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2013-12-08
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Located in the basement of Jusco, Ootoya was pretty easy to find in the midst of the food area of the Japanese department store. Ootoya is a famous chain in Japan and is known for traditional home cooking dishes served in set meals. I came here for lunch with several other coworkers and we all ordered to share. What a feast!Grilled Chicken with Egg Rice and Cold Udon ($75) - my favorite Japanese comfort food - okayodon! Unfortunately the egg was way overcooked. The egg is supposed to be liquid a
Grilled Chicken with Egg Rice and Cold Udon ($75) - my favorite Japanese comfort food - okayodon! Unfortunately the egg was way overcooked. The egg is supposed to be liquid and runny, but the egg here was already cooked solid. The chicken was sweet and tender though. The set also came with a choice of hot or cold udon, and we had chosen the cold udon which came with slightly sweet soy sauce. While the texture of the udon was decently chewy, it just didn't go well with the okayodon. It just felt like a separate dish altogether.
Grilled Pork Belly Marinated with Shio-Koji ($70) - the pork belly was suprisingly delicious! Nicely seared on the outside, the pork belly was fatty and tender while very flavorful as it was marinated with salt which enhanced the taste of the pork itself. The dish also came with a side of salad and potato salad. Very yummy dish overall!
Grilled Beef with Shio-Koji over Rice ($110) - the grilled beef came as a bento set with rice, potato salad and salad. Prepared similarly as the pork belly as the meat was grilled and marinated with salt, the beef was not as tasty as the pork though. The beef was still nicely cooked as it was also soft and tender. May have helped with a bit more glaze or sauce I think.
Deep-Fried Breaded Pork Loin Cutlet ($80) - such a fragrant dish! The miso broth smelled enticing and appetizing. The sauce was rich and flavorful but the pork cutlet itself was a bit disappointing though. The pork was too lean and tough while the fried batter fell apart easily.
Deep-fried Breaded Chicken with Shredded Radish Set ($90) - the chicken fared better compared to the pork dish. The broth used in this dish is lighter and sweeter than the miso sauce used in the pork dish. The chicken was well marinated and full of flavor. I preferred this dish over the pork loin cutlet.
Seared Salmon over Rice ($115) - surprisingly good! Three big pieces of salmon were nicely seared on the surface but kept raw on the inside. The texture was just perfect as it was very soft and tender to eat. The mayo sauce complimented the taste of the salmon rather nicely.
Conclusion - While Ootoya may not offer the best Japanese food one can find in HK, it's great for what it is - family-style Japanese comfort food at a reasonable price, clean dining environment, and prompt service.
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