Everything about this small restaurant, from the cartoonish octopus sign hanging outside, to the narrow and creaky wooden booths, to the handmade posters advertising entrees that allow you to “make your own hotness”, tells you that you’ve stepped in something unique. The word “commercial” has no meaning here – prepare yourself for some fine home-cooked Japanese comfort food.

The restaurant itself is small, and the service is just decent (as it always is when you don’t have a lot of waitstaff), but the real gem here is the value. The quality of the food is great, and the prices are simply outstanding. I really like how their menu is varied from the normal bento/donburi/udon choices at most Japanese restaurants on the Eastside. No sushi here, but you won’t even miss it.

Confucius says: (Taste * Variety) – Cost = Value + Happiness

In debating whether to give this place a 4 or 5 star, I asked myself this question: “How likely is it for me to keep going back to this restaurant on a weekly basis if it were close to me”. And the answer is at least once a week. So, 5 stars.

Perhaps I’m bored with the typical Japanese dishes offered on the Eastside, but Takohachi definitely has some special flavors/dishes. Some were quite original (at least to me).

The quantity is just right (again, for me). It’s not overly indulging that you have to bust your stomach trying not to appear wasteful, and not too little that you go home hungry.

Lastly, the price is perfect.

Granted, my sample is merely 2 weeks in Japan. You’ll hear “hai!”, see basically no sushi, and pork products will appear in unexpected places (though not in every noodle dish, as was often true in Japan).

Outstanding food at bargain prices. Part of Takohachi’s appeal – that it’s 10 tables – also can mean 20 minute waits on weeknights.

This place has interesting menu items that you wouldn’t be able to easily find elsewhere. They have lots of menu items, but part of it is because they have different combinations of selected items. This place has several ramen choices though. Takohachi definitely has a feel of home-style food, and is worth checking it out. It’s too bad all of these true Japanese food places are focused at the I-District (this place, Fort St. George, and Maekawa Bar). They need more of these restaurants everywhere!

Hard to find other Japanese restaurants like this in Seattle – homestyle Japanese food! And it is cheap, delicious, and they offer a lot of things other restaurants don’t. Comfort food for the soul – it’s a small unassuming place that you’ve probably driven by on Jackson street in Chinatown. The place isn’t big, but it’s well worth the try. A family runs the place and it is always the same two women with the husband cooking in the back. The menu features items like croquettes and kimchi ramen which are hard to come by in Seattle! Their croquettes (sort of a mashed potato thing with ground meat in it and fried like a tator tot) are delicious. I highly recommend the bento box to start. It is a perfect dinner and you get to try a variety of delicious morsels.

Look for the octopus sign outside the restaurant to spot it.

R.I.P