Casual Grindz: Hakkei

A couple of years back when visiting Japan my family and I made it up to the Hakkei “onsen ryokan” (hot spring inn) in Yubara, Okayama Prefecture. There we enjoyed exceptional local Japanese cuisine along with the refreshing hot springs. Here in Hawaii we can’t drive up into the misty valleys of Yubara for a relaxing soak in natural hot springs, but we can enjoy... Read More

Casual Grindz: Raraya Iekei Ramen

We popped in for a quick lunch the other day at Raraya located on South King Street. This small ramen shop serves a ramen broth based around pork or chicken bones. Unlike other ramen places (at least from those I’ve seen), Raraya gives you the option to request the saltiness and oiliness of your ramen broth. Our orders were all “regular” so the salt and oil... Read More

Casual Grindz: Gyu-Kaku

Two weeks ago my wife and I had a failed attempt at eating at Gyu-kaku. We had made the fatal mistake of not making a reservation for dinner during their popular happy hour from 5:00-6:30pm. This past week we learned from our mistakes and made sure we had a reservation for 5:00! Not only were they running their normal happy hour specials, but right now at Gyu-Kaku there is a... Read More

Food Origins: Musubi

Ah yes, the musubi. Such a simple food made up almost entirely of rice, formed into a shape, and wrapped in nori (dried seaweed). Thousands of these small “hand-foods” are served up each day in restaurants and convenience stores around the world. Here in Hawaii many locals associate musubi instantly with spam. It’s not surprising since spam musubis are arguably... Read More

Casual Grindz: Hifumi

Headed over to the Chinese Cultural Plaza on Saturday to grab some food from Hifumi. I know what you’re thinking: “A Japanese restaurant in the Chinese Cultural Plaza?” Yes it’s true! Hifumi is hidden away pretty well; if you’ve never been to this place before, or if you aren’t familiar with the plaza, you might find it challenging to find. Hifumi... Read More

Recipe: Miso Soup

What many would consider the quintessential soup in Japanese cooking, miso soup accompanies almost all meals that you might order in your favorite Japanese restaurant. It is a comfort food for many, especially on those rainy or cold nights. Growing up I loved to add a little spoonful of hot white rice into my bowls of soup! Miso soup at its core is basically miso dissolved into... Read More

Casual Grindz: Jimbo

Grabbed an early dinner on Saturday night with the family. I don’t go to Jimbo as often as I used to, since recently I’ve been simply taking out an order of their fresh udon noodles and making them at home instead. The noodles at Jimbo are soft and silky, which makes their nabeyaki udon “oh so delicious”! The broth has a lot of depth of flavor, but is... Read More

Recipe: Pork Miso Ramen

Growing up I’ve always had an affinity to “soupy” foods. Luckily for me in Japanese cooking there are many, many delicious dishes that make use of carefully crafted broths and soups. I can satisfy my cravings for these savory treats with many meals from nabe to ramen. Recently I’ve begun experimenting with making some of my favorite broths at home. I started... Read More

Casual Grindz: Sushi King

We made a stop in at Sushi King the other night for a late evening dinner at around 9PM. Despite the time of night there were still quite a few people in the restaurant and the parking lot was nearly full! While dining we saw the sushi chefs cranking out dozens of California roll orders, getting ready for the rush of hungry patrons coming in after 10:30PM for their late night... Read More

Casual Grindz: Mitch’s Fish Market

Located near the airport is a hidden gem known as Mitch’s Fish Market. From the outside you would never think that this location held anything like a restaurant, as it appears mostly as a small warehouse. But to our great fortune in this most unexpected of places you will find one of the best sushi restaurants in the state. The inside of Mitch’s Fish Market looks... Read More