Otafuku x Medetai
(Now Closed)Japanese Restaurant, Snack Place, and Asian Restaurant$$$$
East Village, New York
The experts at Village Voice and The Corcoran Group recommend this place
141 Tips and reviews
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looking for Japanese drunk food? this is it. and this is the best. get the combo B: okonominyaki with pork (you want that crispy bacon!) and takoyaki with extra bonito flakes (aka fish bacon)
Chefs FeedAugust 3, 2016"Slather up the takoyaki with kewpie mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, and bonito, and you have pure umami. If only they sold alcohol; then you could wash it down with a beer or sake!" - Chef Tien Ho Read more
Brodie OlmsteadNovember 27, 2016Love this grab and go spot! The takoyaki was yummy and made to order. Make sure to ask for extra bonito flakes. Grab a combo for the full experience!
Leo SumulongSeptember 26, 2018Probably my favorite place to go for Japanese street food when I want something other than ramen or izakaya. Get your takoyaki (fried octopus croquettes) with lots of sauce and bonito flakes.
Ghassan AlkharboushJune 4, 2016The okonomiyaki is fried vegetables with either shrimp or bacon plus bonito flakes and their sauces. The vegetables were light and crunchy, the shrimp added a bit of chewiness. Sauces are amazing
Takoyaki balls!!!! Octopus are the best as that's how they're traditionally made, but they also come with squid, beef, pork, cheese and plain. Cash only and no sit down - but still AMAZING!!!- Amazing takoyaki (octopus balls with bonito [fish] flakes, homemade mayo, seaweed powder and Japanese BBQ sauce!!) - food is takeout and it's a capacity of 3 customers at a time inside!
New York HabitatNovember 2, 2011A Japanese hole in the wall in the East Village good for a quick snack. Order the Takoyaki. You'll wonder what on earth you're eating and why it's so delicious. (Hint: it's fried octopus dumplings)
Nastya MJuly 14, 2019I’d never been to the “old spot” referred here by some, so can’t compare. But as for now, it is a good street food spot with decent cheap food and no bathroom, but a sanitizer on the counter.
Brooklyn UnitedJune 19, 2013Osaka style street food. Takoyaki, grilled bits of octopus cooked into a ball of batter. Okonomiyaki, Japanese for "What you love, grilled" is a savory Japanese pancake. Unique and delicious!
BuzzFeedApril 11, 2014Takoyaki are Japanese fried balls of savory pancake-like patter, with octopus in the middle. They’re served piping hot with gooey insides, and covered in a bunch of sauces and bonito flakes
TomOctober 10, 2016New location does not have the same vibe as the original. Pass on their taiyaki, shells are thin and they are not molded together well. Go for takoyaki (if fresh), the okomomiyaki and yakisoba.
Kevin O'NeillMay 24, 2015The noodles (yakisoba) or the pancake (okonomiyaki) are both too good to miss. Lucky for us you can get a combo! With a side medetai for dessert of course...
The Corcoran GroupMarch 23, 2012If you haven’t tried Takoyaki yet, drop everything and go now to enjoy the savory octopus balls served up here. Still hungry, order Okonomiyaki with pork or squid.- Ghassan AlkharboushJune 4, 2016The takoyaki here is ridiculously good. The dumplings texture is softer than marshmallows and then u get the chewiness of the octopus. The dumplings really brings out the flavor of the octopus.
- Ghassan AlkharboushJune 5, 2016The red bean medetai are made of a thin layer of bread and a ridiculous amount of filling. The filling wasnt too sweet nor to savoury but perfectly balanced in between. Definitely give it a go.
AmateurConciergeNovember 15, 2015Cheap Japanese street food (not exactly FAST food) that's super authentic and unique. Didn't love the yakisoba (like Lo mein) but dug the okonomiyaki
Meir SadanJuly 30, 2013Takoyaki + Okonomiyaki or Yakisoba = 😻 Get it to go and eat it at Cooper Square (There's a nice seating area to the west of the Cooper Union foundation building)
Ina LiMarch 12, 2015It's not the best but it's good enough for some authentic Japanese snacks! The new matcha cake is so so. Enjoying sitting outside with friends and eat
COOLHAUSJuly 15, 2012Bringing the street foods of Japan to NYC, Otafuku is our favorite place to grab a quick bite to eat before AND after grabbing drinks with friends in the East Village!
Katherine ChiuJune 3, 2015The biggest takoyaki I've ever had. Worth the price. Favorite hole in the wall joint when I need more food after a meal
TEV NYCOctober 9, 2012Enjoy delicious and authentic Japanese street food, made fresh and ready to go. Make sure to try the popular takoyaki octopus balls (six balls for $5) made from boiled and diced octopus.
Alice faultcoreOctober 6, 2015Amazing takoyaki, same as in Osaka, it was a pleasant experience to find takoyaki&soba in NYC
Chris LApril 17, 2014Takoyaki are Japanese fried balls of savory pancake-like patter, with octopus in the middle (they look a little like Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins).
Matt SzenicsApril 2, 2012It can be a mouthful if you're not into trying new things out. Flavor explosion! (The Octopus balls and that pancake thing are delicious)
Sophie OmnomJune 30, 2016Everything is great! My favorite takoyaki (octopus balls) but the whole menu is solid
Real Cheap EatsNovember 5, 2012Takoyaki ($5) may not sound appetizing, but they're worth trying. Pieces of octopus are enrobed in wheat flour, and covered in mayo, a smoky “barbecue” sauce, dried seaweed and bonito flakes. Read more
Jin MoonMay 14, 2015Their takoyaki is real delicious along with their okomomyaki but it is a long wait sometimes to get the okomomyaki....
- Teddy LuFebruary 17, 2015hot, crispy outside, chewy inside, cheap, tasty. a must cheap eat in the east village!
Zeynep ZOctober 28, 2011If youre in a hurry get takoyaki to go, if you have some time to spare wait for an okonomiyaki w squid and everything on top !!! Also try ラムネ(ramune) the bubbly
Lori LuoAugust 10, 2014Get the takoyaki while it's still piping hot. You can order okonomiyaki and udon as well.
Joe MulliganJune 2, 2011You haven't gone balls-out until you've had their octopus Takoyaki. B combo with the pancake. You're not listening if you read the same tip from 30 other peeple here and haven't tried it.
LorettaSeptember 12, 2013Cute little Takoyaki stand. Sign says fits only 3 people so wait outside! Reminds me of Japan :)
Paul BrennerJune 28, 2014Enjoy the stylized logo of a rabbit with a lead going up its butt. Nature is beautiful.
David HuMay 31, 2015Takoyaki is weird in between: a bit too much for a snack, a bit too little for its own meal. Combos way too filling for one though. Delicious any way.
Okonomiyaki with corn + sriracha, literally one of the best things I've eaten in the city.
Michael TApril 5, 2013The guys who work here said to get the pork (and never the squid). The yakisoba isn't as filling as the okonomiyaki
Lauren LeeMay 13, 2014The food here isn't as good as it was when it first opened at it's original location. Sad because it used to be the best!
One of the few places where you can get fresh hot taiyaki (red bean pastry in fish shape)
P.M. RoanhouseNovember 10, 2010Sadly Baltimore does not have otafuku so I made a point to come here at least once every trip to NYC . Combo B squid + extra bento flakes for the wins!
New place lacks the charm of the old but the takoyaki is still delicious
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Otafuku x Medetai
220 E 9th St (btwn Stuyvesant St & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
United States
New York, NY 10003
United States
Takoyaki Pioneer. Serving up authentic Japanese street food since 2001.
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Thu, Sun
- Noon–10:00 PM
- Fri–Sat
- Noon–11:00 PM
(646) 998-3438
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Visa & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
Free
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Lunch, Dinner
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- 9.0
"Katsu (tenderloin and pork loin), mazemen, and corn ice cream were amazing - must orders! Total came out to $150 pre-tip for 4, pretty good value"
Josh W - 8.4
"Absolutely delicious! Def get a small hot pot so that you can get others stuff to share. Really enjoyed the katsu sandwich but save room for the dessert sampler!"
Carol - 8.5
"I have to drop by this place everytime I'm in NYC, juicy and epically tasty yakitori on top of don. Perfectly made."
Sharon Zhang
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- 8.7
"love the matcha cocktail. also, don't leave without trying the black-sesame crème brûlée."
Caroline Jane - 8.9
"Very tasty ramen! And the buns are great too!! But be ready to wait 1h or more for your table!"
Francisca Nunes de Almeida - 8.0
"Any time I don't get bara chirashi, I regret it. Agedashi tofu and pork belly appetizers are amazing."
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