Old-School, Neighborhood Izakaya - The Japanese Pub that happens to Hand Make Soba Noodles - Otafuku

[JeetKuneBao]

Started with mozuku and some veggies. After having the mozuku at Kappo Sui I knew I wanted more again. Otafuku’s is much more marinated. I prefer Kappo Sui. The veggies were fine.

The Anago and Vegetable Tempura.
How come the eel wasn’t served whole like I see in the pictures? Because it was cut it messed up the fry a little bit. The vegetables actually had a better fry. The eels itself was tasty! With a better fry I am sure this is a knockout dish.

Onigiri. Wow this rice ball has ume, bonito flakes, shiso, and small dried sardines! So you get sour, sweet, salty, and umami.

Tamago. This was tasty! A little sweet and a little savory.

Ume and Vegetable Seiro Soba.
Might be my favorite soba. The chew on this is ridiculous never had that with other sobas. Incredibly refreshing with the ume and veggies.

A little sobayu to sip on. It’s nice to sip on something warm towards the end.

Custard and Vanilla Ice Cream with Dark Caramel Sauce. Wow this was so good! I wished I had a big bowl of this!!

Overall I did enjoy my meal but a little disappointed with the anago tempura. I’ll definitely return! Next visit I gotta try the oyakodon looks like the best I ever seen!

@beefnoguy here is the sake list. Btw Fukuno and Nagomi is close by so you can triple bang it up.

[Chowseeker1999]

Hi @JeetKuneBao,

Glad you got a chance to try Otafuku. Definitely a more casual, simple establishment. Weird about the Anago. Every time we’ve ordered it it’s been that larger whole piece. For Tempura, theirs is OK, but Inaba is much better.

I love Otafuku’s Tamago Egg Omelette, though. And yes, their Handmade Soba is great, right?

[CiaoBob]

@Chowseeker1999

Every time we’ve ordered it it’s been that larger whole piece

Me too. But it was never that good IMHO. Greasy as fuck. With not enough flavor. Love most everything else there though.

[chinchi]

Our first time at Otafuku tonight, and I loved it. Casual, relaxed atmosphere and unhurried service. Nice menu variety and outstanding homemade soba. I tried the 100% buckwheat soba, cold. Excellent chew. Shareables for the table included tamagoyaki, shishito with baby anchovies, mixed pickles, wild Norway mackerel, and wild copper river salmon sashimi.

[Ns1]

do they have A/C yet

[chinchi]

No intel here. It felt perfectly comfortable in the dining room, but it was a cool day today.

[JeetKuneBao]

Nice spread!!!

I need to get that mackerel next time. I love me some omega 3’s

[chinchi]

The mackerel was lightly cured and quite delicious. It disappeared quickly between the three of us. A substantial portion for $12.

[TriTip]

Agree. The eel tempura in particular has always been a grease bomb. I finally stopped ordering it. Noodles are fantastic and the reason to go.

If you manage to hit Otafuku at lunch be sure to stop at Meiji Tofu across the street for some super fresh takeout. They close early, like 1 or 2pm.

[Starchtrade]

Meiji Tofu should have its own thread. Los Angeles treasure worth the extra $$.
Also available at many Japanese supermarkets (Mitsuwa, Nijiya, Tokyo Central/Marukai).

[TriTip]

It’s still a bargain!!!

[Chowseeker1999]

@Ns1

do they have A/C yet

No. But yah on non-90 degree days, or when it cools off in the evening it’s fine. But still no AC.

[Dommy]

@Starchtrade

Meiji Tofu should have its own thread. Los Angeles treasure worth the extra $$.
Also available at many Japanese supermarkets (Mitsuwa, Nijiya, Tokyo Central/Marukai).

Here’s the list!

http://www.meijitofu.com/stockists

For the largest selection however, I go to Tokyo Central. They have the entire line.

[PorkyBelly]

Loved the tamagoyaki, anago, onigiri, and egg custard. The soba was good, but apparently if you order the soba and tempura combo, you only get one dipping sauce (mentsuyu) that you use for both the soba and tempura. I would have preferred a separate tempura dipping sauce and a more concentrated soba sauce.

homemade “jidori” free range egg custard pudding

[ebethsdad]

Splendid pictures and report as always! Thank you.

[Chowseeker1999]

Hi @PorkyBelly,

Thanks for the report and pics as usual! Glad you liked Otafuku’s Tamagoyaki, so good, right? Have you tried Wadatsumi’s version yet? (Dinner only. The one for lunch is different.)

I agree with you about wishing they gave you both dipping sauces for the Tenzaru Soba combo.

[CiaoBob]

Love many of their dishes but I generally find Otafuku’s tempura offerings greasy AF. Particularly the eel.

[J_L]

I think I saw you there!

Anago tempura was a bit greasy, but the formidable magurodon (tuna rice bowl) more than made up for it.

[PorkyBelly]

haha, you should have stopped by.

[Chowseeker1999]

Hi @J_L,

Ooh! Thanks for the recommendation. We’ve never ordered their Magurodon before. I’ll have to try it next time. Thanks.