Having opened late in 2022 and braved the quiet winter months, Okasan Japanese Restaurant in the marina of San Antonio is ready to face its first full summer season. The kitchen team have had the opportunity to sharpen their knives, hone their skills and refine the menu, while the front-of-house team are friendly and engaging from the moment you walk in off the street.
With a contemporary and sophisticated design, very reminiscent of city-centre Tokyo or Osaka, the dark, minimal interior of Okasan is warmed by the glow of the open Robata charcoal grill. Outside, the terrace is enclosed in bamboo and tropical Bird of Paradise plants and offers a partial view of the marina and the bay of San Antonio. The scene looks especially captivating just around sunset.
We were invited along to check out how things had been developing in the build-up to summer and to discover some unexpected new dishes. So, if you’ve ever walked past and wondered what is going on inside that mysterious interior, allow our tantalising photography to illuminate you.
To kick things off, the traditional starter of edamame, but now with yummy truffle!
Glorious Gyozas stuffed with spicy pork and kimchi.
An exceptional Wakame and Lychee Salad, with avocado cream and pickled cucumber.
Gigantic Tiger Prawn Tempura with deliciously spicy mirin and Siracha sauce.
For vegan diners, the spicy corn ‘ribs’ are gluten-free and seared on the Robata grill. Perfect for dipping in some Kimchi Mayo.
Super succulent Beef Skewers with pico de gallo salsa.
Showstopper! Okasan Pork Ribs are an exceptionally enjoyable experience and emblematic of the quality on offer here. The incredibly soft ribs have been marinated in seven spices for 10 hours and slow-cooked for 8 in the oven. Finally, they are finished off on the Robata grill. Ludicrously good.
Soon to be added to the menu - Black Cod Miso with enoki mushrooms.
A fine selection of Sushi rolls: Salmon Aburi, Dragon Roll and Spicy Tuna.
A grand finale, delicious Okasan Cheesecake. With a melted fondant of mature Mahon cheese infused with matcha green tea, this dessert gives an irresistible blast of salt and sweetness to tease the palate.
Obviously, no meal is complete without a little something from the cocktail bar. We were lucky enough to sample a trio of Oriental-inspired specials. Thai Me Up with sake infused with Thai basil, Blueberry Spicy Mule with a kick of Wasabi and a Whiskey Sour with Hatozaki whiskey.
Okasan is a genuine treat for lovers of Asian, and particularly, Japanese cuisine. The quality of the preparation and the love which has been poured into each dish is clearly evident. That they can do it for the prices on the menu might surprise you more than anything else.
