OOTOYA - JAPANESE RESTAURANT

I was having lunch in this Japanese restaurant last Monday while I and my family went to AEON Mall at Tangerang area. The mall is built just right beside SGU (Swiss German University). This mall is basically made like Japanese Mall so the culinary here mostly are Japanese theme foods. we will find easily japanese foods like sushi, ramen, sashimi, etc in the restaurants in this mall. Ootoya is one of them. This restaurant served fresh ingredients with modern fusion style Japanese dishes.

We sat in the corner of the restaurant, since I brought 7 adults and 4 children to come with me, then the problem begin, the table is design for 6 persons only and the longest table for 10 persons are occupied so we have to sit in separated table. The restaurant style is open space like modern cafe with wood fences around the area to separated this restaurant and it's neighbors and the restaurant is quite bright because of the light from the lamps so we won't be left alone in the dark and the waiters are very responsive whenever we called them because of the design of the restaurant that make easily to supervise. The tables are solid with comfy chairs that will make dining time is enjoyable without shaking table and chairs. They show food samples in the display and a employee who attract hungry customers to come just like Japanese restaurant does.

On one of the wall in this restaurant, there are a big windows where we can see the sushi and sashimi in the making. The chef is quite entertaining with his skill to handle the fresh fish and other ingredients into dishes that will serve on our table.   

The menu is having a lot of pictures of the dishes they have with Japanese fusion style food. We ordered traditional Japanese tea called Ocha. Hot Ocha served in ceramic cup dan cold Ocha was served in glass. The Ocha is bottomless that means we can refill it whenever we want, but the glass is quite small (for me) because we have to ask to refilled it several times. the Ocha is very traditional taste and a bit bitter in after taste but it's refreshing.

For the starter, I've chosen CHAWANMUSHI, the Japanese egg custard, served in a ceramic cup with lid to maintain the temperature of the food. The egg custard is so soft and tasty with mushroom, seaweed and fish meat.

For sushi, we ordered NORIMAKI SALMON, Small Salmon Roll. This sushi is made from salmon meat rolled with rice and nori (dried paper thin seaweed) and served with wasabi (japanese hot paste made from japanese horse radish), beni shoga (Japanese pickle made from ginger and red perilla) and of course, sushi sauce. 

Then the next sushi is 3 COLOR OSHISUSHI, Assorted Salmon Sushi. There was 6 pieces of sushi on the dish with 3 different styles of salmon, the fist ones was made with a cooked thin layer of salmon and topped with mayonnaise and special paste. The second ones are made from a thin fresh salmon layer of salmon meat and the third ones are made form a cooked thin layer of salmon meat. All sushi is made in a square shape and served in a long square plate with wasabi and beni shoga. 

For the children, I ordered the kid's menu. This is what I like from Japanese restaurants, they always have some dishes for kids with fresh vegetables and the portion is just right.           OMURICE, Kid's Rice Omelet Set. The dish is have a portion of rice topped with omelet egg and fresh vegetables and mashed potato.

OKOSAMA FISH, Kid's Cod Fish with Black Vinegar Sauce. The dish is served with a portion of rice, boiled fresh cod fish, fresh vegetables and mashed potato.

All kid's menu are served with a glass fresh orange juice and a scoop of ice cream.

CHICKEN CUTLET CURRY is a Japanese curry rice with a chicken cutlet served with fresh Japanese salad and dressing. The curry is quite thick with some layers of onion, and it taste a bit sweet but tasty. The chicken cutlet is deep fried breaded and make this chicken crunchy in the outside and the meat is tender and juicy. the rice is completed the meal.

MISO CHICKEN is another chicken dish with deep fried breaded chicken meat with sweet miso soup and half-boiled egg served with rice, miso soup, pickles and small dish of vegetables. The portion is enough for 2-3 persons. The chicken taste the same like chicken in the curry rice. The sweet miso soup is sweeter that the regular miso soup I ever tasted with vegetables and the half-boiled egg is levitating the taste.

KIMCHI GOHAN, this rice dish is topped with stir-fried kimchi and beef. To prepared this dish, we have to mixed the rice, kimchi and the beef in the big bowl then we can served it. This dish served with miso soup, pickles and small dish of vegetables. The give us 2 empty small bowls since this dish is enough for 2-3 persons. The mixture between rice, kimchi and beef is very delicious, even for me, I'm not a kimchi lover but dish made me can't stop to add some more and more.

SALMON ZUKE, this is a salmon set served with grate radish, rice, miso soup and vegetables pickles. The salmon skin is a bit crunchy and the meat is juicy with a smoky aroma.

Over all this restaurant is good for those who wants to taste a Japanese fusion food in a cozy place at AEON Mall Tangerang. This restaurant also have another branches in Jakarta. You can find out at google.