Ootoya in Aomori 青森大戸屋

The streets of Aomori are very quiet at night. Coupled by cold weather and icy roads with a hungry stomach, we decided on Ootoya (大戸屋) for dinner as we happened to pass by it.

Ootoya is a popular Japanese chain of restaurant which serves simple and cheap Japanese teishoku (set menu), which comes with rice, miso soup and pickles. They currently have more than 250 shops in Japan and more than 60 shops worldwide. 

Started with a simple tofu salad (JPY380)

L ordered the Chicken Katsu with grated daikon cooked in a nabe (JPY760). Chicken Katsu is cooked in a sukiyaki based soup, with grated daikon and onions topped with an egg. Good choice for a cold winter night!

I ordered the popular Ootoya dish - Grilled Hokke fish (Mackerel - JPY810). Great for fish lovers like me who loves to eat fish which comes with the bones. 

For the teishoku, you have a choice of white rice or 5 grain rice (五穀米). For other types of rice with toppings, you just have to top up a nominal price. And if you are a small eater and ask for less portion of rice, they even give you JPY20 discount!

A special piece of painting hung on the wall which talks about "health". It also expresses the "kodawari" or devotion of Ootoya, providing fresh and healthy food. If you notice, they even indicate the number of calories of each dish on the menu!

Ootoya Aomori 

青森県青森市新町1-8-6

Open daily 11am - 10pm
5 minutes walk from JR Aomori station

(p.s. this is the only Ootoya in Aomori shi)