 including soup and tea (with refills). In the evening the menu has a range of main courses (ramens, curries, donburis, noodles) for £7 to £10 usually including soup and tea, with full bento boxes for £8 to £11. We have regularly visited for over 4 years and never been served with anything but excellent food, and have virtually never spent more than £20 each including beer.
They also have an upstairs party room with karaoke which is a great venue for up to 20 people, and free if you spend above a certain amount.
Overall, this is one of the best restaurants in Ealing, and I would certainly recommended it over Coco anytime.

In that many (nearly, all) of the Sushi, Sashimi, Ramen dishes are only graced with small slithers of the “freshest ingredients” the place is a complete rip-off. You can eat the same stuff for half the price in China Town or even M&S. OK, you can sit and watch it being prepared, you can do that on YouTube for free

IMHO - Have a few of the starters and leave it at that. Alternatively, go to Co Co on Uxbridge Road and enjoy a whole range of oriental dishes at a fraction of the cost, without losing out on taste, service, cost and enjoyment .

If you have a fat wallet and a desire to impress someone? Perhaps this is the place for you?

Décor - Authentic, well decorated.

Facilities - Needs regular cleaning throughout their opening hours, not at the beginning and end of service. I found the staff unhelpful, one of whom asked someone else to explain their dishes…. Poor

Tough one this as my partner and I love coming here for the delectable melt-in-the-mouth sashimi. We had to knock off a star for value though as you do pay for what you get, and at Okawari, fresh does cost you.

Great service though, and the sunken tables are a winner.

If you’re on a budget, try the Hare and Tortoise or even Coco’s round the corner for noodles, and save Okawari for a special treat.

Well worth it!

This is a Japanese restaurant in Ealing Broadway. You sit at low tables, which have leg space below the floor level, or alternatively you can sit at the sushi bar. The food is excellent and there is a large menu to choose from. The sushi and sashimi are great, and are hand made whilst you wait. The curries are great (meet and vegetarian), as are the main dishes, and the noodles, and the bento boxes … best to look at the website as it gives the menus and full details of the restaurant. Again this place gets busy.

The Japanese food here is quite good. They have a wide selection - sushi and sashimi, but also noodles, stir-frys, curries, and much more. However, for value and quality, I still like the Acton places like Kiraku a bit better.

Still, this is a fun Japanese place, with nice tables (some recessed into the floor in the Japanese style), a water wheel, and sushi made out in the open.

The service is very good here.

• Okawari is a good Japanese restaurant situated in Ealing and they do serve some excellent sushi, noodles, ramen, Japanese curries and teriyaki.

I very often sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef in action which I find very interesting.There 2 basic advantages to doing this one is you know what is going into the dish and second you get to see the person cooking your food. At other times I sit at the Ttatami seating area where the tables appear to be sunken into the floor and that is also very comfortable.

My friends and I have been here a few timee o for lunch, and the restaurant has been nice and busy and the service is very helpful and friendly.

My favourite dish is the Prawn Gyoza are delicious, Miso Soup accompanied by a tasty Ramen and also a flavoursome teriyaki salmon.

They do have bento boxes which are large and popular with people who want try out the cuisine, t for the first time or just want to have a quick nutritious snack.

This restaurant has great Sushi and Japanese-style curries that won't disappoint. The seating is cool too, the tables in the back are sunken into the floor so that you look like you're sitting in the traditional way and if you sit at the bar you get to watch the Sushi chef do his thing.