Here's some good news for all you offal lovers out there, specifically those with, ahem, a foot fetish. Hakata Tonton plans to reopen tomorrow. The West Village Japanese spot specializing in all things pig feet has been closed for a little over a week after recently failing a Department of Health inspection. The gal who picked up the phone at the restaurant today said the temple of trotters plans to open tomorrow. DOH gave them the go-ahead after they passed their inspection yesterday.
One group of offal enthusiasts cheered by the news is the Gastronauts. The self-styled "Club for Adventurous Eaters" had to reschedule a dinner it had planned for Tuesday. Here's what Ben Pauker one of the Gastronauts three founders had to say about the pig-foot kerfuffle:
We've been to lots of restaurants which surely wouldn't have passed a health inspection, so this is definitely a step in the right direction for us. Anyway, going to Hakata after it's passed inspection is like sleeping with a prositute after a doctor's given her a clean bill of health--it's not the Virgin Mary, but you know she's as clean and sparkling as she'll ever be.
If you absolutely can't wait until tomorrow evening for your pig-foot fix or if trotters happen to strike you as Valentine's Day fare here are some alternative venues. For Japanese-style tonsoku hit up the raucous izakaya, Kenka on St. Marks, or the more subdued Yakitori 44. True aficionados may wish to trek to Flushing's Chao Zhou to feast on marinated pig's feet noodle soup. For Korean-style trotters, head to Han Bat for some jok bal, or pig's feet with specialty sauce. Looking to go whole hog? Try Gahm Mi Oak's modum soon dae, a heap of steamed and slivered pig's feet, ears, liver and stomach, with some pork sausage thrown in for good measure.
Hopefully these alternatives have helped folks cope with their pig-foot cravings. Sadly there's no place else in town that serves spaghetti carbonara with tonsoku. For some strange reason that offal fusion specialty is only available at Hakata Tonton.
Photo: Flickr, Ying_Chi_17's photostream
Hakata Tonton, 61 Grove St., 212-242-3699
Kenka, 25 St. Marks Place, 212-254-6363
Chao Zhou , 40-52 Main St., Flushing, 718-353-7683
Han Bat, 53 W. 35 St., 212-629-5588
Gahm Mi Oak, 43 W. 32 St., 212-695-4113
