At Otaku Japanese Cuisine, a new restaurant near UWF, the line was literally outside the door during their Grand Opening on Feb. 9.
Families, cosplayers, friend groups, and couples all happily chat and eat inside the restaurant. It was a warm and welcoming environment, even for those who were only there for the food, not the anime-themed elements.
Otaku Japanese Cuisine is a family-owned restaurant that utilizes its theming to create a welcoming atmosphere for all.
How It Started
The owners, Robin and Lisa, chose Nine Mile because they saw it as a growing area, and it just so happened that the original owners were selling the spot that used to hold Nori, a completely separate Japanese restaurant.
Inspired by the local community of cosplayers and events like Pensacon, they decided to create an anime-themed Japanese restaurant.
Both want to accommodate and create a space for the local community through food and shared interests.
Cosplayer Opportunities
Something unique about Otaku is how they sponsor cosplayers to come to events, similar to a Japanese maid cafe or Disney dining with characters experience.
One cosplayer, known as @khaoticlypeachy on Instagram, spoke about their background and experience at Otaku with a writer from the Voyager.
J.B. became interested in cosplay around 2020, when Hoyoverse launched the internationally popular Gacha video game, Genshin Impact, and started watching Genshin Impact cosplay content and prop creation videos.
However, also around 2020, J.B. started experiencing significant health issues, causing regular medical appointments and them having to transfer from a brick-and-mortar school to a fully online one.
Because of these struggles, they started feeling lonely and wanted to find a community for themselves, but felt their and their family’s money was better spent on medical bills, not cosplay materials.
In 2023, they decided that finding a new purpose in life and discovering a community of people who share similar interests was just as worth the cost as medical bills.
They said cosplay has not only given them something to accomplish, but it has also significantly enriched their life.
“Cosplay gave me a newfound confidence in the sense I don’t feel myself while in cosplay,” J.B. said. “I’ve been able to meet my favorite creators and even met my best friend at a con! The conventions and experiences give me something to look forward to.”
J.B. became aware of Otaku even before it opened.
Their mom, who is extremely active in their life and helps them manage their work and chronic illnesses, started a conversation with Lisa.
Meanwhile, J.B. was busy trying the food and happened to mention how much they enjoyed it, and finding the restaurant interior quite nice.
They then spoke with the owner, and after discussing games and anime they liked, they mentioned their cosplay work. Lisa then asked about it, and after showing her some of their cosplays, she loved it.
J.B. was later asked if they could work as a sponsored cosplayer in the restaurant.
This opportunity has been extraordinary for them, as they are paid to do what they love.
“Well, since I’m chronically ill, I can’t really get a job easily, so it made me really emotional, honestly,” J.B. said of the opportunity. “Being able to be in an environment like that in the cosplay that I put so much energy and effort into, means so much. It makes me feel seen and makes me realize how far my cosplay has come.”
Food Review
However, this is still a restaurant at the end of the day, so the food aspect is also vital.
This reporter tried Otaku Japanese Cuisine during my visit.
Because I wanted a snapshot of their popular dishes, I ordered the hibachi bento box dinner with salmon, served with steamed sticky rice, four California rolls, one harumaki, salad, and clear soup. My order also included two egg rolls and one fried chicken dumpling.
I also ordered the strawberry milk tea with strawberry popping boba.
Although my visit was during their grand opening event, which likely had a huge impact, getting our drinks and food took a long time. Also, the food definitely could have been a little warmer.
However, overall, the food was quite good and well portioned.
The salmon was well-seasoned and quite good. It was served with a healthy amount of well-seasoned vegetables typical of a hibachi meal.
Both the salad and clear soup were good, but typical of other Japanese places I have tried. Same for the California rolls, egg rolls, rice, and milk tea.
That does not make it bad, as the prices were quite reasonable for what it is. My order, including tip, came to $27. For reference, at Rock N’Roll Sushi on Nine Mile, the shrimp hibachi, the closest comparison since salmon is not offered, is $22 before tax and tip, and milk tea is not offered there either.
Additionally, part of the appeal for Otaku is the experience, not just the food.
The entire restaurant is anime-themed, with TVs in the back that play anime clips, bookshelves in the front with anime memorabilia, and the owners encourage artists to draw on the walls and ceiling.
Many servers were dressed in anime cosplay or Japanese kimonos.
My waitress was dressed in cosplay and was extremely nice, spending a good amount of time making small talk with the table.
The restaurant needed more staff for the number of customers, which is a common issue with any family-owned restaurant just starting out. But, regardless, the quality of the service was still extremely good despite the wait and the number of people.
Overall, while Otaku faces some of the problems many new restaurants face, it is still extremely good. The food is worth trying, even if you are indifferent to anime and want good Japanese food at a reasonable price.
Otaku is a worthy visit for those interested not just in the food or anime, but anyone who prioritizes a welcoming and fun experience, and anyone who wants to support small, family-owned businesses.
