Bar Otaku Izakaya

"Otaku Ramen and Otaku To-Go also feature a few favorite dishes from its sister restaurant in the Gulch — Bar Otaku’s Tokyo fried chicken and taco rice are on the menu for takeout or delivery." - Delia Jo Ramsey

"Rumored for months during the COVID-19 shutdown to be closed for good — owner Sarah Gavigan confirmed as of today the Gulch izakaya’s time has come to an end." - Delia Jo Ramsey

"Delia Jo Ramsey, Eater Nashville editor and food writer: Raising my glass of French rose to you guys — Setsun, Pelican & Pig, Bar Otaku, Lou, Tailor, and Hathorne." - Delia Jo Ramsey

"Bar Otaku, the Gulch’s new Japanese-inspired izakaya from Sarah Gavigan, an expansion of the Gavigans’ popular Otaku Ramen empire, opened recently to much fanfare. The izakaya replaces beloved Little Octopus with a menu and aesthetic fully inspired by Gavigan’s time in Japan. Final design details are all finally in place after a very quick overhaul of the space, taking it from the airy, flowery tapas spot to the darker neighborhood izakaya Gavigan has been dreaming up for years. Located at 505 12th Avenue S, Bar Otaku offers communal seating, private booths, dark walls, and light wood that allow the Otaku-style art and illustrations (from local graffiti artists and artists from around the world) to take center stage. The 2,700-square-foot space has 103 seats, including 9 at the bar and 10 at the chef’s counter." - Delia Jo Ramsey

"UPS is to blame for the delay of Sarah Gavigan’s new Gulch izakaya Bar Otaku’s opening to Monday, January 14 — as they’re awaiting the arrival of the kitchen’s Yaki grill before they can swing open the doors to fire up the yakitori and start pouring sake for the masses. Bar Otaku will serve as an extension of Nashville native Gavigan’s popular Otaku community and an attempt to unify the popular brand which helped introduce the art of ramen to Music City. The renovated space offers communal seating, private booths, dark walls, and light wood, allowing the Otaku-style art and illustrations (from local graffiti artists and artists from around the world) to shine. The 2,700-square-foot space has 103 seats, including 9 at the bar and 10 at the chef’s counter. Bar Otaku’s originally intended opening date was Saturday, January 12. Gavigan shared a thoughtful post on her personal Instagram, saying, “This izakaya may have been born in 12 days, but it’s been living inside my mind for two decades. Simply bringing the Japanese pantry back onto my life has been a delight, and beautifully simplified. Make no mistake, this izakaya is about exactly that.” Bar Otaku will open daily at 4 p.m. beginning Monday, January 14 and will be open “late”." - Delia Jo Ramsey