Wonderful sushi & other Japanese food! We would have had to wait, but got lucky and were able to sit at the bar. The service was great and the food was amazing. We could only see a bit into the restaurant, but almost everyone there was Japanese, which is always a good sign. Prices were pretty good, too - especially when you realize tax is included. We were shocked!
Ootoya is not your typical Japanese restaurant. There, it is not for sushi or sashimi that you would go, but for their full meals that are beautifully presented and are in fact a pretty good deal, especially considering that prices include taxes and tip. . Bar area at Ootoya Times Square, NYC, New York
Overall I enjoyed my meal at Ootoya. I ordered the 3 ten? sashimi and was quite surprised that there were only 7 pieces for $25. Not too bad considering there was blue fin tuna (so gooood) but since I'm originally from Vancouver, sashimi isn't too rare. I also ordered the Saba, which was quite nicely prepared. I'd recommend ordering the regular size for dons, mini seems like a bit of a rip off. Dessert was quite nice! enjoyed the 3 samples of the bento box.
An excellent and different Japanese restaurant – majority of the dishes on the elaborate menu are not sushi, but rather meat, fish and noodles. Great selection of appetizers – we had a number of different Yakitori dishes (little skewers), which were all very tasty. Then all the main dishes can be served on their own or as a set with soup (delicious), egg custard, pickled vegetables and other condiments.
I liked configuration of the restaurant a bit less than Ootoya in Chelsea – you can’t really see the open kitchen from many table, which is fun to watch – but as you can imagine, this is really a non-issue. I also felt that the dessert menu was a bit better at Chelsea location – but this might be just a change in the menu between the two visits.
Reservation is definitely suggested, but even you don’t have one, the experience is worth the wait.
Highly recommended.
My kaasan ni set was a stoneware bowl of chicken katsu in a soy-dashi broth topped with lots of grated daikon and a poached egg. I ordered this as a set, with rice, miso soup, steamed egg, and pickles. Blai’s buta shio koji with negishio was fantastic – the pork belly had been marinated in shio koji before being grilled and were then topped with sliced spring onions that too had been in shio koji. It was so utterly savoury and moreish. Altogether it was a lot of food! I only just about managed to squeeze in some warabimochi (another big portion!) at the end!
I came here a few minutes after opening and was able to be seated immediately on the counter top (in front of the kitchen, really nice seat), but the tables were already gone. I ordered the tonkatsu curry set for lunch and it was really good, definitely among the best katsu I’ve had in NYC so far despite a few pieces being a bit dry. Overall it was a great experience and I’ll definitely be back!
Superior Japanese food with awesome service but have trouble accessing menu online and the individual seat near kitchen kinda have the rotten smell(not pleasant)
Phone has bad reception inside the restaurant, even thought there is free Wi-Fi provided, still a bit of troublesome.
Third time here, everything I tried so far are all had superior quality and taste! Steak Ju is very juicy, and dessert has layers of flavor.
Finally, tip suggested are before tax, very nice.
Delicious. The katsu rice bowl was really nice. However, if I can get more side dishes or vege, that will be great. Not super full after this meal. I'm not sure if the rice and soup can refill or not. I will definitely visit here again.
I came here one day after the gym. I was starving and this was on my way to the train station. Food was good, service felt very rushed. I received my bill as I was still chewing. The whole interior felt very dark. I wouldn’t mind coming here again for a quick bite, but this is not the kind of place to hang out with your friends and chitchat for 2-3 hours over food and drinks.
The chawanmushi was very light and not commonly found in a lot of Japanese restaurants in the area, so I was pretty happy when I saw it on the menu. It did not disappoint. Shishito peppers had a good mix of spicy vs non spicy. The crispy rice sushi was surprisingly good. I added two orders of salmon sashimi and it came out together with the chawanmushi. The Yuzu White Peach Moshi sparkling juice drink was a few times more expensive than the price I saw in a nearby Japanese market, but I know the restaurant has to pay rent too, so I expected the pricing.
I have been to Ootoya several times in Japan. I think this restaurant is a high-end restaurant in the style of Ootoya. The menu provided is also limited compared to Japan, and everything is a little sophisticated. The taste was perfect and reminded me of Japan. The price is high, and one rice ball is 4 dollars and 50 cents. Well, the location is good, so is it unavoidable in NYC?
Always guaranteed quality, well prepared, and authentic Japanese food. You come here for food, less for service experience or atmosphere. My suggestions are the chirashi bowl, steamed egg is a MUST, and if you're around for lunch, getting the lunch sets are definitely a great deal (for this restaurant, still expect to pay about $30 which can be steep for casual lunch). They're known for their "hotpots", everything here is a bit on the sweet side, ask your server ahead of time.
I would like to share something important with my fan's club, about restuarant. Two indicators: bathroom and percentage of patronce from same etnical group as etnical cuisine serve in given place.
Ootaya meet both my criterias. A lot of native Japanese. Bathroom are spanky clean.
Staff friendly.
Food. I ate in different Japanese restaurants.
It wad something new, taste completly different. Delisious.
If you near Times Square, MUST to visit.
Food was delicious came out very fast. I got the udon with seaweed. It was very good :) i will he visiting here again to try so of the other dishes
The Oyako don was seasoned nicely and the Salmon Tonyu Nabe had a creamy / smooth texture while soy milk added depth to taste and salmon added the oil-y and subtle umami.
ngl It tasted like a chain restaurant or a home cook who got somewhat professional but not quite there - for the quality of cook on certain elements was obviously off: salmon itself was on the dry side and the eggs of the Oyako don were weirdly overcooked and undercooked at the same time)
- as well as the grade? Freshness? Of individual ingredients... but the portion is so big I'd still recommend this place lol
Incredibly flavorful food. Lunch specials are customizable with tons of options. Really tasty curry rice. Pretty filling!
Love Ootoya, authentic Japanese cuisine. Great table service and often times there's a wait during dinner rush hours so try to get there early or later to score an optimal seat. They have curry, katsu, sushi, donburi, steak and so much more. The variety is amazing. Best appetizer or add-ons are the onsen eggs, Chawanmushi regular and premium, and the Karaage. Steak jus was so delicious. As was the wagyu beef curry. Must try!
Quality of the food was superb. Service was great though a bit slow, but worth the wait. I'd consider this place as somewhere to go for a special occasion, definitely a bit pricey.
A culinary delight! The flavor profile was so unique! This is my second time coming here and it was as good if not better than the first! The service was great - overall delightful!!
Great washu beef sukiaki. Something missing with the side dishes, not as big of a fan. Bursting at the seams during lunch hour.
This place was fantastic and it was totally different than what I was expecting. Interesting food that was served in ways I've never seen before but the food and the taste was out of this world! It's been months and I'm still talking about it with my daughter. Everyone was so nice there and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. We've actually talked about returning here next time we're in New York again
This place is a MUST if you love japanese cuisine. I have to say it was some of the best food I have ever eaten I will absolutely be returning.
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