Tucked away in the relative secrecy of Kilohana Square on Kapahulu Avenue is a little Japanese restaurant known as Mr. Ojisan. This small establishment was featured in the Honolulu Advertiser’s “Hawaii’s Best Restaurants 2006″ under the “izakaya” category. “Izakaya” is a newer style of Japanese restaurants that are becoming increasingly popular in Hawaii, most often featuring smaller ala carte menu selections that are intended to be paired with beer or sake. Over the years Mr. Ojisan has established a loyal customer base, attracting people with its casual atmosphere and good food.
My visit to Mr. Ojisan was sparked by a suggestion from the members of Hawaiithreads.com who suggested that I try the restaurant’s ramen. We were looking for a casual dinner for our Friday night outing, and Mr. Ojisan seemed to fit the bill nicely.
Parking for Mr. Ojisan is located in the Kilohana Square. The easiest way to access the parking area is to come down Kapahulu Avenue from the H-1 freeway overpass. Simply make a turn at your first right and then make the first left into Kilohana Square. I discovered that this area was a little treasure trove of businesses, including “India House” and “Wine, the Experience.” Mr. Ojisan has a rear entrance from the parking lot, but for customers who walk in or find parking on Kapahulu, there is a main entrance out front.
The restaurant was quite full when we arrived, with only a few tables still open. I had called in beforehand to make reservations, and we were seated promptly. Our server brought water and menus immediately, and offered us assistance with the menu. We had dined at Mr. Ojisan in the past, so we were familiar with the menu. In all honesty the menu is not difficult to navigate, as it resembles your traditional Japanese menus quite closely.
After browsing the menu for a few minutes we placed our orders, and asked for hot tea. The tea was quickly served. A few short minutes later our server began bringing over our food.
Mr. Ojisan House Salad
A small salad was the first thing to arrive at our table. The salad is fairly simple, featuring a tangy dressing that is quite popular among Japanese restaurants nowadays.
Spicy Tuna Roll
Ahi & Hamachi Sushi
The sushi prepared for us at Mr. Ojisan was quite good, actually better than I had expected for a restaurant with no visible sushi bar. The rice was tasty and well seasoned, and the ingredients seemed fresh and well selected. I enjoyed the spicy tuna roll very much. I appreciated the efforts of the chef to actually make a spicy tuna mixture, with the proper sauces and fish eggs included. Too often do I find restaurants serving spicy tuna as finely chopped fish with hot pepper seasoning, which is not as appealing.
Charsiu Miso Ramen
For my main entree I had ordered the reputed miso ramen as suggested by my friends at Hawaiithreads.com. To be perfectly honest I was not expecting the ramen to be as good as it was. The ramen broth was very flavorful, with the perfect balance of salt, miso, and oil. The medley of vegetables offered in the ramen helped to enhance the overall taste and aroma of the soup. The ramen comes with a generous portion of charsiu. The charsiu itself was very good as well. Overall the ramen exceeded my expectations, exceeding that of other establishments that sell ramen as their main menu item.
Combination Set: Tonkatsu
My fiancee ordered the two choice combination teishoku, with her first entree choice being tonkatsu. The tonkatsu had a very crunchy exterior which made for great texture. It seemed that the tonkatsu was a bit overcooked, as the meat itself was just a tad dry. The tonkatsu sauce was good, but nothing unique.
Deep fried soft shell crab
For her second teishoku choice my fiancee ordered the deep friend soft shell crab. The crab was fried nicely, giving even the soft shell a crispy texture. The dish could have used a bit more salt for flavoring, but with the lemon squeezed over the crab it did turn out nicely in the end.
Final thoughts: Mr. Ojisan serves up a menu of mostly well prepared Japanese dishes. The service in the restaurant is quite good, with servers paying close attention to each table. The ramen I had sampled exceeded expectations, and the other dishes we ordered were fairly good as well. Mr. Ojisan is lacking in atmosphere, featuring very basic decorations. But, as an “izakaya”, Mr. Ojisan has a loud and lively atmosphere. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good casual dining experience in and around the Kaimuki/Kapahulu area, or for anyone looking for a good bowl of ramen.
| Service: |   |
Above Average |
| Food: | |
Above Average |
| Atmosphere: | |
Average |
| Overall Value: | |
Above Average |
*Star ratings are based in comparison to similar establishments
Mr. Ojisan
1018 Kapahulu Ave in Kilohana Square Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
Phone: 808.735.4455
Tags: Hawaii Food, Hawaii Food Review, Mr. Ojisan review, izakaya, Japanese food
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