Ootoya - Entrance
General Description
Rueお久しぶり(ohisashiburi)! Long time no see!
We're back with another more traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant. Ootoya aims to serve nutritionally balanced, delicious meals. Pretty much all of the menu is applicable as a standard Japanese set meal, served with miso soup, veggies, and rice.
Although there are no refills, you can get a larger serving and upgrade to gokoku rice for free! You'll also notice some basic nutritional facts in the menu for each dish, including common allergens.
With many tasty looking options, it's hard to decide what to order!
YueOotoya is a popular restaurant chain. I guess it is categorized as a family restaurant, but for me, it is more like a public diner which adults use.
When I was working at an office in downtown Tokyo, one of Ootoya's branches was nearby and I used to go there with my coworkers during lunch break at least once a month.
Their food is tasty and healthy. Even the fried food is not too oily and well balanced.
The price range in their menu is a bit higher than the average family restaurant in Japan, but still very reasonable.
What we ordered
RueYue and I ordered pretty similar dishes the first time we came. This is mine, which has chicken as the main dish.
The chicken is a bit crispy but so soft on the inside. It's easy to eat. I like the sauce! It has a sweet and sour taste to it.
The onions have that fried-til-golden taste. The eggplant is absolutely delicious. The carrots are nicely cooked. They're soft but still hold together. They don't have any raw taste. The potatoes are like soft wedges. The beans adds a burst of flavour which is refreshing. The renkon is nice and crunchy.
The pickled veggies are also refreshing and crunchy. Compared to other pickled veggies that I've had before, they aren't as bitter or sour.
The potato salad has a sharp sour taste to it that I can't quite place. Maybe onion? The miso has a light, white miso taste.
I got the gokoku rice. Compared to the rice I had at the restaurant Gokoku, it's not as crispy. It's warm, but I would have liked it hotter.
Overall, I like really liked this! My one complaint is that the food cooled down quite a bit over the course of the meal.
RueHere's Yue's first order. It's mostly the same as mine, except that it has fish instead of chicken.
It has a fried fish taste. It's nice and crispy. The skin is not hard.
YueBoth of our dishes were seasoned with a black vinegar based sauce, so the taste is almost the same. Simply the main ingredient is different.
I like fish but it's kinda troublesome to cook fish at home, so I usually order fish dishes when I come here. This one uses a cod fish.
The sauce is a bit sweet but it basically has a savory taste. The gokoku rice is fresh and tasty by itself. They match very well.
If you pay extra 100 yen, you get 2 more pieces of fish.
Since Ootoya's dishes are usually a small-medium amount by default, I recommend using this option if you are a big eater.
RueHere's my second order.
The pork is soft and sweet. The sauce has soy-BBQ flavour. However, the pork flavour still comes through.
The herb has a refreshing light taste. It kinda tastes like soap though. Maybe I have that gene?
The eggplant is soft but still good. The cabbage is amazing with the sauce.
I like this dish, but I preferred the other dishes we ordered.
RueAnd here's Yue's second order.
It's soooo crispy and soft. Absolutely delicious! The tartar sauce is not too tangy but creamy and subtle. It's soooo yummy!
YueChicken nanban is my favorite food!
At some restaurants, it is a bit wet and not crispy, which I don't like. But the one at Ootoya is well fried, crispy, and not too oily. Perfect condition. And the tartar sauce topped on is also really nice!
For this one, you get 50% more chicken by paying extra 200 yen. As with the previous one I ordered, it is a good option.
Review
- Access
- Price
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Dinner Average Budget for 1 person: 1000 - 1500 JPY - Service & Hospitality
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The first time we went, the restaurant was empty and we got our food in about 7 minutes. The second time, it was a bit more crowded and took 20 minutes. The customer service was standard. You order on a tablet, but there is also a button to call for service. - Atmosphere
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The restaurant is brightly lit, but still has a calm atmosphere. There is piano jazz music playing. Both times we went, the customer noise level was low. There isn't a super strong smell. The aisles are big and there is a decent amount of space between tables. - Food
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It's tasty and balanced! I especially liked the 2 chicken dishes we ordered. The set meals provide a variety of flavours and make the dish quite satisfying. I did feel like my first meal cooled down quickly, but perhaps I took too long to eat it. There are different meat options, which is nice.For 390 yen, or 190 yen with a set meal, you can get drink bar service which includes teas, soft drinks, and coffee. Water and a basic hot tea are free.
- Overall
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I think this is an excellent option if you want to try a standard traditional meal that is palatable even for those who are not accustomed to Japanese cuisine. They have nice well-rounded and delicious meals that are satisfying. I like that they include nutritional and ingredient information. - Would I come again?
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Yes! We already have. I know there's more on the menu I want to try.