With the hustle and bustle of a typical lunch hour in JSEC, it’s easy to miss Okawari as one strolls around Ateneo’s beloved mess hall. Okawari—which means “more rice, please” in Japanese—doesn’t draw much attention to itself with its relatively muted branding, in contrast to the radiant signages of surrounding stalls. Despite appearances, Okawari does more than enough to hold its own through its quality take on a classic Japanese staple: The katsu. 

Taste

With three different meats, namely chicken, pork, and dory, and an array of sauces, it would take more than just one trip to Okawari to get a decent idea of everything the stall offers. Undoubtedly, the star of the show is its curry sauce. When paired with the Pork Katsu, the curry mingles with the crisp breading of the meat, resulting in a burst of succulence that eventually mellows out in fragrant fashion. 

While the curry sauce bears a smooth richness, the viscous honey brown sauce tickles your tongue with acidic flourishes that complement each spoonful of fluffy white rice. With the right dosage, this sauce elevates the meat it seeps into and is best paired with the leaner fibers of Chicken Katsu. 

Likewise, the miso sauce plays much to the same tangy tune, but with the characteristic hints of soy that sit best with the Dory Katsu, whose milder flavor plays as a fitting counterpoint to the saline pangs of the miso. Unfortunately, much can’t be said about the Japanese mayo sauce, which suffers from a lack of seasoning that subdues the palate when eaten with the various katsu.

As for the sides, the Fried Kani and the Gyoza are typical at best. They certainly match the Japanese theme of the meal, but ultimately serve as forgettable figures in an otherwise delectable affair. 

Concept

The stall’s branding and design is understated for the most part, as Okawari relies mostly on the variety of its menu. Conceptually, it doesn’t break new ground, taking heavy inspiration from past JSEC stalls like Curry-Up. The bulk of Okawari’s strategy seems to rely on familiarity rather than novelty to draw in customers. 

Value for money

All of the dishes, particularly the Pork Curry Katsu, are guaranteed to satisfy any of your cravings. While a bit pricier than other stalls, Php 110 for a solo meal and Php 130 for a combo are justifiable given the size of the portions served. However, the lackluster sides just barely warrant an additional Php 20. Overall, while Okawari won’t be topping the bang-for-buck category anytime soon, the stall does just enough to merit consideration for your money. 

Conclusion

Novelty doesn’t always guarantee success, but Okawari is a prime example of the value of sticking to what’s familiar. Affordable and satisfying for the most part, Okawari stands strong as a model of consistency and quality—a testament to the enduring appeal of Japanese cuisine.

Rating: 4/5

Editors’ Note: In the interest of fairness, Vantage writers only reviewed food that was offered by the stalls during their respective taste tests.

Photos by Jerry Feng