Take a Look Inside Bar Otaku: the Gulch’s New Japanese-Inspired Izakaya

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.

Take a first look inside the new izakaya below.