Though McLean has no shortage of fast-casual restaurants, it’s not difficult to grow tired of chains like Chipotle, Cava and Chopt day after day. It may be a bit of a trek from McLean, but Okonomi Asian Grill is the perfect delicious and moderately-priced alternative to these chains.
Known on TikTok as the Asian Chipotle, Okonomi Asian Grill experienced a surge of promotion after TikTok creator Keith Lee tried it and posted a glowing review of his meal. This popular spot is located alongside Fairfax Boulevard, less than 20 minutes from McLean. As we entered, the restaurant itself didn’t present much at first. Appearing as any other fast-casual restaurant, we weren’t sure what to expect based on the blank walls, small seating area and open kitchen. However, by the time our meals arrived, we quickly lost all reservations around the restaurant’s appearance.
Hawaiian-ish Bowl – 5 stars
One of the most important elements of a good dish, aside from taste of course, is appearance. The Hawaiian-ish bowl from Okonomi did not disappoint on this front, presenting a rainbow of flavors from the mac and cheese salad, to the highly seasoned Korean chicken, to the fresh cucumbers and carrots and the bright white rice. Still warm when I picked it up, this bowl looked almost too good to eat. Each element of this bowl complimented each other perfectly – the creaminess of the mac and cheese paired well with the spicy kick from the chicken, while the cucumbers and carrots added a refreshing component to the dish to break up the heaviness of the rice and mac and cheese. The chicken was hot and flavorful, and unlike at Chipotle I did not encounter any grisly pieces. The bowl certainly lived up to its name, as the combination of flavors and colorful presentation serve up a tropical eating experience incomparable to anything I’ve had elsewhere. Though some could argue that $12.50 is a lot to pay for a bowl, I would counter that this was one of the best bowls I’ve ever had.
Teriyaki Chicken Bowl – 4.5 stars
Unable to decide between the equally appealing options on the menu, I opted to build my own bowl. Adding savory teriyaki chicken, chilled cucumber kimchi, sweet corn salsa, and fresh cucumbers to a warm bed of jasmine rice was the best decision I could have made. The ingredients combined beautifully, each bite a delicious taste of culture. A layer of sriracha mayo over the top added even more flavor and spice. Discovering a fast-food Asian restaurant was a rare and refreshing find. Although the style of service and design resembled that of Chipotle, hence the store’s nickname, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food inside the bowl, especially the most expensive parts like the protein. Okonomi had filled the container with tasty teriyaki chicken and a healthy serving of vegetables, despite its namesake being known for cheating customers out of full scoops of food. Half a point was deducted for the relatively extravagant price of $13.50, but the overall quantity and quality of food made this dish worth every penny.
