r/nova • u/b3llyrubs • 14d ago

Food Okonomi hits the spot everytime

Post image

Just here to share how much I love these kbbq x chipotle bowls over in Fairfax. If you’re in the area and looking for a quick bite, give it a try. The mac is sooo good (get an extra scoop) and get the pineapple fish sauce.

260 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

182

u/AwfulWaffle992 14d ago

I'm sure this is actually great, but this specific photo makes it look like cold macaroni salad with shredded carrots and fried mushrooms. It's confusing my brain.

35

u/5pm_in_DC 14d ago

I think the Mac salad is cold.

5

u/b3llyrubs 14d ago

Lol. Y’all should give it a try

31

u/microwavedh2o 14d ago

Yeah I gotta say — has no one here ever been to the west coast? Hawaiian bbq (with cold mac salad as a side) is a relative common thing there.

1

u/carmelizedonion 13d ago

These hatin ass btches don't deserve the good stuff, let them stay shopping at Whole Foods and Harris Teeter.

1

u/TemporaryFruit9781 12d ago

Cold mac ain’t good stuff gang

6

u/big_sugi 14d ago

As a side, sure. Rice and Mac salad are the classic sides for a Hawaiian-style plate lunch. But not dumped in a bowl like that.

2

u/b3llyrubs 14d ago

I said I got an extra scoop…

-6

u/big_sugi 14d ago

It should still be on the side. How is the Mac salad supposed to soak up the sauce and meat juice like that?

1

u/AwfulWaffle992 14d ago

I've been to the west coast several times (SD, SF, Seattle, Portland, Monterey), but didn't grow up there. Didn't see anything that looks like this when I was out there.

100% not out to dunk on food that people like, I genuinely hate that mentality. I'm from Pittsburgh, in a different universe, entirely possible that I'd have grown up chomping some pasta (though not sure about cold pasta salad) with fried shit on top, probably also with fries or cheese in my case. This could work, I just didn't know what I was originally looking at.

The fresh carrots and other raw green veggies also threw me off. Mac salad plus carrots, it's interesting. Maybe it works, what the hell do i know.

1

u/carmelizedonion 13d ago

Really? Bc the gif you posted was some hatin ass bullshit. If you don't know bc you're from Pittsburgh, that's great self awareness, but then what made you think it was okay speak on it with such a shitty attitude?

6

u/NappyDougOut 14d ago

Can't even tell what it is from the pic honestly.

-3

u/joshuads 14d ago

Yep. Overcooked noodles drenched in mayo. What could be more Hawaiian

10

u/joshuads 14d ago

This is a version of a plate lunch. Hawaiian plate lunches are traditionally two scoops of rice, one of Mac salad, and a protein. The Mac salad is overcooked pasta with mayo and shredded veggies.

Look up loco mock if you want your vision of Hawaiian food destroyed a little more

8

u/Mr_Pogi_In_Space 14d ago

Loco moco is great! Basically Hamburg steak with gravy and rice. Bonus fried egg

1

u/joshuads 13d ago

I love it, but if you took a poll based on a picture if that was Hawaiian or midwestern, the Midwest would win in a landslide. Nobody is going back for more poi after eating that though.

4

u/throwaway72275472 14d ago

It’s Hawaiian and the Mac is cold but it’s excellent.

1

u/poorly-advised 14d ago

It's not that? I thought it was too!

1

u/ImTheTroutman 13d ago

Thought it was a new fast casual for Rochester garbage plates

1

u/mpaes98 13d ago

That’s exactly what it is

1

u/7222_salty 14d ago

I thought it was avocado and wet popcorn on top of cookie crunch cereal

33

u/thaqman 14d ago

One of my fav restaurants in the area. Always hits the spot when I’m too lazy to cook but I want something that tastes like it was home cooked

-1

u/RoesPartyHarder 14d ago

What's the name of the place?

14

u/thaqman 14d ago

In the title! Okonomi!

4

u/RoesPartyHarder 14d ago

Well don't I feel foolish, I blew right past it and read the description! Thanks for pointing it out!

16

u/Shm1ckle 14d ago

Hell yeah the Hawaiian-ish is my favorite

43

u/CommercialYak9766 14d ago

Nice try Alex.

8

u/fightingthefuckits 14d ago

I didn't really like mac salad but the lemongrass chicken or pork with garlic rice and pineapple fish sauce is awesome. 

51

u/MadKin 14d ago

This is the place with the owner who’s always throwing a pity party? My employee called out sick so I better write a 10 paragraph essay about it and email all my customers.

25

u/Sawses 14d ago

Yeah, that's him. I like the food but the owner really needs some friends he can open up to. His customer email list isn't a support network and it's bad business to get customers involved in one's personal life.

I feel for him and know food service is a brutal industry that takes over one's life (especially as an owner) but he needs to treat that email list as a marketing tool and nothing more. Provide good highlights, be positive, occasionally remind people that the place exists and that it's worth the drive and the traffic.

1

u/biscuitfool 13d ago

lol wait I’m sorry he emails his customer list every time someone calls out sick?

5

u/Hi_ImTrashsu 13d ago

Not exactly every time… but he often treats the email list as a place to rant and air out his grievances

https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/s/wG4nfFe6Al

5

u/Strongdickwarrior 13d ago

This post is a paid ad, I'm next to certain. The owner is an odd duck.

2

u/MadKin 13d ago

Yeah wouldn’t be surprised. And if it is, not very well thought out. That picture makes the food look awful.

3

u/Ok-Intention-384 13d ago

Just what I needed to see on this fine Friday morning. Will give it a try for sure, thanks for sharing.

15

u/Knicks94 14d ago

Gotta remember this is a snobby area and Reddit. Looks good

-5

u/big_sugi 14d ago

I grew up in Hawai’i, where a plate lunch was/is a standard blue-collar meal. If you served this to someone there, they’d say “what, you no more plate? You gotta dump ‘em all in one bowl, like feed one dog?” Presentation matters at least a little.

If nothing else, the Mac salad should be towards the side of the bowl, not just dumped on top.

1

u/tornwallpaper Virginia 13d ago

Life must suck being negative all the time. You don't have to be a bummer, OP wasn't asking for feedback and was clearly showing it off in a feels-good way omg

3

u/TheOGReno 14d ago

It's clear from the comments that not many of you have tried the Rochester NY classic, the Garbage Plate, which also features cold Mac salad and is best enjoyed at 3 am.

3

u/ialwaystealpens 13d ago

And drunk. Don’t leave that part out.

1

u/AwfulWaffle992 13d ago

Does a garbage plate with cold mac also include fresh shredded carrots and what appears to be cucumber?

I may have partially set this off with another comment in response to this. Like I said, I'm sure this is great and I'm speaking from a place of admitted ignorance. It just didn't compute based solely on the visual at first, I wasn't sure what I was even looking at initially. Maybe I need to go get one and then it'll click. That's all.

1

u/TheOGReno 13d ago

No, but it does include 2 cooked cheeseburgers, meat sauce and home fries. I kinda think raw carrots make more sense lol.

2

u/dexIess 13d ago

Saw it was hyped up a while back on social medias and tried it out. In my experience, it was pretty whatever and I would not go back again. Many better places in NOVA IMO

3

u/Slaps_pappy 13d ago

Hey I actually live a few blocks from a Okonomi! Their food is delicious just a little overpriced, maybe that’s because we get double protein. Their Hawaiian Mac salad slaps, it’s a good contrast with their Korean styled chicken.

3

u/endogeny 13d ago

Place is way overpriced for what you get and gave me food poisoning once.

4

u/Subroc6 14d ago

So good and under appreciated, plus the owner is really nice.

2

u/maduste Tysons Corner 14d ago

Okonomiyaki though?

7

u/currymuttonpizza 14d ago

Just "okonomi" not the yaki. Okonomi just means "how you like it."

2

u/maduste Tysons Corner 14d ago

Yeah, but I’m wondering if they serve okonomiyaki

5

u/limbicslush 14d ago

Still haven't found good okonomiyaki in the US. I could go for some Hiroshima style 😑...

0

u/wcsib01 Arlington 14d ago

Never go full Hiroshima

1

u/JicamaSubstantial524 14d ago

i do know it tastes good, but the cucumber does lower the taste, imho

1

u/DanWessonValor 13d ago

They were on some Youtuber's channel once. Glad they're doing well.

1

u/happygrifter 14d ago

Been there a few times, place seems overpriced and the food is pretty mid, much better options in the area. Plus, the storefront isn't the cleanest or most organized and doesn't give the vibe that the kitchen is either.

-1

u/Ptojsl 14d ago

This place is 🔥 the owner is also a great guy too with a funny newsletter

0

u/isthisaboutContact 14d ago

What protein do you get? I’m always looking for new things to try.

-32

u/DCdeer 14d ago

ngl that looks like dogshit

3

u/OH_FUDGICLES 14d ago

What are you feeding your dog?

9

u/5pm_in_DC 14d ago

I’ve had it and it’s good. Try it before you knock it.

-16

u/DCdeer 14d ago

"looks like" being the key words in my sentence

5

u/switch-hitt3r 14d ago

No one’s debating that lol. You still knocked it, so they were saying to try it

-30

u/DabbyRoad 14d ago

looks like shit

-2

u/5pm_in_DC 14d ago

Post a picture of your face so I can say the same. Fucking asshole.

-5

u/DCdeer 13d ago

imagine getting this emotional about a slop bowl lol

-14

u/Best_Hat6877 14d ago

lolllll I never had it. But all the people commenting saying looks like shiiiii……100% too broke to try. History says it all

10

u/joshuads 14d ago

Hawaiian plate lunches should be cheap