“Casa Oka” A Small Cozy Dining Place where You can Enjoy Dishes Made of Natural Ingredients 

In Nagoya city Nakagawa-ku, about 8 minutes on foot from Nishitakakura Subway Station, you will find a hidden cafeteria covered with green ivy.

The name of the restaurant is "Casa Oka".

The owner of the restaurant, Miyuki Oka (hereafter called Ms. Oka), said with a smile, "I really like the Showa retro looking." Casa Oka, which opened in 2021, is often fully booked during lunchtime due to its persistent customers as repeaters.

This time, we interviewed Mr. Oka about how she started the restaurant and what she is particular about.

*Information as of July 2023.

Feel the Warmth of the Wood
"Relaxing and Stylish Space"

A quaint signboard that you can't help but look at.

The name "Casa" means "house" in Spanish. When you take off your shoes and put your feet on the wooden floor, it feels like you're at home...it's so comfortable.

The selection of table has changed the type of wood one by one.

When you sit in the low chair that Ms. Oka found to match the table, you will feel relaxed as if you were relaxing in the living room.

– When I entered the store, I was surprised to find that there was a small rise! Low chairs and horigotatsu (A kotatsu built into a floor) are also eye-catching. It's a wonderful store with the warmth of wood and chic colors.

Mr. Oka:"Actually, this is a living property. I tried to create a comfortable space by making use of the original raised floor and sunken kotatsu, so I painted the walls myself and made a low table. As a result, I think I have created a flavor that is not found in other place.”

The stylish horigotatsu counter seats are accented with Oka-san's special Malltex tables. It is said that it is a particularly popular seat for a customer who comes in by oneself.

An ivy covering the window gives the feeling of a hideaway. The sunlight filtering through the trees feels good.

Quaint and spacious sofa seats. It is popular for the customers with small children and pregnant women.

A display space shows gifts from customers and natural soaps recommended by Mr. Oka.

In fact, Mr. Oka is qualified as a skin care meister. After consulting with her, I bought this soap to try it out, and after just one use, the plugs on my nose that had been bothering me for a long time disappeared completely!
If you are interested, please listen to Mr. Oka.

 Dreamed of it since Childhood
"Old Style Diner"

There is a counter showcase.

– The showcase of small bowls on the counter is exciting to look at.

Mr. Oka: "I definitely wanted to set up a showcase. In the old days, dining halls had a system to take small dishes from the showcase. I admired that style."

– Did you have a chance to admire it?

Ms. Oka:“When I was little, my grandmother ran a dining hall. Also, there was a small cafeteria nearby until I was in elementary school. I always wanted to open my own dining hall someday.”

Mr. Oka also likes tablewares. It seems that she tries to choose small bowls by looking at the balance of colors in the dishes. Just looking at it makes me excited!

– I heard that this set meal is a style where you choose your own small bowl.

Mr. Oka: "That's right. Due to theCOVID-19, we can't do it exactly the same as the old cafeteria, but I hope you enjoy looking at it, choosing what you like, and enjoying your meal."

Reasons for Sticking to Natural Ingredients

The water used in the shop is the world-famous "Seagull IV" water purification system used by professionals in the old TV program "Iron Chef". Very smooth mouthfeel with no aftertaste.

– I heard that you are particular about natural products such as pesticide-free and chemical-free.

Ms. Oka:“Actually, I come from a family that has suffered from many serious illnesses for generations. So I had a strong feeling that 'I have to make a healthy body by myself.’ I thought that it is "food" that builds the body, so I first started a lifestyle at home using pesticide-free ingredients and no chemical seasonings. But I also like eating out. I still go there often, and I used to work at a restaurant. There are many restaurants that cut and serve pouched ingredients cooked in the central kitchen. I've been wondering about that.

If I were to open my own restaurant in the future, I would like it to be a restaurant that is particular about seasonings and ingredients, and that offers handmade food from scratch. I wanted to create a restaurant that uses natural ingredients that everyone can eat with peace of mind, such as babies eating baby food even when eating out. ”

– What kind of seasonings do you use in your shop?

Mr. Oka:"For example, for salt, I use unrefined salt. It is said that blood sugar levels rise when the salt content is high, but unrefined salt is rich in minerals and other nutrients, and does not raise blood pressure no matter how much you eat it. Even if the salt is the same, it is completely different depending on whether it is refined or not. The sugar is also unrefined cane sugar. Frying oil are extra virgin oil and sunflower oil that are so pure that it can be used for dressing."

– I heard that you are also particular about the production area of your ingredients.

Mr. Oka:“I choose domestic products. Imported products are more likely to contain preservatives. Also, I personally think that for people who have grown up in Japan, local Japanese food is the best for their bodies."

The fish is purchased from the central wholesale market in front of the restaurant.

– Where do you get your ingredients from?

Ms. Oka:“Every morning, I get a whole fish from the market in front of us. We leave the selection to the fishmonger to choose (omakase). We also get the vegetables from our contracted farmers. Meat and vegetables are also purchased at the Dainagoya Food Wholesale Center."

– When you say omakase, do you decide the menu after the ingredients are ready in the morning of the day?

Mr. Oka:"Yes. It's a lot of fun to imagine the customers every morning, like, 'It's hot today, so let's serve the cucumbers cold.' I only make about 15 dishes of each type, so you may find that the small bowls of food change from morning to evening.”

–Wow, I'm surprised! But I always look forward to going to the store.

Ms. Oka:“I would be happy if customers could enjoy it too. Some customers are surprised by the variety of small bowls, but all of our dishes are really simple recipes that can be made at home. If you're interested, I'll share the recipe with you, and I hope the small bowl will serve as a hint for your dinner."

Recommended menu at Casa Oka

If you get lost, this is it! Set meal with 5 dishes to choose from

The most popular item is the "set meal with 5 dishes to choose from"! This time, we added one dish of the secret menu of the day.

1,500 yen (tax included). If you order a set meal, it comes with rice, salad, and soup. A single small bowl can be added for 290 yen (tax included) per plate.

It seems that there are always about 13 kinds of small bowls. You can choose from this board or look at the showcase and choose! When the order is decided, write the number on the paper on the desk. In fact, there are days when there is a "secret menu" that is not written on the board! If you are interested, please feel free to ask.

Chicken curry with dried sardines and organic spices

The umami of the broth spreads in your mouth, and the scent of spices penetrates your nose at once. It's so spicy that you'll gradually sweat! However, this is the spiciness that makes you want to refill it.

Mushroom and Shrimp Gratin

A popular gratin made with cellulose-free German Steppen cheese. Although it has no habit, the rich and mellow cheese is entwined on the tongue ... I am happy! Arita porcelain small bowls are also comfortable to hold.

David okra, true octopus shibazuke

The flower-shaped David okra is so cute! The sticky texture of the Davide okra and the plumpness of the real octopus are exquisite. Shibazuke is sour and refreshing! It's perfect for hot summer days.

braised pork cartilage

This is the secret menu of the day! First of all, I was surprised by the softness of the cartilage! The meat is tender and it will melt in your mouth. The umami and oil of the pork that spreads out with each bite is irresistible.

Mie Fuefuki sea bream carpaccio

Fufuki sea bream is rarely seen in supermarkets because it is hard to catch. Surprisingly firm and crunchy! The sweetness of the white meat that you feel the more you chew, combined with the oil and sourness, melts in your mouth and disappears. The scent of pesticide-free Italian parsley is also appetizing.

Homemade tofu with thick sauce

I was surprised by the chewy and sticky texture! It seems that this texture comes from using bittern and kudzu powder. I'm addicted to this... there are many customers who only take out this dish.

Daily soup with dried sardines

Clear without any harshness! After that, you can feel the rich flavor and richness of the duck oil. It's a taste that seeps into your body. On this day, it is a blended soup stock of dried sardines,  dried flying fish dashi, and mamakari (Japanese Scaled Sardine). Since there are individual differences in dried sardines, it seems that the saltiness is adjusted depending on how the soup stock comes out, and the types of vegetables added are changed.

brown rice and 16-grain rice

What surprised me the most was the brown rice that was soaked in water for 24 hours. Even though it's brown rice, it's plump and soft! You can enjoy the husks without pesticides, so it is fragrant, and the sweetness of the rice spreads softly with every bite.

vegetable salad

Beautiful red edible flowers! I ate it with a sour dressing. I'm happy that the whole thing is properly mixed so that the taste is same no matter where you eat it. The leaf-shaped small bowl is also cute.

* The set meal that I ate this time will be served until 18:00. From 18:00 to 21:00, they offer a reservation-required omakase (chef's choice) course only for customers who visit us during the daytime.

Tastes just like black tea! Yakushima Pesticide-free Oolong Tea

Add 250 yen (tax included) to the set meal

The recommended drink is Yakushima pesticide-free oolong tea. After tasting it, the image of oolong tea has been overturned. Even though it's oolong tea, it's not bitter at all. A refreshing sweet scent like black tea gently hits your nose. However, the aftertaste is clear, so it goes well with meals.

The Most Popular To-Go Menu! 9 Kinds of Omakase Deli

1,300 yen (tax included). From the top left, deep-fried Manganji pepper, homemade oil sardines, marinated red cabbage, stir-fried young burdock and beef, fried chicken using rice flour, domestically produced soybean paste, squid, peppers and mustard greens, carrot rapees, zucchini and basil frittata , Steamed chicken with green onion oil.

It is said that there are many customers who come to see this place. The cold dishes are in a cup, so just take out the cup and heat it in the microwave! It's nice to have a little thoughtfulness.

"I hear from the producers how difficult it is to grow them without pesticides". Mr. Oka, who spoke to me with a straight eye.

When you eat Casa Oka's food, you may feel relieved not only in your body but also in your mind because you can feel Mr. Oka's commitment and sincerity. In addition, until now, I had an image of organic food as being gentle on the body, mild in taste, and mainly vegetables. I thought it was very attractive to be able to take a lot of protein.

And being able to choose what you like from such a variety of attractive small bowls is sure to excite you and make you want to go! If you want to fill your mind and body with natural ingredients, please visit Casa Oka.