OHSHOOokayama

I've been here several times over the last few months and again today. This will be my last time. Over the last 30+ years I have eaten at perhaps 100 or more Osho locations around Japan. Compared to other locations, consistently at this shop... - the carpeting is filthy and sticks to my feet, - ...table is dirty, and the tray holding sauces is flooded with water or vinegar, obviously no one has cleaned it in a while, and the individual bottles are sticky with oil, - the place is understaffed (which leads to poor service as there just aren't enough people to serve the crowds), - the staff are extremely parsimonious with portions, and - food is no better than average, sometimes worse. Today, no one was working the front, it took five minutes just to get someone to my table to take the order, the order was wrong, and the "just size (half portion)" karaage was less than three chicken night's worth, and spoon they brought for the ramen had cigarette ash or dirt on it--not sure. In fairness, they brought a clean one for me when I pointed out the dirty one. :( I've eaten here maybe half a dozen times in the last six months. I thought the poor service might have been a seasonal thing so I wanted to wait and see if things had inproved, but it's getting worse, not better. I want to point out that the staff are trying hard, but they are understaffed which is not their fault. And they need more training in customer service. It's a real shame as the location just outside Oookayama station and five minutes' walk from Tokyo Institute of Technology is perfect to capture college students... If you live nearby and don't have a bike or car or can't afford the train, you're stuck--I'm so sorry. Good news is you can be conducted that any other Osho you visit will be wildly better than this one. If you have any way to make it to another location to feed your Osho's gyoza habit, I highly recommend you do! The Musashikosugi Osho is just across the river, maybe 10 minutes by train, and far, far better. I am sorry I cannot be more positive. It is very rare to find a restaurant in Japan that can't provide a clean environment and good service. Indeed, this may be my first. But I simply can't ignore the horrible service, tiny portions, and filthy shop. Apologies, I can't recommend this place. I would go hungry for a day before eating here... Trust this is helpful...

Visited March 2019