Da Scoops

Tomorrow is Hinamatsuri (girl’s day), so remember your favorite girls with a gift of mochi and flowers on this special day!

Happy Hearts Mochi, creator of beautiful handmade gourmet mochi, will be available at Watanabe Floral in Kalihi (1607 Hart Street, Honolulu, ph. 808-832-9360) on Monday, March 3, for a convenient one-stop shop for flowers and mochi for your special girl. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the drawing for mochi gift cards.

The Aiea Bowl Restaurant (99-115 Aiea Heights Drive, Aiea, ph. 808-486-3499) will also be carrying a limited supply of Happy Hearts Mochi on March 3.

Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen
McCully Shopping Center
1960 Kapiolani Blvd. #214, Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: 808.946.2900

Yotteko-Ya is one of those cozy establishments that I would have never discovered, if not for the recommendation from a friend. The word-of-mouth phenomenon can absolutely make or break your business in Hawaii. Fortunately for Yotteko-Ya, only good things can be said about the service, the ambiance and the delectable fare at this quaint Japanese restaurant located on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center.

Paitan Ramen
Paitan based soup. Topped with 2 slices of homemade chashu

The claim to fame of this ramen shop is its homemade soup. According to their menu:

Eat Yotteko-Ya’s Ramen and look younger!

Our homemade soup is simmer for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joins.

So, please enjoy our soup to the last drop and look younger!

Yasai Ramen
Shoyu-based soup. Topped with vegetables and 1 slice of homemade chashu

I don’t know if consuming that bowl of ramen made me look any younger, but it sure tastes good. Dare I say, the best in Hawaii? The soup stock is definitely hearty and tasty, reminiscent of the richest, most decadent bowl of ramen I’ve consumed at Jangara Ramen in Harajuku, Japan. Ramen of this quality is hard to come by in Hawaii, since it takes hours to make broth this thick and delicious. The noodles were excellent — and you can order them “local style” or Japan style. According to our server, the local style yields softer noodles.

Ebi Mayonnaise
A favorite Japanese pupu. Large shrimp marinated in mayonnaise-flavored sauce

Check out their ala carte menu for some side dishes to complement your steaming bowl of ramen. I highly recommend the Ebi Mayonnaise. Next time we hit Yotteko-Ya, we’ll make our way down the ala carte menu. Perhaps sampling the Ebi Chili Sauce or the Karaage chicken.

If you’re not in the mood for ramen, you can order something from the gohan (rice) menu with their array of different rice dishes including yakibuta chahan (fried rice with chashu and vegetables), curry chahan, garlic chahan, chashu chahan, or kim-chee chahan for those craving something a little spicier.

Speaking of spicy, you can also kick your ramen up a notch by ordering your soup with Yotteko-Ya’s homemade red pepper and sesame oil mix. And, if you’re really famished, order a large-sized portion of noodles for just a dollar more. I think I’ll do that on my next visit.

It’s so good, it’s gone!

Do you have a favorite ramen shop? If so, share yours!

Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant
Ho`okipa Terrace, 4th floor, Ala Moana Center

The “coming soon” sign has come down after approximately two years in the making and Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant is finally open. It is the newest addition to Ala Moana Shopping Center’s Ho`okipa Terrace. As its name indicates, the 14,000 square foot site is a combination Japanese all-you-can-eat buffet and fresh fish market, selling local and imported fish, shellfish, poke and assorted seafood. The buffet offers not only fresh sushi and poke, but a salad and dessert bar, steaming hot soba or udon made to order, a variety of shrimp and vegetable tempura, and a some nice hot selections. The food was fresh and tasty and during the busy peak lunch hours, the staff were kept busy bringing fresh batches to replenish the buffet line.

The dining area offers seating for more than 360 and, as you would expect, the tables are situated a little close together, but not uncomfortably so. I would rate the restaurant as famiy-friendly and the service was prompt and courteous.

The restaurant also features live entertainment and facilities for meetings and private dining. Check out “Jazz it up Wednesdays” from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., featuring live jazz music. Or, bring your family for a Sunday brunch from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., featuring live local entertainment.

Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
After 9:00 p.m., only the sushi bar and yakitori bar will be open
Walk-ins welcome and reservations taken for parties of 7 or more
Website: tsukijifishmarket.com

Lunch Buffet
Adults: $17.95
Seniors (65 and better): $13.46
Children (ages 6-10): $8.97
Children under 5: Free

Dinner Buffet
Adults: $30.95
Seniors (65 and better): $23.21
Children (ages 6-10): $15.47
Children under 5: Free

Kyoto Ohsho is one of the newest additions to Ala Moana Shopping Center’s Ho’okipa Terrace. The restaurant offers a new twist on an old idea: all-you-can eat buffet with selections served on single-portion dishes. The benefit is two-fold: 1) the food is always fresh because it hasn’t been sitting under a warmer for hours, 2) everything is separate and isn’t prone to getting piled all over each other on your plate. (Okay, so #2 is mostly a personal preference since I am highly opposed to allowing my food to co-mingle.) But I digress. Since dishes are presented separately and are made as needed, I believe it enhances the experience and makes the food appear less like a sloppy all-you-can-eat buffet and more like a sit-down restaurant. An immediate difference is noted: fried items such as the tempura and gyoza are fresh, warm and crispy — not cold, oily and soggy.

The ambience in the dining area is nice with a very open feeling. We noticed that there was a glass DJ box in the middle of the restaurant and large speakers perched above our heads, which appeared as though the restaurant must turn into a club after hours. I didn’t see any signage to indicate whether this was already the case or if it is something planned for the future.

Tempura

Nishime

Tonkatsu

Assorted Sushi
Sushi is not presented on single-serving plates, so you can take as many or as few pieces as you wish.

Saba

Gyoza
I heard that the gyoza is one of Kyoto Ohsho’s specialities —
and with good reason! It’s good stuff, but too many pieces
for one person. It’s a good idea to share with a friend so
you can partake in the other delicious offerings available.

Poke

Egg

Chocolate Dipped Goodies
What could be more fun than a chocolate fountain?
They offered fresh strawberries, bananas and marshmallows
for your dipping pleasure

Haupia Cake
One of the sweet temptations offered at the dessert bar

Kyoto Ohsho
Ho’okipa Terrace, Ala Moana Shopping Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 949-0040

Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 5:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Be aware of the 60 minute time limit for lunch and 90 minute limit for dinner.

Prices:
Lunch, $19.80 adults, $16.50 senior citizens (60+), $14.50 children
Dinner, $39.80 adults, $32 senior citizens (60+), $20 children