Okan

Okan is a tiny gem tucked into Brixton Village that delivers authentic Osaka-style okonomiyaki without any pretension. Founder Moto, who moved from Osaka in 1998 with nothing but a suitcase, has created a place that truly feels like home cooking from the Kansai region. The menu is refreshingly simple: choose from okonomiyaki, yaki soba, or yaki udon, or go for the Okan Special which layers prawn, squid, kimchi, and sweetcorn into a cabbage-based omelette drizzled with Japanese mayo and brown sauce.

The space is cramped with just 20 seats at the counter, and there are no reservations accepted—cash only. On weekends, you'll likely wait in the cold, but the food comes out fast and the prices are incredibly reasonable starting at £7.20. The okonomiyaki tofu option is particularly tasty for vegetarians. It's the kind of place where you order, eat, and watch the Brixton crowd go by. Not fancy, but genuinely delicious and a breath of fresh air compared to London's overpriced Japanese restaurants.