Summary: Still the same consistently great food, reasonably priced at (HKD120 or less for a set meal). New central location is madness during lunch but go before 12pm or for dinner and you’ll be fine. Best grilled fish in town!
I’ve wrote a review for the CWB location a couple of years ago, but they’ve at last opened a branch in Central, which has made me so happy I thought I’d write another one. Ever since I tried it in Singapore (never had it in japan…) years ago, I’ve been in love with Ootoya. The food was just so well prepared, fresh and well-balanced, I think it’s the perfect neighbourhood Japanese restaurant; a place you can go again and again and be sure you’ll get a great meal, without any frills or hassle. Their Teishoku set meals add rice, soup, chawanmushi, and pickles for like 20$, and make the meal feel complete, especially if you add on the optional millet or hijiki rice.
Ootoya's HK branches have been excellent (RIP TST location), and the Central one is no exception. I’ve made it a point to try basically everything on the menu (except the beef…), and I feel qualified to say everything is at least good, though some are a little less interesting. I found the salmon a bit blah, and the soba wasn’t as chewy as homemade soba usually is. Minor quibbles for what is an amazingly consistent menu.
My favorites are the chicken katsu with daikon, the grilled chicken with green onions, and the incredible grilled Atka/regular mackerel. I have no clue how they grill their fish so juicily while cooking it through, but almost every restaurant in HK could take some hints from this place. Simply delicious, especially with the ton of shredded daikon they provide (add soy sauce!), and a fantastic option for non-meat eaters.
On that note, there aren’t a ton of interesting vegetarian options at Ootoya, but they do have one of my favorite uniquely Japanese dishes –a yamakake, raw egg, okra, tofu and natto combo you mix together with soy sauce and eat over rice. The nama (fresh) tofu in general is great at Ootoya – soft and creamy, it’s not used in enough of their dishes. Make sure though to try their fabulous tofu-jako (tiny fish)-seaweed-shredded cabbage salad for an appetizer.
One thing which I’ve seen from some of the other reviewers; due to its location right in Central/Sheung Wan (L place weekday elevators at 1230pm have a special place reserved in Hell), it’s a complete madhouse at lunchtime. I usually go as close to 12 as possible and have no problems for 1 or 2 people but go after 1220 and it’s an easy 30 min wait, which I don’t think is worth it (but i HATE waiting). Part of my enjoyment of Ootoya is its no-hassle dining experience, and I’ve never waited a second to be seated at dinner at this location (not the case for CWB).
Ootoya is a great chain and I eat there at on average 3x a week without getting bored. A great menu, consistently excellent execution and no-hassle dining (not at lunch) make it one of my favorite overall restaurants in HK. Strongest possible recommendation for a thoroughly un-fancy, delicious meal.
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