JUNE 3-9, 2012 General manager Kenton Tom with the Hawaiian Luau Dinner, offered as part of Wailana’s Kamehameha Day menu. The reasons are many for kamaaina and tourists alike to visit Wailana Coffee House. We’ll start with the local and American classic dishes, and the 24-hours-a-day breakfast. But you’ll have to turn the pages to learn the other reasons diners keep dropping in on this famous Waikiki eatery. See Page 4 | Leah Friel photo A breath of fresh air at Il Lupino | 7 Odoriko’s lovely lunch options | 9 ALSO: The savory benefits of green tea | 2 AN EDITION OF
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J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2
General manager Kenton Tom with theHawaiian Luau Dinner, offered as partof Wailana’s Kamehameha Day menu.
The reasons are many forkamaaina and tourists
alike to visit WailanaCoffee House. We’ll start
with the local andAmerican classic dishes,and the 24-hours-a-day
breakfast. But you’ll haveto turn the pages to learnthe other reasons dinerskeep dropping in on this
famous Waikiki eatery.See Page 4 | Leah Friel photo
A breath of fresh air at Il Lupino | 7Odoriko’s lovely lunch options | 9
ALSO:The savory benefits
of green tea | 2
AN EDITION OF
Green Tea. Mention those two luxu-rious words and a certain peacecomes over me. Sure, you must
think I’m exaggerating, but this is no joke.Whether it’s served hot or cold, green teais one of my all-time drinks of choice.Who can resist the many health benefitsthat come along with it, including thebelief that many regular green tea drinkershave a lower risk of developing heart dis-ease and certain types of cancer, not tomention its benefits as an antioxidant?!Hello to younger looking skin and goodhealth! In my opinion, green tea just maybe heaven sent.
So, this week instead of brewing myselfa pot of green tea, I decided to embracemy love for this tea leaf (green tea is madesolely from the leaves of CamelliaSinensis) and search for some superlativegreen tea creations. And believe me whenI say I found a few at the following Ono,
You Know establish-ments that I wentabsolutely gaga for!
JJ Bistro & FrenchPastry
Green tea shenani-gans are well underway at JJ Bistro &French Pastry, where
executive chef and owner JJ Luangkhot’sremarkable works of art define pure andutter decadence. Here at this WaialaeAvenue establishment, presentation is justso pristine that you’re almost hesitant totake a bite fearing you’ll destroy its capti-vating beauty. Luangkhot’s sweet Euro-Asian fare comprises the best in French cui-
sine with a dash of irresistible Asian charm.“Green tea is very popular in Hawaii,
and we have a couple of green tea items onour menu,” Luangkhot says. “The greatthing about working with green tea is thateven though it can be a bit bitter, it reallygoes well with sweet desserts because itbalances out the flavors perfectly.”
Everyone knows I am addicted tosweets, and when enhanced with green teaflavoring, my oh my, I’m one happy gal!Here at JJ Bistro & French Pastry, I justhad to sink my teeth into Green TeaBavarian ($4.75). With a chocolate cakebase, this sinful dessert is made withgreen tea-flavored mousse intermixedwith a savory vanilla Bavarian. Trust me,it’s simply love at first bite — silky,smooth and sweet with a refreshing bite.
“Our Green Tea Bavarian is very lightand a top pick with our customers, butGreen Tea Cheesecake is just as goodwhen you want something richer,”Luangkhot adds.
Priced at $3.95, Green Tea Cheesecakeis a class above your average cheesecake.Luangkhot describes it as a basic NewYork Cheesecake embellished with greentea powder, and garnished with sprinklesof chocolate crumbs and a piece of choco-late for décor.
“When working with green tea, it canbe tricky because you don’t want todiminish the flavor of the green tea — it’svery unique and light.”
Yes, it’s all about creating the perfect blend,and mind you, chef JJ Luangkhot is a pro!
JJ’s Bistro & French Pastry3447 Waialae Ave.
739.0993
Patisserie La Palme D’orPatisserie La Palme D’or showers you
with the sweetest nothings and has beendoing so since 2006 when owner HiromiTanaka brought this exquisite Japanesepastry concept to Ala Moana Center. Ifyou love decadent selections such asPalme Chocolat and Baked Cheesecake,this first-class patisserie is your heaven onearth. Head pastry chef Akiko Kimura is awhiz in the kitchen whipping up treatsthat are beyond compare as she incorpo-rates only the best ingredients directlyfrom Japan into her creations.
Above: The editor is in love with JJ’s magnificentdesserts including Green Tea Bavarian ($4.75)and Green Tea Cheesecake ($3.95) (LawrenceTabudlo photo)Right: La Palme D’or’s Green Tea Roll Cake ($4per slice)
Contemporary Asian American CuisineHonolulu Design Center • 2nd FloorFree covered parking
StageRestaurantHawai i . com Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30a-1:30pDinner Mon-Sat 5:30-8:30p
Scan for tasteof Stage andto makereservationsinstantly.
Picture shown may not reflect the menu selectionsTake a photo of this ad with your smartphone and show
it to your server for the Tasting Menu Special Price.*
Take a photo of this ad with your smartphone and show it to your server for the Tasting Menu Special Price.
D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2 | 3
as liquid sunshine streams in through the clearglass windows at Wailana Coffee House,hungry diners from across the globe are mak-
ing their way to their tables ready to tackleWailana’s signature cuisine. Just look across thebusy dining room and you’ll see friendly serverstaking orders, quickly bussing tables, and pre-senting customers with plate upon plate of pan-cakes, waffles, eggs and bacon, burgers, sand-wiches and more.
“We’re pretty much always busy! WailanaCoffee House is a 24-hour establishment, we onlyclose one night a week, which is Tuesday at mid-night,” says general manager Kenton Tom.
As a legendary landmark in Waikiki, WailanaCoffee House is located on the corner of AlaMoana Boulevard and Ena Road at what was oncethe original Kapiolani Drive Inn.
“Kapiolani Drive Inn was founded by my fatherFrancis Tom in the 1950s.Back then, of course, itwas a drive-in, so youwould drive up and it was
car hop service,” Kenton recalls.“At the time when Kapiolani Drive Inn was
around, it was known for its local food thatwas very inexpensive, but very popular.During those days, hamburgers were around20 cents. Kapiolani Drive Inn also was knownfor its fried chicken, chop steak and teriyakirib steak,” he adds.
Then in 1969, the Wailana condominiumwas built, paving the way for Wailana CoffeeHouse, which soon took the place ofKapiolani Drive Inn. Kenton and his two sib-lings formally took over the restaurant andKapiolani Drive Inn Inc. just last year uponthe passing of their mother, Mary.
“Since the beginning, Wailana CoffeeHouse was always one of those places known to beopen 24 hours,” Kenton says. “Looking back, thereare some similarities with Kapiolani Drive Inn andWailana Coffee House. There’s still a lot of localflavor in the food, it’s moderately priced and bothestablishments are based on good values.”
Whether it’s local favorites or American classics,
Wailana Coffee House has it all, making it a popularhot spot among both kamaaina and tourists. Kentonreveals that even though the restaurant doesn’t havea national name like other places, it’s still been ableto do well despite economic hardships.
“Our food and good service have always been
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J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2
General manager Kenton Tom with theHawaiian Luau Dinner, offered as partof Wailana’s Kamehameha Day menu.
The reasons are many forkamaaina and tourists
alike to visit WailanaCoffee House. We’ll start
with the local andAmerican classic dishes,and the 24-hours-a-day
breakfast. But you’ll haveto turn the pages to learnthe other reasons dinerskeep dropping in on this
famous Waikiki eatery.See Page 4 | Leah Friel photo
A breath of fresh air at Il Lupino | 7Odoriko’s lovely lunch options | 9
ALSO:The savory benefits
of green tea | 2
AN EDITION OF
1860 Ala Moana Blvd. i 955.1764Open daily, 24 hOurs
DININ
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WA
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DINING OUT COVER STORY COffEE HOUSE
D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2 | 5
consistent, and I think our new and loyal patronsare appreciative of that,” he says.
And now with King Kamehameha Day (June 11)and Father’s Day (June 17) fast approaching,Wailana is ready to celebrate in style. In fact, twospecial holiday menus will soon be unveiled andavailable to diners.
“We always celebrate big holidays with a niceholiday menu,” Kenton states with a smile. “As far
as determining what is featured on each holidaymenu, we go by what the holiday is. For example,we don’t normally serve Hawaiian food, but withKing Kamehameha Day coming up, we’ve addedsome great Hawaiian cuisine to the menu.”
Yes, indeed. Diners can be on the lookout forthree fantastic dinner options (served from 11 a.m.to midnight June 9), including Hawaiian LuauDinner ($16.25), Teriyaki Rib Steak ($15.95) andChicken Papaya ($13.50). According to Kenton,Hawaiian Luau Dinner has proven to be a best-seller and features kalua pig, lau lau, chicken withlong rice, lomi salmon, your choice of poi or rice,and haupia pudding. Teriyaki Rib Steak also wowsdiners with an 8-ounce steak marinated inHawaii’s popular sauce and garnished with freshgreen onions. As for Chicken Papaya, this dish willmake your mouth water as you are presented withhalf a seasoned chicken, roasted and glazed with a
tropical papaya-orange sauce and served withWailana’s famous macadamia nut stuffing. Allentrees include all-you-can-eat salad bar, and yourchoice of coffee, tea or soft drink.
“On King Kamehameha Day, we also will havea breakfast special of Portuguese Sweet Bread,which will be available from 6 a.m. to midnight,”Kenton shares.
This breakfast of champions, priced at $9.50,showcases thick wedges of Portuguese sweetbread filled with a pocket of marmalade and final-ly dipped in egg batter. This hearty breakfastcomes complete with two eggs, two strips ofcrispy bacon and coffee or tea.
Then come Father’s Day, spoil that specialman in your life and treat him to a meal worthremembering. Dad will surely find somethinghe’ll love on Wailana’s Father's Day Menu(available June 17).
“With the Father’s Day Menu we wanted tooffer something a little more heavy for thefathers — something a bit richer from what’s onthe average Wailana menu,” Kenton explains.
Take advantage of Eggs Benedict Royal($10.50), a breakfast special served from 6 a.m.to midnight, which features toasted Englishmuffin halves with smoked ham, turkey breast,and poached eggs smothered with Wailana’shollandaise sauce, and served with crispy hashbrowns and glazed peach slices. Then starting at 11a.m., feast on complete dinners of New York Steakwith Onion Rings ($16.95), king of steaks servedwith beer-battered onion rings and fresh mush-rooms; Seafood Continental ($14.50), a trio ofshrimps, scallops and mahi mahi gently simmeredin a supreme sauce with fine herbs and wine; orChicken Florentine ($13.50), tender breast ofchicken on a bed of spinach and bacon, garnishedwith crab meat and topped with hollandaise sauce.
All dinners include all-you-can-eat salad bar,baked or mashed potato, french fries or steamedrice, corn on the cob, bread pudding, and coffee,tea or soft drink. Also, toast Dad with a glass ofBurgundy, Rose or Chablis for $3.25.
Chef Peter Cheng is the man responsible forwhipping up these alluring holiday specials, butKenton is quick to credit his close to 100 employ-ees who have helped to make Wailana CoffeeHouse a household name.
“Wailana has garnered a good reputationthroughout the years. I’m very lucky that I havegreat employees, wait staff and back of the housestaff who make my job a lot easier.”
1 (front, from left) Juliet Acosta, Mary Ann Schoefeld, Sylvia Noneza, (back, from left) Mereyln Fernandez and KentonTom 2 Hawaiian Luau Dinner ($16.25) 3 Eggs Benedict Royal ($10.50) 4 Chicken Florentine ($13.50) 5 New YorkSteak with Onion Rings ($16.95)
10%OFFentire menu.Exp. 6/7/12. Dine-in only. Must presentcoupon.Not combinable with other offers.
521-68881408 Liliha St.
(Corner of Liliha & Vineyard Blvd.)Mon-Sat 10am - 9pm • Sun 10am - 8pm
6 | D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2
From the moment you walk in toBuffet Camellia on McCullyStreet, there’s no escaping that
mouth-watering yakiniku aroma asguests cook their food themselves attheir table.
The restaurant celebrates its 27thanniversary this year, with a growingfollowing of loyal customers whocontinue to return for its tasty all-you-can-eat yakiniku-style food.
The buffet line offers a great selec-tion of meats (kalbi, and barbecuebeef, chicken and pork) and vegeta-bles. There also are some localfavorites, such as kim chee fried rice,macaroni salad, fried mandoo, orangechicken, kim chee, taegu and kimchee cucumber. Also available aretraditional Korean dishes, including
Korean pancake, Korean sweet teaand jab-chae (long rice noodles withonion, green onion and carrots). Tocomplete the meal, there’s seaweedsoup and miso soup, fruits and Jell-O,as well as rice and sweet rice with redbean. And for dinner, shrimp, sirloinsteak and frozen yogurt are added tothe menu.
But what sets Buffet Camelliaapart from other yakiniku restaurantsis its secret sauce used for all its meatdishes, which gives a flavor that isirresistible.
Open seven days a week, lunch is$17.95, and $13 for children age 4 to8. Dinner is $25.95, and $15 for chil-dren age 4 to 8. A private room for upto 30 people also is available insidethe restaurant.
1 Server Hye Jung Pae
2 Shrimp
3 Fried mandoo and jab-chae
Nathalie Walker photos
Grilling up a storm atCamellia Buffet
CAMELLIA BUFFET
WHERE930 McCully St.,Honolulu
CALL951.0511
HOURSOpen daily 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
oh!bytheway
Dining Out would like to clear upsome facts on Plaza Cafe that wereinaccurate in a recent write-up.
Plaza Cafe doesn’t have a breakfast buffet,however, the restaurant does serve breakfastdaily, but a la carte. Also, the seafood dinnerbuffet is offered Friday and Saturday nightsonly. For more information, call Plaza Cafeat 836.8626.
1
2
3
• Chicken Saladw/Oriental Dressing
• 4 TYPES OF DIM SUM(BBQ Pork, Chive Dumpling,Pork Hash, Seafood Dumpling)
Although summerdoesn’t officiallybegin until June 20,
those sunny, sultry days arealready here, and whatcould be better for lunchthan a cool, fresh saladwhile relaxing in a casual,yet sophisticated ambienceinside, or al fresco diningon the charming gardenterrace.
Il Lupino Trattoria andWine Bar offers a selectionof fresh salads atlunchtime, but don’t goexpecting the same oldboring lettuce and tomatofare. They do it Italian-style here, and they do itwith Island flair.
Although many of IlLupino’s salads do containfish and/or cheese, generalmanager AdrianaNickerson turned us on toher favorite on the IlLupino lunch menu:Insalata Farfalla ($14). It’sa mouthwatering medleyof fresh Island papaya,avocado, marinated shi-itake mushrooms andchopped tomatoes tossedin a truffle vinaigrette, gar-nished with cured redonion and topped withblack truffle sauce.Mmmm. The papaya andavocado give it a tropicaltouch, while the rest isreminiscent of sunny Italy— a match made in heaven(or, better yet, paradise).
Il Lupino means "the lit-
tle wolf," and you’ll behard-pressed not to act likeone while devouring thisdish. But try to take time tojust chill out, relax andsavor every last bite.
Il Lupino Trattoria and Wine Bar WHERE Royal Hawaiian Center, Bldg. B, Level 12233 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
CALL 922.3400
HOURS Open 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday8 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Chillin’ at Il Lupino
Right Hostess Amal Hadari withInsalata FarfallaBelow Insalata Farfalla ($14)
Leah Friel photos
“What does Patisserie La Palme D’oroffer when it comes to green tea?” I ask.Of course, I know it has to be good!
“We have Green Tea Roll Cake and LaMacha ($4.45 each),” says Tanaka. “Bothare made with green tea powder, whichwe get from Shizuoka, Japan, which isfamous for its green tea farms.”
Green Tea Roll Cake ($4 per slice, $18whole cake) features a green tea creamrolled in a light and fluffy green teasponge cake. La Macha ($4.45 each)presents you with a layer of fine chocolatesponge cake topped with chocolatemousse, chocolate sponge cake, and final-ly completed with a layer of flavorful
green tea mousse. Chef Akiko then gar-nishes it with cocoa powder and a morselof decadent chocolate.
“Both desserts are well-liked by ourcustomers,” Tanaka says. “Green tea isbitter, but in our desserts the green tea isnot overpowering.”
Gift sets also are available for purchaseand specialty cakes can be made to order.Simple elegance is what you’ll find here.
La Palme D’or PatisserieAla Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.941.6161
Kissaten Coffee Bar
Being the insomniac that I am, this 24-hour establishment is just what I need tosatisfy my hunger at 4 a.m. Located onPiikoi Street and open daily, KissatenCoffee Bar offers menus abundant with afusion of cuisine that reflects your favoritecomfort food with a gourmet twist.
And when it comes to green tea options, avisit to this renowned coffee bar wouldn't becomplete without a sip of Matcha Tea Latte($3.50 small, $4 medium, $4.50 large).
“We start with the matcha (green tea)powder, which is a very concentrated fla-vor, and we mix it with milk and vanilla.It’s very natural,” says senior partnerNeysa Taba. “Actually, Matcha Tea Latteis one of our most popular drinks, and per-fect if you don’t want a lot of caffeine.”
You can opt to have your drink servedhot or iced, and with summer just aroundthe corner, I definitely recommendKissaten’s Matcha Freeze ($4.25 small,$4.75 medium, $5.25 large), which is sim-ilar to Matcha Tea Latte, only blended.
Being that my body doesn't always takewell to tons of caffeine, these drinks areright up my alley. They’re a must-have forany green tea fanatic!
Kissaten is always adding new specialsto its ever-expanding menu as well, so beon the lookout for that!
Kissaten Coffee Bar88 Piikoi St.
593.1200
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– From page 2
ono,youknow
Ward Warehouse • 591-8855 • Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm • Fri-Sat 11am-10pmChinese Cultural Plaza (100 N. Beretania St.) • 538-1151 • Open Daily 7:30am-2:30pm
*Any curry and drink$6.95Add 4pc Gyoza for 99¢
*Curry Combo
SummerSpecial
LimitedTime Only
DRIVE-IN
Serving You For50 Years
Mahalo Hawaii
Serving You For50 Years
Mahalo HawaiiKapahulu737-0177
3308 Kanaina Avenue1311 N. KING ST, KALIHI(NEXT TO NEW DINER’S DRIVE IN) 842-4049
3 JJ’s Green Tea Bavarian($4.75) and Green TeaCheesecake ($3.95)(Lawrence Tabudlo photo)
4 La Palme D’or’s head pastrychef Akiko Kimura
5 Kissaten barista Brianna Goto
1 2 3 4
5
Pre Fixe Menu starting from $48.00
Assortment of Appetizers...Red Pepper Mousse, Pâté de Campagne & Mushroom QuicheChilled Seafood Vermicelli SaladScallop MeunièreEntrée...Choice of Chicken Confit, Rib Eye Steak, or Beef Fillet with Foie GrasDessert...Cream Puff & Fresh Strawberry Cream
1006 KAPAHULU AVE.739-5000
DINNER SERVED TUES-SUNFROM 5PM
“For all Fathers do,
a toast to you!”
June 17th, 2012 • 6:30pm Served Family Style • $35++
BYOB • No Corkage Fee
Call for reservations596-7488
Kaka‘ako KitchenWard Centre
~
~
Picnic on the LanaiPicnic on the LanaiCheers to Dads!Cheers to Dads!
Lunch/Late-nite SpecialMon– Fri 11:30 am -2 pm
Daily 10:15 pm - Close
$995Set menusstarting at
2700 S. KING ST.(near 7-11 at King St. / University)FREE Parking at Moiliili Post Office lot
951-7878
M-TH 4PM-MIDNIGHT • F-SUN 4PM-1AM
BYOB
Service daily from 3:00pm to 5:30pm
COMPLIMENTARY PARKING
2199 Kalia Rd. Honolulu /www.halekulani.com
A Tradition at Halekulani...
Renewed~ Fine Tea Selection
~ Freshly Baked Signature Scones
~ Exquisite Tea Sandwiches
~ Delicate Pastries
Afternoon TeaIN THE VERANDA
D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2 | 9
By Caitlin Basilio
Allow your stomachthe satisfaction ofauthentic Japanese
food without having toleave the island — instead,take a short trip to OdorikoJapanese Restaurant.
Odoriko is one ofWaikiki’s longest estab-lished Japanese restaurants,and has been servingauthentic food since itsopening in 1972. Odorikois located away from theusual Waikiki traffic, andcan be found in the King’s
chewonthis
Make it a lunch date at Odoriko
King’s Village Shopping Center2400 Koa Ave., Honolulu
923.7368
Daily, 6 a.m.-midnight
odorikohawaii.com
ODORIKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Village Shopping Center.In addition to its full
course menu during itsbreakfast, lunch, dinner, andsushi bar hours, Odorikooffers lunch specials from11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some ofits featured lunch menuitems are the OdorikoSpecial ($7.50), the KingSet ($16.95), and the SpicyTuna and SalmonCombination Don ($12.75).
The Odoriko Special isoffered on the kamaainamenu and features beefteriyaki, chicken karaage,vegetable tempura, saladand rice.
The King Set also is availableon the kamaaina menu and isserved with two pieces of sushi(shrimp and squid), three piecesof California Roll, sashimi,shrimp and vegetable tempura,
edamame, sweet egg omelette,fruit, miso soup and rice.
“King’s Set is offered in abox and is considered aMakunouchi set, which isperfect for a quick lunch fordiners on the go. It’s fillingand prepared very quickly,”explains general managerHiro Takei.
The Spicy Tuna andSalmon Combination Donis found on Odoriko’s regu-lar menu, and consists ofspicy tuna and spicy salmonserved over rice. It’s a zestyoption, and fortunatelykamaaina also receive 10percent off.
These lunch specials arejust a small taste of whatOdoriko has to offer. Besure to check out other deli-cious items on its food anddrink menus.
Spicy Tuna andSalmon
CombinationDon($12.75)
ABOVE King Set($16.95)
LawrenceTabudlo photos
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inside F E A T U R E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Abounds Since opening its doorsin October of last year,Japengo has estab-
lished itself as one ofHawaii’s hotbeds forPacific Rim cuisine.
However, do not be mis-taken. This is not “fusion”cooking where multiplestyles and influences areswirled together. Japengo’sinnovative cocktails,superb sushi and an assort-ment of exotic flavors fromaround the Pacific Rim andSoutheast Asia make therestaurant a cornerstone ofculinary excellence withinthe Hyatt Regency WaikikiBeach Resort and Spa.
“For us it’s very impor-tant that we don’t call itfusion cuisine — fusion,for me, I always call it con-fusion,” says Japengo’sexecutive chef SvenUllrich. “Fusion cuisine ismixing a lot of differentAsian styles and tech-niques together on oneplate. Pacific Rim cuisinestays true to the flavors ofcertain regions, and keepsit authentic.
“The hair on my neckstands up when I hear theword fusion because we’reoften misinterpreted andpeople say, ‘Oh, it’s justanother fusion restaurant,’and that just drives me upthe wall,” Ullrich adds. “Itis not, and we really triedvery hard. We’re gettingfeedback from customers,such as those saying thatour sushi is better thansome you find in Japan,and that just gets us going.”
Upon entering Japengo,
diners are greeted by aneye-popping sushi barwhere only authenticJapanese sushi selectionsare served. Dragon Roll($18) is one of Japengo’stop-selling sushi creations,
and features a combinationof spicy tuna, unagi, redtobiko caviar and cucum-ber — a dish that appealsto the eyes and taste buds.“Our clientele is primarilyJapanese, so we had tocater to their needs,”Ullrich explains.
Another example ofJapengo’s exemplary atten-tion to detail can be foundin the establishment’s effortto perfect its Japengo FriedRice ($18), a combinationof char siu pork, prawns,chicken and vegetables.“We actually flew in thechef from a restaurant inBeijing, China, to train ourwok chef on the fried rice,”says Ullrich. “It sounds sosimple, fried rice, but it’sreally not that simple, letme tell you. It took us threeweeks and trying about 50
different recipes before wefound the right one.”
Like its sister properties,Japengo operated underHyatt’s global philosophythat focuses on sourcingand providing healthy and
sustainable food and bever-age options for its patrons.The mantra is simple:thoughtfully sourced andcarefully served. However,as Ullrich explains, imple-menting the strategy is along, steady journey.
“It’s a big task, and Ihave to admit we’re noteven close to where wewant to be in the next sev-eral years,” Ullrich says. “Iuse the example of ’NaloFarms. We’re getting localproduce from them includ-ing the Thai basil and themixed greens — we orderthem in the afternoon, andthey cut it fresh for us.That’s just the beginning.We’re taking baby steps inthe right direction.”
The baby greens from’Nalo Farms are incorpo-rated in one of Japengo’s
Story by Kyle GaldeiraPhotos by Nathalie Walker
J A P E N G O
Pacific RimFlavor
with
(from left) executive chefSven Ullrich, head sushi chefJohan Morala and chef decuisine Michael Imada
AT RIGHTJapengo Salad ($15)
D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2 | 1 1
...dining out ...
inside F E A T U R E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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favorite starters, JapengoSalad ($15). The dish alsoincorporates sushi gradeahi and a homemade garlic,ginger vinaigrette, whichalso includes hints oflemongrass and sesame oil.
Sticking with starters,Scallop Butter Yaki ($18)is torched and glazed withroasted garlic, sweet gin-ger and chili, and braisedslightly. The mouth-water-ing sea fare is served withblack tabiko and shiso leaf.“It’s very simplistic, butit’s a huge success,”Ullrich says. “People keepcoming back for it.”
Emperor Steak ($42) fea-tures a 10-ounce cut of grass-fed beef from the Big Islandserved with an Emperorponzu sauce. The dish alsofeatures Shimeji Mushroomsand Kai-lan, also known asChinese broccoli.
To end one’s meal on a
sweet note, Japengo alsofeatures a unique spin onCrème Brulee. The JapengoCoconut Crème Brulee($10) is served in a freshcoconut that is halved, hol-lowed out and filled with
candied coconut, with thehelp of cane sugar, alongwith the crème brulee mix-ture of eggs, coconut milk,cream and sugar. After thedessert is placed in the hol-lowed-out coconut shell, thedish is finished and servedwith a cane sugar glaze.
“We want people tocome to our restaurant andhave a lot of choices offantastic, authentic food,”Ullrich says. “Australiawill be next — we’re play-ing around with a recipefor a Sticky Date Pudding,and once we perfect it,we’ll have it on the menu.This is the whole vision,for customers to have the
option to dine all aroundthe Pacific Rim.”
Japengo also invitesDining Out readers toattend its next “Sake andSushi” event scheduled forJune 22. The experience
consists of four to fivecourses, and each sakeselection is paired with avariety of sushi. A sakesommelier then describeseach sake for the gueststhroughout each course.
“Every month, we gettogether with our sake ven-dor, and last month, forexample, we featured asparkling sake,” Ullrichsays of the $60 per personexperience. “It was great tosee so many local guestscome and experience oursake and sushi pairings.”
For more information onthe upcoming event, call923.1234, or log on toWaikiki.Hyatt.com.
Hyatt Regency Waikiki BeachResort and Spa2424 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu
923.1234
Nightly, 5:30-10 p.m.
Waikiki.Hyatt.com
Dragon Roll ($18)AT leftCoconut CremeBrulee ($10)
Scallop Butter Yaki($18)
J A P E N G O
Hy’s Steakhouse has been the go-toplace for fine-dining — including,of course, fine cuts of beef — in
the Islands for more than 30 years. Andwith its elegant, tranquil ambiance andtop-notch customer service, the Waikikieatery ensures an all-around five-starexperience.
Customer favorites include “Hy’sFamous” Roast Rack Of Lamb ($63.95for a full rack; $39.95 for a half rack),which is prepared with herbs and searedover hot kiawe charcoal, Caesar Salad($14.95; prepared tableside for two ormore) and Chicken Marsala or Piccatta($27.95).
“And, of course, our prime steaks areamong the most popular items,” says Hy’sSteakhouse vice president and generalmanager Bob Panter. The restaurant’s
prime steaks include New YorkStrip ($41.95 for 9 ounces;$49.95 for 13 ounces),Delmonico ($43.95 for 14ounces; $51.95 for 18 ounces)and Filet Mignon ($40.95 for 7ounces; $49.95 for 11 ounces)— all of which are broiled overkiawe wood. Other cuts includeBone-In New York Strip($52.95 for 20 ounces) and T-Bone Steak ($65.95 for 28
ounces).If it’s steak you’re after,
entrees include Hy’s Garlic Steak($43.95), a 7-ounce Filet Mignon withgarlic and herbs, kiawe-broiled withmushrooms, and Steak Neptune ($49.95),which features a Filet Mignon steakbroiled and topped with Gulf shrimp andasparagus.
“I think what makes us different is thefact that we serve USDA prime beef, andthe fact that it’s also cooked over kiawewood,” Panter says. The USDA primebeef that Hy’s so expertly cooks up isaged and trimmed on site to create a ten-der, flavorful steak.
Another thing that sets Hy’s apart is itsmixture of various influences. While themajority of the cuisine at Hy’s is American-European fare, the restaurant also has cre-atively combined Hawaiian and Pacificinfluences.
Take, for example, Steak Tataki Salad($22.95). “This is kind of taken after theJapanese style of cooking to really searthe outside of the meat and keeping it rareinside,” Panter says of the dish. As pic-tured, the meat is peppered and the dishincludes baby greens and ponzu vinai-grette dressing.
Hy’s also has an extensive seafoodmenu, which includes dishes such asAlaskan King Crab Legs (market price),Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato, Basil andScallops ($10.95) and Lobster Tail (mar-
ket price).And if you have any room left over for
dessert, the flambés at Hy’s are not to bemissed. These include Bananas Foster($13.25 per person, for two or more) andChocolate Lovers’ ($13.25 per person, fortwo or more). These dishes are amongHy’s customer favorites. Not only do theytaste incredible, but it is a joy to watch asa flambé is flamed up just for you right atyour table.
Now renowned as one of the Island’s bestplaces to indulge in a steak, Hy’sSteakhouse was started
in Calgary, Canada, in the 1950s byrestauranteur Hy Aisenstat. Thefine-dining venue’s popularity grewquickly, and a string of Hy’s restau-rants popped up around Canada. In1976, Aisenstat, in collaborationwith a local business partner,brought his restaurant to theIslands.
Bob Panter joined the staff abouta year later as an assistant busboy.Throughout the years, he steadilyclimbed through the ranks and nowserves as Hy’s Steakhouse vicepresident and general manager.
While Hy’s boasts an eclecticmenu filled with decadent fusionflavors that include seafood, chick-en and lamb in addition to beef, youdon’t want to miss out on Hy’s steaks. For the uninitiated, here is a basicrundown of the different types of steak cuts that you can find at Hy’sSteakhouse.
“The Filet Mignon is the leanest and most tender cut,” Panter explains.“The New York Strip has a firmer texture and a robust flavor. The DelmonicoSteak is a boneless, highly marbled steak. The fat content in the meat givesa lot of flavor to it. For the T-Bone Steak, you have one side that is filet, andone side that is New York on either side of the bone … The PorterhouseSteak has an extended filet portion, and is very flavorful.”
Hy’s SteakhouseWaikiki Park Heights Hotel2440 Kuhio Ave., Honolulu922.5555
Open Monday-Friday, 6-10 p.m.;Saturday-Sunday, 5:30-10 p.m.
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with Christina O’Connor
TH
ES
IDE
ONChef Danny Florino grillingup delicious morsels ofmeat on the kiawe grill.
1 Porterhouse T-Bone Steak with garlicmashed potatoes and sugar snap peas($69.95) 2 Steak Tataki Salad ($22.95)3 Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato, Basil andScallops ($10.95)4 Steak Neptune ($49.95)
File photos
Hy-Quality Five-Star
Fare
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Father’s Day Dinner Buffet // $49.50, Adults; $21, Children 3-10
As the time of year to refect onall the love and support Dad hasshown you rolls around again,head over to 3660 for anevening he won’t soon forget.Highlights from the restaurant’selegant menu include Oysterson the Half Shell, Ahi Katsu andGrilled Cheese with TruffleButter. Entrees such as BraisedChicken in Chipotle Sauce,Cajun Seared Catch with SauceVera Cruz and Slow CookedPork Belly with ShimeijiMushroom Jus will dazzle aswell. End Dad’s perfect eveningwith an array of desserts.
Cater to all of your dad’s crav-ings with a Prime Rib Package($21.75 per person, 10 personminimum) this Father’s Day.Enjoy Whole Roasted Prime Ribwith Au Jus & Horseradish,Mashed Potatoes, SteamedVegetables, Grilled ChickenCaesar Salad, Sweet DinnerRolls and Chocolate DobashCake. Please confirm orders byJune 10, and free delivery isavailable to Pearl City, Waipahuand Mililani. Customers maypick up orders at the kitchen inWaipio.
Father’s Day Special // $23.95 per person
ANYTIMECAFE2919 Kapiolani Blvd. #218 // Market City Shopping Center
Given that Hawaii’s diners loveto enjoy Hong Kong-inspireddishes any time day or night, it’sno surprise they’re heading toAnytime Cafe June 15-17 for itsFather’s Day Special. Start witha hearty Crab Risotto Croquetteand creamy Shrimp BisqueSoup. Then choose from TrioShrimp Spaghettini with Tigerand Bay Shrimp in a WhiteTruffle Creamy Sauce toppedwith stuffed shrimp, or 8 ouncesof Rib Eye pan fried withPeppercorn Sauce, vegetablesand pasta. Top off your mealwith a Chocolate Mousse. Father’s Day Special Menu // $188 for a party of 10
CANTONSEAFOOD923 Keeaumoku St. / / Honolulu
Call: 955.3388Hours: Daily,10 a.m.-midnight
What better way to say thanksto Dad than with a Father’sDay Special Menu at CantonSeafood Restaurant? The dad-licious meal, which is perfectfor parties of 10, consists ofseafood with fish maw soup, awhole Peking duck, live lob-ster with ginger and onion,walnut shrimp with mayon-naise, tenderloin steak withstring beans, crispy garlicchicken, Chinese broccoli withdried fish and young-chow-style fried rice. Be sure tosave room for dessert as well.
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ACATEREDEXPERIENCE
father’sdayspecial
Father’s Day Special Prefix Menus // $48, $60 or $80
Treat your daddy to the exquisitemeal he deserves this Father’sDay with one of Fine DiningBurgundy’s pre fixe menus. Eachoption is a full-course dinner withan assortment of three appetizers,Chilled Seafood Vermicelli Saladand Scallop Meunière for yourfirst entree. Then customize yourmeal by selecting a second entreefrom Chicken Confit ($48), RibEye Steak ($60) or Beef Fillet withFoie Gras ($80, pictured). Finishwith a Cream Puff & FreshStrawberry Cream enhanced by atouch of balsamic flavor.
Father’s Day Buffets and Special Menu // Prices Vary
Let Hee Hing be part of yourFather’s Day with its parade offestive dining options. From 9:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m., enjoy fresh fishpoke and a Hong Kong dim sumbar at the Chinese Hawaiian DimSum Brunch Buffet ($24, adults;$23, seniors; $12, keiki 3 to 12).Or try slow-roasted prime rib,Hawaiian luau buffet and morefrom 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the SeafoodPrime Rib Dinner Buffet ($28,adults; $27, seniors; $14, keiki 3to 12). Then there’s the SpecialMenu For Dad ($289, table of 10;$150, table of five or six), avail-able June 15-19, which includesHong Kong Crisp Chicken alongwith many others.
All You Can Eat Lunch & Dinner // $12.95, Lunch; $19.95, Dinner
For all those dads with larger-than-life appetites, Ho Ho’s AllYou Can Eat Lunch andDinner buffets have everythingto satisfy your tummy thisFather’s Day. More than 25dishes fill up the lunch menuwith specialties like Salt andPepper Shrimp bursting withflavor. Favorites such as SnowCrab will enrich the dinnermenu as well.
Make a toast to Dad at IchirikiJapanese Nabe Restaurant thisyear as every father will enjoy a1 cent draft beer, glass of wine,glass of shochu or soft drinkwith his slurpable nabe meal.Dads also will receive a specialFather’s Day dessert!
ICHIRIKIJAPANESENABE
Father’s Day Dinner Specials // $16-$41
ILLUPINO2233 Kalakaua Ave. // Royal Hawaiian Center (Building B, Level 1)
Il Lupino Trattoria & Wine Barwill have a royal meal fit for theking your father is from 5 to 10p.m. on Father’s Day. He’ll reignover one of seven majestic din-ner specials such as Chef Nic’sfamous Ossobucco, completewith a braised veal shank andrisotto alla Milanese. The regu-lar menu also will be available.All dining dads will receive aNike® Precision PowerDistance golf ball with the IlLupino logo as a special giftfrom the restaurant. Pulled Pork Sandwich
Treat dear old Dad to either ofThe Kahala’s award-winningrestaurants this Father’s Day.Whether you go for oceansidedining at Plumeria BeachHouse’s Brunch and DinnerBuffets ($65 each), or stunningviews at Hoku’s Brunch Buffet($75), you’re in for gorgeouseats, like the Pulled PorkSandwich with onions, lettuceand tomato on a sesame bun,served with potatoes and grilledcorn on the cob.
HOKU’S/PLUMERIABEACHHOUSE
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Father’s Day Special // $50
1841 Ala Moana Blvd. // Waikiki Call: 941.4444Web: honolulukobe.comHours: Daily, 5:30-10 p.m.; Lounge from 5 p.m.;Father’s Day, 5-10 p.m.
Last month we celebrated ourlovely mothers, and now it’stime to show our dads somelove with Kobe’s Rib Eye &Shrimp Combination, whichshowcases 10 ounces of juicy ribeye and seven pieces of grilledshrimp. Edamame, shabu shabusoup, pickled and teppan vegeta-bles, grilled shrimp appetizer,rice and green tea also sizzleaway. Then enjoy Red Velvet orDouble Chocolate Cupcakes ($5, $6 a la mode).
Your father will give you a kisson the cheek after trying this24-hour hot spot’s Penne allaBolgnese from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.on Father’s Day. Penne pasta isbeautifully dressed up withbeef, bacon, roasted peppers,cherry tomatoes and red winetomato sauce. A choice of soupor a small salad as well asdessert is included.
Father’s Day Treats // Prices Vary
LARRY’SBAKERY4369 Lawehana St. #B2 // Salt Lake Call: 422.0059
Web: larrysbakery.comfacebook.com/larrysbakeryHours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m.-noon;Closed Sundays, including Fa-ther’s Day
For any dad with a sweet tooth,it will be impossible to choosejust one of Larry’s yummy andfestive creations this Father’sDay. Why not try all of the bak-ery’s amazingly decorated cakescookies and cupcakes? Pleaseplace orders at least two days inadvance.
All You Can Eat Buffets // $24.98, Lunch; $32.98, Dinner
MAKINOCHAYA98-150 Kaonohi St. #218 // Westridge Shopping Center
It’s clear your dad is a real catch,so he’ll love the selection ofseafood at Makino Chaya’s All-you-can-eat buffets. Dive into thelunch buffet’s Garlic Shrimp,Snow Crab and Crab Cakes, notto mention Prime Rib for themeat-lovers in your family.Dinner will boast Lobster, MisoButterfish, Soft Shell Crab, Uniand Sashimi. With so much tochoose from, save room for theexpansive array of magnificentsweets provided by JJ’s Bistroand French Pastry. Halo Halo Dessert // $5.50
Relax this Father’s Day with theflourishing flavors of Filipinofoods like Crispy Pata, a porkknuckle simmered in marinade,deep fried and served withAtchara (papaya relish) and soyvinegar sauce. Then sweetenthe deal with Max’s Halo Halodessert, made with nine tropicalfruits, beans, shaved ice, milk,ube (purple yam) jam, lecheflan, ube ice cream and riceflakes.
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Picnic on the Lanai with Father’s Day Feast // $35 per person, $17.50, Children 6-12 (Children younger than 6 eat free)
KAKAAKOKITCHEN1200 Ala Moana Blvd. // Ward Centre
Call: 596.7488Hours: Father’s Day Picnic onthe Lanai from 6:30 p.m.
A Father’s Day outing couldn’tbe better than a Picnic on theLanai at Kakaako Kitchen, com-plete with a full-on feast! Picnicbaskets will overflow withEscargot and MushroomCasserole with Garlic Butter,Lilikoi Scented BBQ Chicken,Baked Beans with Ground Beefand Apple Smoked Bacon aswell as Bananas Foster withHaagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream,just to name a few. BYOB withno additional corkage fee andbe sure to make a reservation.
Pre-Father’s Day Dinner Buffet // $34.95, Adults; $18.95, Keiki 4-10
3253 N. Nimitz Hwy. // Best Western the Plaza Hotel
Call: 836.8626Hours: Daily,6:30-10 a.m., Breakfast; Friday-Monday, 5-9 p.m.,Dinner; Father’s Day,10 a.m., First Seating,12:30 p.m., Second Seating
Father figures often giveinvaluable advice, and thisyear they’ll be advising theirfamilies to avoid the crowdsand take them to Plaza Cafefor its Pre-Father’s DayDinner Buffet on Saturday,June 16. The bountiful lineof local favorites includesSnow Crab Legs, Oxtail Soup,Barbecue Ribs, Roast Beef,Kalbi Ribs and Kalua Pig,among others. Reservationsare recommended.
A special treat awaits every daddyat Saigon Cuisine VietnameseRestaurant. During the weekleading up to Father’s Day (June11-17), that special man in yourlife can request a complimentarybanana tapioca or corn tapiocawith any pho order. Try the meatyOxtail Pho or Combination Phowith rare steak, brisket, flank,beef balls, tendon and tripe for anespecially hearty bowl.
father’sdayspecial
Father’s Day Brunch Buffet // $37.95, Adult; $17.95, Children 5-8Father’s Day Dinner Buffet // $39.95, Adult; $18.95, Children 5-8
Who’s the boss? Surely yourdad is, so let him sit at thehead of the table for Pagoda’sbrunch buffet, where he’ll fillup on Kimpira Gobo,Homemade Belgian Wafflesand Steamed Kona Kampachiwith Ginger Pesto. At dinner,fathers will call the shots atthe Temaki Sushi Hand-RollStation, as well as enjoy AhiPoke with Ogo, Lomi LomiSalmon, Braised AsianShortribs and Roast Duck withPlum Sauce.
PAGODAFLOATINGRESTAURANT
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. // Ala Moana CenterCall: 356.8300 Web: macaronigrill.comHours: Father’s Day,10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill’s tal-ented chefs have prepared aslew of dishes with dad in mindfor a festive June 17. Customersalso may order a la carte sensa-tions such as Pasta di Mare,Florentine Steak and Frites,Eggplant Parmigiana andMushroom Ravioli. Fathers havea special gift in store for them,and are eligible to win “A Dayfor Dad” dinner for four at therestuartant as well as a round ofgolf.
ROMANO’SMACARONIGRILL
Father’s Day Sunday Menu // Prices Vary
RUTH’SCHRIS500 Ala Moana Blvd. // Restaurant Row & 226 Lewers St. / / Waikiki Beach Walk
Declare your love for Dad byspoiling him with somethingfantastically delicious fromRuth’s Chris Steak HouseHawaii. All fathers will walkaway happy with a $20 gift cardfrom the restuarant, and canenter to win “A Day for Dad”dinner for four at Ruth’s Chrisalong with a round of golf.Dinner delicacies include USDAPrime Cowboy Ribeye, Filet,Lamb Chops, Fresh Island Fishand Ruth’s famous BarbecuedShrimp.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill Father’s Day 2012 Menu // Prices Vary
In celebration of Father’s Day,head to Paesano RistoranteItaliano for its classic SeafoodArrosto. A plate of savory mixedseafood is sauteed with garlic,onions, portabella mushrooms,roasted peppers, black olives andfresh basil in a mouth-wateringbalsamic butter sauce. No dadswill say no to that!
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Whole Pizzas and Rustica Pizzas // $12.95, Rustica/Small Pizza; $23.95, Large Pizza; $26.95, Extra Large Pizza
ZPIZZA1200 Ala Moana Blvd. // Ward Centre & 151 Hekili St. / / Kailua
Few meals are as manly aspizza, so on Father’s Day, grabone of the men’s favorites atZPizza. When you buy a wholeor rustica pizza at regular price,you will receive a second pie (ofequal or lesser value) 25 percentoff. Tuscan with Italian Sausageadd on as well as the Santa Fe,ZBQ and Italian pies round outthe heartiest choices.
According to Sekiya’sRestaurant & Delicatessen,Marinated Fried Chicken is thedish that fathers love the most.After all, who wouldn’t love won-derfully crisp chicken that is firstmarinated in a light teri sauceand then fried to golden perfec-tion? The local favorite is servedwith rice, miso soup, tsukemonoand hot Japanese green tea.Sweeten things up for dessertwith a Hot Fudge Sundae($5.95) to complete the meal.
2746 Kaimuki Ave. // Honolulu
Catering Fried Noodles // $27.10, Small Pan, Serves 15
SHIRO’SSAIMINHAVEN98-020 Kamehameha Hwy. // Waimalu Shopping Center
One of Shiro’s most popularitems — Fried Noodles — justgot a whole lot tastier with itsimproved recipe available inlarger portions for catering.You’ll have enough for Dad,Grandpa and Great-grandpa toall pile on this onolicious med-ley of pork, chicken, onions andcabbage garnished with charsiu and green onions. Thesmall pan accommodates up to15 people and other pan sizesare available. Father’s Day Dinner // $49
Spend Father’s Day by the‘shor’s of Waikiki with a jaw-dropping meal fit for any appre-ciated father. Choose from oneof Shor’s spectacular entrees, adeliciously rich dessert and aglass of house wine or draftbeer. Entree selections includeGrilled Rib Eye Steak, LocalCatch, Bone In Chicken Breastand Wing or Bait ‘Em Trio withAhi Poke, Heirloom Tomato andMaui Onion Salad as well asBlue Crab Cake. For dessert,explore Shor Cheesecake orChocolate Hazelnut Haupia.
SHORAMERICANSEAFOODGRILL
Zippy’s Father’s Day Specials // Father’s Day Gift Card Promotion
ZIPPY’SRESTAURANTVarious Locations
Web: zippys.comHours: Most locations open24 hours
Take some fatherly advice andhead to Zippy’s, where Father’sDay Specials will be offeredJune 15-17 at its dine-in loca-tions. Starting at 10:30 a.m.,the Father’s Day Set Menu willthrill diners with a dinner roll,soup or tossed salad, anentree, drink and dessert.Choose from Fried Pork Chopswith Roasted Apples ($17.95;$13, plate only) or Garlic RibSteak ($18.95). Additionally,purchase $50 in Zippy’s giftcards from now until June 30,and receive a free $5 gift cer-tificate. Diners may donatetheir gift certificates to HUGS.
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2424 Kalakaua Ave. // Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa (3F Diamond Head Tower )
Father’s Day Brunch Buffet // $29.95, Adults; $16.95, keiki 5 to 12Father’s Day Dinner Buffer // $34.95, Adults; $18.95 keiki 5 to 12
We all know the way to a man’sheart is through great food.That’s why Sam Choy’s Break-fast, Lunch & Crab is your spotfor Father’s Day. A colorfulbrunch buffet offers FreshIsland Mixed Greens with Sam’sCreamy Oriental Dressing andSpicy Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruits,Steamed Snow Crab Legs withDrawn Butter and many moresizzling grinds. The dinner buf-fet boasts Honey Glazed Hamand Mahi Mahi with ShiitakeMushroom Cream Sauce, toname a few.
ather’sPRE-FATHER’S DAY DINNER BUFFET • SATURDAY, JUNE 1634.95 Adult, 18.95 Keiki 4-10Featuring Snow Crab Legs, Oxtail Soup, BBQ Ribs, Roast Beef,Kalbi Ribs, Kalua Pork and many more... - Reservations Recommended -
Whole Crispy ChickenBeef w/ Young Ginger & Pineapple
Steamed Fish Fillet w/ GingerSalt & Pepper Shrimp
Choy Sum w/ Meat SauceGarlic w/ Shrimp Fried Rice
Dessert
377-5555 or 377-5566Lungfunghawaii.com • Open Daily 11am-9pm5724 Kalanianaole Hwy • Niu Valley Shopping Ctr.LOTS OF FREE PARKING
$7.95
*with purchase of any regularpriced entree.
HONEYWALNUTSHRIMP
$188 For 10 PeopleDine-in or take-out
Year Of The Dragon Special
YAKINIKUMILLION
626 SHERIDAN ST. (behind Walmart) 596-0799SUN-THUR 11AM-MIDNIGHT/ FRI-SAT 11AM-2AM Since 1989
Kalbi Seaweed Soup Kalbi Kim Chee Chi-ke Beef Stone Bi Bim Bap
941- 6 8 9 1M –Sa 5:30p – 12a | Sun 5:30p – 11p | Tue CLOSED1427 Makaloa St. (Makai of Walmart Keeaumoku)
Teppanyaki | Robata | Sushi Bar
JAPANESE DINING AND BAR
941- 6 8 9 1
10% OFFentire order with this ad
Exp 6/7/12. Not combinablewith any other offers/discounts.
5:30 pm - 7pm10 pm - midnight
KIRIN DraftGlass $2, Pitcher $8Bud Light Bottle $2
923 KEEAUMOKU ST.955-3388Best Cantonese Cuisine
OPEN DAILY:10am — midnight
Father’s Day Special Menu $188Father’s Day Special Menu $188
Reservations Today!Make
Your
Seafood with Fish Maw Soup ♦ Peking Duck (Whole)Live Lobster with Ginger & Onion ♦ Shrimp Walnuts with Mayonnaise
Tenderloin Steak with String Beans ♦ Crispy Garlic ChickenChinese Broccoli w/ Dried Fish ♦ Young Chow Style Fried Rice ♦ Dessert
$99, $239, $288 MENUS ALSO AVAILABLE
WAIMALU 485-8883
98-1277 Kaahumanu St.(across from Safeway)
www.paesanohawaii.com
MANOA988-5923
2752 Woodlawn Drive
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Owner Stephanie Gambettalikes to say the food atWahoo’s Fish Taco is fuel
for your day. Unlike others offer-ing somewhat similar menuoptions, Wahoo’s forgoes theheavy ingredients in favor oflighter options that leaves thediner satisfied without feeling theneed to hibernate. Agood example of this isWahoo’s Baja Rolls($6.59).
The rolls are madewith minced chicken,spinach, cream cheeseand salsa and rolled in afresh flour tortilla,which is chilled thensliced. Served withRoasted Pepper Cilantrosauce, made with roast-ed Anaheim peppers and blendedwith secret ingredients, the dish, asGambetta says, is light and flavor-ful, and no question, fresh. Thesauce is one of three options at theWard Centre and Kahala Malleateries that includes Mr. Lee'sAioli, a sweet and spicy sauce, anda traditional ranch dressing.
Another example of the ordinarymade healthier is Nachos made
with Jack and Cheddar cheese, andblack and spicy white beans. Thebeans are boiled for three hourswith a mixture of herbs and spicesand makes a nice alternative to tra-ditional refried beans. You also canadd fish, chicken, shrimp, grilledsteak and kalua-style pork.
Gambetta says you won’t find
better taquitos in town. I have toadmit I haven’t, yet, tried everyavailable option in town, but she'sright in touting the tastiness ofWahoo’s Taquitos ($6.59). Thebeef, chicken, pork or fish taquitosare made fresh daily with sauteedpeppers, onion, spices and servedwith salsa, guacamole and sourcream. One note about the salsa —awesome! It’s fresh with just the
right amount of kick, and perfectwith just about anything on themenu or even by itself. Seriously,we ate it right out of the bowl.
In addition to tasty pupus,Wahoo’s adds value with itsmonthly food and drink specials.This month the cheese quesadillasare priced at $5.50 and the JohnDaly, organic Shangri La Ice Tea,lemonade and vodka, cost $5.Also, Tuesdays is Taco Tuesdayswith $2 soft tacos and $2 Primobeer. Wednesday is keiki day withballoon animals and free food withthe purchase of an adult meal. Allthat plus live music and the crispySweet Maui Onion Rings madewith a beer batter for $4.69.
1 Nachos with pork ($8.99) 2 Drink of the month, John Daly ($5)3 Wahoo’s Taquitos ($6.59) | Nathalie Walker photos
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KITCHEN INSIDER
Who or what inspires youas a chef/manager/owner? As a chef, managerand part-owner, what reallyinspires me most are theguests. Wearing the hat ofall three titles allows me to
make decisions for what isbest for the guests. Thereare situations in mostrestaurants when before achef does something, he hasto clear it with the manager,who in return must clear itwith the owner, and viceversa. There are a lot ofrestaurants out there wherethe chef and front managerbutt heads because one sidefeels the burden is being puton the other. At Hukilau,that is never the casebecause I represent all threesides. If I am putting someburden on the other side, itwould be putting it on me,and I have no problemdoing that because that iswhat’s best for the cus-tomer. Not too often willyou ever hear me say “no”to a customer. By keepingthe customers happy, theywill remain loyal.
Whom would you love toserve and why? Whatdish would you offer? Mygrandpa. A lot of my inspi-ration comes from mygrandparents. My grandpa
passed away while I was onthe Mainland starting mycareer. I wasn’t able to behere when he passed away,and so he never got to trymy food as a trained andexperienced chef. If I couldgo back and have thechance, I would make himmy Oxtail Stew or OxtailSoup. He loved soups andstews. I could picture himslurping it down like aJapanese man slurps hisnoodles. Our oxtail atHukilau is very popular andI know that it would defi-nitely put a smile on hisface.
What is your favorite dishon the menu? Why? TheHukilau Bento. Our bento
changes out daily andallows us to keep every-thing fresh. It allows ourguests to experience a littleof everything as we includea salad, appetizer, entréeand a dessert in our bento ofthe day. This helps to cutdown on the dining time aswell since everythingcomes as one course. Thebento allows us as chefs tocreate on a daily basis.
Is there a dish that’s noton your menu, but avail-able upon request?Seafood Risotto! We ranthis as a special a few yearsago. Until this day, wealways get emails or specialrequests when some of ourregulars come in for lunch.
Ever wonder whatgoes on behind thescenes at your
favorite restaurant? We do,and that’s why we make ita habit to visit the manytalented chefs, owners andmanagers around townwho, day in and day out,work diligently to ensuretheir patrons enjoy the ulti-mate dining experience.
This week, Dining Outdrops in on HukilauHonolulu executive chefJason Takemura, whogives us a little taste ofwhat’s sizzling on hismenu and reminds us why,like the lyrics from the tra-ditional mele, we all shouldbe “going to the hukilau!”
98-150 Kaonohi St. • Tel: 486-510098-150 Kaonohi St. • Tel: 486-5100
*Menu and prices subject to change.
Not combinable with other discounts. 65 or older w/ coupon & ID. No online orphoto-copied coupons. One coupon per person. Discounts off regular adult price.Expires 6/15/12.
SENIOR SPECIAL!$5 OFF Lunch
BIRTHDAY SPECIAL!FREE BIRTHDAY MEAL FOR ANY AGEWith Family & Group LUNCH & DINNER 20% OFFMust have minimum party of 4. Coupon valid on actual birthday, ID required. Not com-binable with other discounts. Discounts off regular adult price. No online or photo-copiedcoupons. Must purchase beverage. Expires 6/15/12.
*Menu and prices subject to change.
Receive a FREE
JJ’s Bistro
*Valid on actual birthday w/valid ID
Chocolate Pyramiddessert on your
birthday!
$10 OFF Dinner
Buy One, Get One 50% Off with this AdPurchase one breakfast, lunch or dinner entree at regular price, and
receive 50% off the second entree of equal or lesser value, with this ad.
THIS AD IS VALID AT THE TIME OF YOUR ORDER, ONLY. NO CASH VALUE. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER OR DISCOUNT. TAX AND GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED. GOOD FOR PARTIES UP TO 4 PEOPLE
FROM 7 A.M.-10 P.M. DAILY. EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2012.
BEACHFRONT AT THEOUTRIGGER REEFON THE BEACH
(808) 922-2887WWW.SHOREBIRDWAIKIKI.COM
Breakfast • Burgers • Local Favorites
• Gourmet Plate Lunch • Fresh Local Fish
• Catering • Banquet Facilities
Keeaumoku919 Keeaumoku St. | 942-2323
Kailua301 Hahani St. | 263-2697
Koko Marina7192 Kalanianaole Hwy. | 394-2373
Waipio94-1221 Ka Uka Blvd. | 680-7520
Plate Luncheswith Aloha
NEW!
Serving Local Favorites andGourmet Specials since 1999.Local Food, for Local People,
Sizzling Hamburger Steak • Tempura • Tonkatsu and many more!
Bentos and assorted musubi available daily as well as ala carte specials
Served with rice, miso soup, two side dishes, and pickles.Served with rice, miso soup, two side dishes, and pickles.
OPEN DAILY 11am-9pmLunch 11 am - 4 pmDinner 5 pm - 9 pm
Dinner Menu2 Choice
Teishoku Combo$17.75- $22.75
Dinner Menu2 Choice
Teishoku Combo$17.75- $22.75
Ala Moana CenterTel: 947-8818 Jadedynastyhawaii.com
Daily 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.Dim Sum : 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
New creations from the Chef
Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
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WAIMALU98-020 Kam Hwy.488-8824
WAIPAHU94-256 Waipahu Depot St.
676-2088
EWA BEACH SHOP. CTR.91-919 Fort Weaver Rd.
689-0999
www.shirossaimin.com
Dear Hearts,PRIDE.
It’s a simple word that means so much.For a chef, strive to make every plateyour finest.If you’re a latrine orderly like Shirowas, be the best latrine orderlyyou can .What you do is important, but it’s howyou do it that speaks volumes.Be proud of your past, it’s whatmade you who you are today
Mahalo,Bryce (proud to servesaimin) Fujimoto.
521-1688Shop A-1 (below Safeway Beretania)1234 South Beretania St
$5
Special Won Ton Mein in Soup
hiasianmix.com
Fresh, Affordable BentosMade Daily!
YakitoriChicken KatsuSalmonMisoyaki Butterfish
$3.99$5.45$5.85$8.95
and more!
70+ Ala Carte ItemsRoast Duck • BBQ Pork by the pound
Japanese, Chinese and Local FlavorBento • Mix Plate • Take-Out • Catering
Asian Mix
Kissaten88 Piikoi St.593-1200
WHERE TO DINE
A Catered Experience94-1068 Ka Uka Blvd.677-7744
Anytime CafeMarket City Shopping Center2919 Kapiolani Blvd735-3888
CAFE
CHINESEAina Haina Chop SueyAina Haina Shopping Center820 W. Hind Dr.373-1303 or 373-4632
Canton Seafood Restaurant923 Keeaumoku St.955-3388
Five Star International BuffetRoyal Hawaiian Center, Bldg C, Level 3.380-9300
Hee Hing Restaurant 449 Kapahulu Ave. 735-5544
Happy Day Chinese Restaurant3553 Waialae Ave.738-8666
Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant111 N. King St.521-8268
Golden Duck4230 Waialae Ave., Kahala737-7188
1221 S. King St.597-8088
Kapa Cafe2810 Pa’a St, #1A833-KAPA (5272)
Little Village Noodle House1113 Smith St.545-3008
Jade Dynasty Seafood Restaurant Ala Moana Center1450 Ala Moana Blvd. 4th Floor - Ho’okipa Terrace947-8818
Ho Ho Chinese Cuisine 590 Farrington Hwy.692-9880CATERERS
Makittii2380 Kuhio Ave.923-2260
Royal Hawaiian Center, Bldg. C, Level 3 | 380-9300Lunch 11:00a-2:00p, Happy Hour 2:00p-5:00p, Dinner 5:00p-10:00p
Open Daily | Full Bar | Validated Parking
Hawaii’s only Gourmet Buffet15% OFF Dinner before 8:30*
*Discount valid with local or Military ID, & Seniors (ages 60+). Cannot be combined with any other offers.
25% OFF Night time Happy Hour 8:30pm-10:00pm
is Oahu’s Answer to Your AppetiteLook for it in the Star-Advertiser
-Every Friday in tgif-Pull-out section every Sunday
Call Sandi Sakaguchi to advertise: 342-8802
dining.staradvertiser.com
D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2 | 2 1
841-0931Kam Shopping Center
Open 6am Daily
TRY OUR POPULARCATERING DISHES!
Chinese Ch icken Sa ladKorean ChickenBBQ Beef Tr i -T ip
Chow Mein NoodlesMany other options available. Call for pricing and full menu.
1 FREE Shrimp Tempura
1 FREEShrimp Tempura
HanakiJapanese Cuisine
Serving Oahu’s Ohanas For More Than 14 Yrs.11:30 am-2:30 pm; 5 pm-9:30 pm (Closed Tuesdays)
MANOA MARKETPLACE (Tons of FREE Parking) 988-1551
With your order when you bring inthis coupon, 1 per person
Expires 6/7/12
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, & THURSDAY ONLY
3660 Waialae Ave. • 737-1177www.3660.com
O N T H E R I S E
Father’s DayDinner BuffetSunday, June 17 5:00-8:00 pm
MENU HIGHLIGHTSSalad Bar
Oysters on the Half Shell
Action StationsAhi Katsu
Grilled Cheese with Truffle Butter
Braised Chicken in Chipotle SauceCajun Seared Catch, Sauce Vera Cruz
Valid at Participating Locations:Waikiki (Ala Moana), Hilo, Pearl City, and Windward Mall
Valid at Participating LocationsWindward Mall 235-4467
Pearl City 486-4467 • Hilo 959-2600Waikiki (Ala Moana Blvd) 949-4467
www.ihophawaii.com
Nice Day Chinese Seafood RestaurantLiliha Square by Times Supermarket
524-1628
Excludes Set Menus; Roast Pork, Roast Duck, Char Siu& other specials. 5%, 10% and lobster special not to becombined with any other offer/discounts/specials. Expires 6/30/12. Must present coupon.
Credit Card Sale Only(With Coupon)
Hong Kong Dim Sum & Regular Menu Items
Dim Sum Take Out Special! 8am-11:30am
10% OFF(Charge) • 15% OFF(Cash)
Dim Sum & Reg. Menu Dine In Special!
5% OFF(Charge) •10% OFF(Cash)
10% OFF
Celebrating 10 Years!
Cash Sale Only (With Coupon)
5% OFF
Happy Day Chinese Restaurant3553 Waialae Avenue
738-8666Excludes Set Menu; Roast Pork, Roast Duck, Char Siu & other specials.
5%, 10% and lobster special are not to be combined with any otheroffer/discounts/specials. Expires 6/30/12. Must present coupon.
Lobster $1299with purchase of Full Price EntreeValid 5-10:30pm
Lobster $1299with purchase of Full Price EntreeValid 5-10:30pm
930 McCully St. • 951-0511/951-0611 • PRIVATE PARTY ROOM• CONVENIENT PARKING
*DISCOUNT EXCLUDES ALL BEVERAGES. WITH THIS AD. EXPIRES 6/30/12. DISCOUNT NOT AVAILABLE ON FATHER’S DAY.
KOREAN CUISINE• LUNCH $17.95 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM• DINNER $25.95 2:30 PM -10 PM
KAL BI, SIRLOIN, CHICKEN,SPICY PORK, FRESH SHRIMP
Voted Best Thai in Hawaii
Walking distance from all Waikiki Hotels
SERVING HAWAII SINCE 1977...
tel. 951-9355tel. 951-9355
THAI CUISINETHAI CUISINE
15% OFF Take OutCoupon required. Not combinablewith other offers. Expires 6/8/12
2028 Kuhio Avenue Dinner 5:00pm - Closing
www.keosthaicuisine.com
CINNAMON BREAD10% OFF
4369 Lawehana St. (across Target in Salt Lake)
Regular • Apple • BlueberryCoupon Required • Expires 6/30/12
www.larrysbakery.com or find us on OPEN: Mon - Fri 6AM - 1PM
Sat 6AM - 12PM
WHERE TO DINE
On On at McCully1110 McCully St.946-8833
ON ONat McCully
Ert’s Grill99-082 Kauhale St., Aiea488-8898
Henry Loui’s2850 Paa St.833-3728
Nice Day Chinese Seafood RestaurantLiliha Square, 524-1628
Royal Palace RestaurantStadium Mall, 4510 Salt Lake Blvd. #C1487-6662 or 486-7410
ROYAL PALACER E S T A U R A N TROYAL PALACEROYAL PALACE
4510 Salt Lake Boulevard 96818Stadium Mall, next to Ice PalaceLOTS OF PARKING
ROYAL PALACER E S T A U R A N T
Special Party Menu - $185.00 per table of 10-Scallop Soup -Whole Peking Duck w/ Steamed Buns -Salt & PepperShrimp -Seafood Combination w/ Mixed Vegetables -Sweet & Sour or
Steamed Fish Filet -Cold Ginger Chicken -Live Lobster with Ginger onionor Black Bean Sauce (2pc.) -House Special Cake Noodle -Steamed Rice
Offering Buffet (25 Items to choose from)& Sit Down Menus
Make Someone’sDay Special
Order one to two weeksin advance.
Ala Moana Center • Mall Level (Mountain side, next to Shirokiya)
www.lapalmedor-usa.com 941-6161
Shrimp Scampi Won Ton Noodle
Also available Pasta • Burgers • Salads • SandwichesOPEN TIL MIDNIGHT!
2919 Kapiolani Blvd., #218 MARKET CITY SHPG CNTR 735-3888
FREE PIZZA!BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE (Reg. $9.95each)
Build your own 10” pizza with
unlimited toppings.*Take out only, w/coupon; not to be combined
with any other offer. Expires 6/15/12.
Hoku’sThe Kahala Hotel & Resort, Lobby Level5000 Kahala Ave739-8760
Bella Mia1137 11th Ave. • 737-19372222 S. Beretania St. • 941-44003040 Waialae Ave. • 737-7739
GREEK
Good for any item of equal or lesser value. OriginalCoupon required. Not valid on retail items or bottledbeverages. One discounted item per coupon.Not combinable with any other offer. No cash value.Exp. 6/30/12.
1st Course: Soup or Mixed Greens2nd Course: Appetizer Trio
3rd Course: Choice of• Baked Salmon Wellington
• Opaka Fettucini4th Course: Choice of
• Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin• Grilled New York Steak Brioche5th Course: • Dessert of Choice
Bistro &French Pastry
Bistro &French Pastry
$28 plus taxper person
Treat Your Father to a Special 5-Course Meal!
NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FORFATHER’S DAY!
KIDS EAT FREEFAMILY NIGHT-WEDNESDAY
AT WAHOO’S KAHALA
*Free Kids Meal For Every Adult Meal Purchased.
BALLOON ANIMAL ARTISTAND TOY CHEST. HAPPY
HOUR FOR MOM & DAD!!!*OFFER SUBJECT TO CHANGE, DINE-INONLY, VALID KAHALA LOCATION ONLY
WAHOO’S KAHALA | 4614 KILAUEA AVE. | 732-9229
June Special $4.99Green Papaya Salad
WESTRIDGE SHOPPING CENTER • 488-4900(Next to Makino Chaya) 98-150 Kaonohi St., Aiea
Mon-Sat 10am-10pm • Sun 10am-8pm
Military w/ID receive 10% OFFfacebook.com/phomylienhawaii
Offer valid on dine-in orders only. Must present coupon. Cannot be combinedwith other offers or coupons. Exp 6/30/12
Try Our Famous OXTAIL SOUP!“Tender and Tasty.Everyone Loves Our
Oxtail Soup.”
Sun-Thu 8am-10pm • Fri-Sat til 11pmOkazuya open daily from 8am
SEKIYA’S RESTAURANT& DELICATESSEN
Serving Hawaii for 75 Years!
2746 Kaimuki Ave732-1656
ACROSS KAIMUKI H.S.www.SekiyasRestaurant.com
WARD CENTRE (Auahi Streetfront) 1200 Ala Moana 596-0066KAILUA (Next to Boots & Kimo’s) 151 Hekili St. 230-8400
The Tuscanzpizza’s premier mushroom pizza• dough made fresh daily with 100% certified organic wheat flourhome-made garlic sauce • low fatmozzarella cheese • caramelizedonions • feta cheese • mushrooms-cremini, shiitake, & button • spritzedwith truffle oil • garnished with thyme
beachhousewaikiki.com • 921-4600 • Complimentary valet parking.
A fi ne steak. A fi ne experience.
tender moments
of bliss.
filet mignon,10 ouncesA prime cut from the tenderloin of beef,
exceptionally textured and uniquely tender.
WHERE TO DINEKobe Japanese Steak House1841 Ala Moana Blvd.941-4444
Hinone Mizunone1345 South King St.942-4848
Hifumi Japanese RestaurantChinese Cultural Plaza536-3035
JAPANESE
Z PizzaWard Centre Auahi St. Shops596-0066
Kailua 151 Hekili St.230-8400
IchirikiAiea 98-150 Kaonohi St.484-2222
Honolulu 510 Piikoi St.589-2299
Romanos Macaroni GrillAla Moana CenterHookipa Terrace356-8300
Genki SushiAina Haina 373-4033Ala Moana 942-9102Ewa Town Center 683-1003Kaneohe 247-9595Kapahulu 735-7700Kapolei Commons 674-4227Stadium Market Place 488-9202Waiau 485-0227Waikele Center 678-3180Ward Center 591-5600
Royal Hawaiian Center at the Royal Grovewww.illupino.com • 808.922.3400
Breakfast • Lunch • DinnerHappy Hour • Early Dinner Specials
Early BirdSpecial Only
Sauteed Mahi withLobster Sauce
Steak & ShrimpChicken Alfredo Pasta
Call 922-6868for Reservations & Information
2284 Kalakaua Ave.Open 7 Days from 11am-10pm
Lunch 11am - 4pmDinner 5pm - 10pm
at the old Waikiki III TheatresParking available at the Pro-Park locationSeaside Ave. Pay $2 at the Restaurant.
www.atlantisseafoodsteak.com
$12.95
OPEN TUE-SUN LUNCH 11AM-2PM, DINNER 5-8:30PM • Closed Monday Lunch & Dinner100 N. Beretania Street #113 (Parking inside Chinese Cultural Plaza) 536-3035
Hamburger Plate, $7.95 Restaurant. Prices slightly higher in Kahului. Offer valid from 6/1/2012 - 6/30/2012. While supplies last. Must be an Oahu resident and 21 years of age or older to be eligible for car giveaway, a Hawaii resident and 18 years of age or older for hotel stay. No purchase necessary, other restrictions may apply. No substitutions allowed. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offers, coupons or discount cards. For complete rules and information see stores or visit www.zippys.com.
Hamburger Steak Plate$6.85 Fast Food
Prime BurgerZip Deal$5.99 Fast Food Only
includes medium Pepsi
T R Y M E !
MADE WITHLOCAL BEEF
NEW! CHICKEN & WAFFLESNEW! CHICKEN & WAFFLES
GRAND PRIZE
FIRST PRIZEAston Pacific Monarch
2 Night StayStudio (up to 4 people)
Now Serving Breakfast Day & Nightat Zippy’s Dine-In Restaurants!
Now Serving Breakfast Day & Nightat Zippy’s Dine-In Restaurants!
WHERE TO DINE
Pho My Lien98-150 Kaonohi St. 488-4900
VIETNAMESE
Bangkok Chef1627 Nuuanu Ave. • 585-88392955 E. Manoa Rd. • 988-0212900 N. Nimitz Hwy. • 536-8570
THAI3660 on the Rise 3660 Waialae Ave.737-1177
Keo’s Thai Cuisine2028 Kuhio Ave.951-9355
Shabu Shabu House1221 Kapiolani Blvd597-1655
Shabu Shabu KIng2700 S. King St.951-7878
The Ocean House Restaurant2169 Kalia Rd., Outrigger Reef Hotel923-2277
Located in the same building as thenew Safeway on the corner ofSouth Beretania and Piikoi streets
lies Asian Mix, an eatery emphasizinga plethora of Japanese, Chinese andlocal cuisine.
“Because of the location — the park-ing lot and close to a lot of businesses —we wanted to have a place where it’sconvenient and affordable,and at the same time, wehave the best qualityof food,” says ownerDaniel Leung.“When we weresearching for alocation and I sawall the parking lotsand everything — andwe were so close to thehighway and downtown —we decided to settle in here.”
Asian Mix serves a variety of Asiancuisine, including Japanese bentos aswell as Chinese and local entrées.
“I’ve known one of my chefs for morethan 20 years; he was my partner at oneof my former restaurants( P a n d a
Cuisine),” says Leung. “So we combinedthat with the skills of our chef who han-dles our bentos and Japanese local food.”
Asian Mix recently opened May 8 andis usually the busiest during the lunchhour. But with Asian Mix’s low pricesand delicious plate lunch deals, cus-tomers have been flocking to the new
eatery at all times.“The average price per
customer is about$5,” Leung con-
firms. “We try tomake every-thing affordableso people comein and pay the
lowest pricefor whatever
they want.”Some of the most
popular items on Asian Mix’smenu include its bentos, whichare made fresh every day. Bentochoices include Chicken Katsu($5.45), Saba Fish ($5.85),Vegetarian ($4.95), Salmon ($5.85)and more.
“Every bento has a time at which wemake it; it’s not like we make it once inthe morning and then sell it the wholeday,” he states. “Our best-selling bentos
are Yakitori (Teriyaki Chicken)Bento ($3.99) and Misoyaki
Butterfish Bento ($8.95).They’re both really afford-able — there’s no way youcan get a Yakitori Bentofor $3.99 anywhere else!”
Special Won TonNoodle in Soup ($5) — orWon Ton Mein — at AsianMix also is a popular item,
as are the eatery’s large selec-tion of entrées. Dishes on AsianMix’s menu are divided intocategories such as appetizers,
shrimp and fish, poultry,beef/lamb/pork, vegetables and tofu,egg, rice and noodles. Popular entréesinclude Shrimp with Honey RoastedWalnuts ($10.95) and Orange FlavorChicken ($7.95). A variety of roastedmeats — such as the Roast Duck, HongKong style (half for $11) — also areavailable daily at Asian Mix. Asian MixPlates — with one ($4.95), two ($6.45)or three ($7.95) choices of entrées —also are popular among customers for areasonable and fast meal.
In addition to its vast array of dine-
in and takeout entrées, Asian Mixoffers catering services to its cus-tomers. Party trays with staples suchas chow mein, chow fun and fried riceare sure to be a hit at your next potluckor baseball game, according to Leung.Regular trays ($22) often feed 12-plusindividuals, while large trays ($32)can feed more than 20 people.
“You can order any bento in here, wecan pack it up and it’s still hot by thetime you pick it up,” Leung says.“You’re also able to order party trayswith the a la carte menu.”
2 8 | D I N I N G O U T | J U N E 3 - 9 , 2 0 1 2
orderoftheday
ASIAN MIX
Where: 1234 S. Beretania St.,
Shop A-1, Honolulu
Call: 521.1688
Hours:Daily, 10:30 a.m.
- 8:30 p.m.
1 Special Won Ton Noodle in Soup ($5) 2 Misoyaki Butterfish Bento ($8.95) 3 Roast Whole Duck ($22,considered two orders) 4 Orange Flavor Chicken ($7.95) 5 Yakitori Bento ($3.99) 6 Manager Douglas Shirai(left) and owner Daniel Leung