Okonomi House お好みハウス

The okonomiyaki is the draw, with pork and shrimp versions winning fans for their crisp edges and rich pancake. The seafood yakisoba is the other standout, and the burger steak teriyaki covers you if you want something off the grill theme.

You fill out a paper order sheet rather than ordering through a server, which is quick and low pressure. The system keeps things moving when the room gets busy at lunch.

The room is small and the lunch rush can push the line to around 30 minutes. Coming outside peak hours is the easy way around it.

The shop is casual, kid friendly and easy on the wallet, with most okonomiyaki under 14 dollars. The staff are friendly and largely Japanese speaking, so the room has a genuine neighborhood feel.

Takeout is available, and you can also order ahead through the shop's Ritual page. The yakisoba holds up well on the trip, so going to go is a safe bet.

The shop has been serving savory Japanese pancakes near Yonge and Bloor since 1978. Staying small and family run downtown for that long makes it a genuine rarity.