Wot I Wen Do On My Summah Vacation…
Nichi Bei Time - August 9, 2003
If you still nevah figah out wot fo’ do on your vacation, Two Japanee Bruddahs get one suggestion. We say “Go Hawai'i!” An’ if you goin’ go, we get some places in Honolulu fo’ check out.
Tokkuri Tei
Tucked away in a tiny nondescript strip mall, just mauka of the Kapahulu Zippy’s, Tokkuri Tei (611 Kapahulu Avenue) is possibly the best izakaya, Japanese-style pub, in Hawai'i. When you enter the cozy restaurant, you are struck by the dozens of autographed placards that cover the walls. Notes from celebrities ranging from regulars Jake Shimabukuro to Robert Cazimero to Cary Tagawa, praise the skills of chef/manager Hideaki “Santa” Miyoshi. (How come dey nevah ask da Two Japanee Bruddahs fo’ sign da wall?)
Tokkuri Tei offers a dizzying array of mostly pupus, small ala carte dishes, some traditional, many not so traditional, but all perfect to enjoy with beer and sake. Da first time you go Tokkuri Tei, goin’ take you at least half-hour jus’ fo’ check out da menu.
That famous menu has grown to seven pages, each in plastic sheet protectors and bound together with a metal loose-leaf ring. With over 150 items to choose from, not counting at least 50 sushi varieties, and more than 30 sakes, there’s bound to be something for every taste. Many of the menu descriptions are accompanied by a humorous comment by Miyoshi. The explanation for Kampyo, for instance, reads, “I don’t know. Can you explain?” while the Natto description notes, “It’s not too bad!”
His creativity has garnered Miyoshi five Sam Choy Poke Contest awards over the years, with all of his winning pokes included on the menu. Definitely check this place out, but make reservations, or be prepared for a long wait for a table.
Char Hung Sut
It’s so popular that this Chinatown take-out institution is Number Five in a widely circulated “You Know You Local If…” list – You know you local if you know that Char Hung Sut is closed on Tuesday.
Located just around the block from the Beretania/Maunakea Street lei stands, Char Hung Sut (64 North Pauahi Street) is known throughout the Islands for its dim sum, but in particular, its fabulous manapua – pillowy soft steamed buns surrounding a flavorful filling of finely chopped, very lean char siu. (If you dunno what is manapua, check out our July 2001 column – stay archived at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com).
Wen you walk inside da entrance, you goin’ tink you wen go inside da back door by mistake. First ting you see is da ladies sitting at one table, filling and shaping da manapuas by hand, and putting ‘em inside da big steaming trays. On da side, get stacks and stacks of pastry boxes, each box stay neatly tied wit string, and waiting fo’ be picked up by customers traveling to Maui, Kaua'i or da Big Island. A box of manapua from Char Hung Sut is a highly coveted omiyage item, especially among Neighbor Islanders.
Dey stay open 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., but most times dey sell out by noon, so call ahead fo’ reserve your manapua. And no fo’get, dey stay close Tuesdays. Oh, and take cash, cuz dey no take credit cards or checks.
Big Aloha Cookies
Speaking of omiyage, consider Big Aloha Cookies. If you’ve driven around Honolulu, you’ve probably passed right by Big Aloha Cookies (1909 South King Street). It’s located in a small storefront on South King Street, near McCully, across from the old King’s Bakery site. Over two years ago, founder and cookie innovator Henry Mizumoto opened Big Aloha Cookies, and with virtually no advertising, has built a following through word-of-mouth.
Big Aloha produces 20 different varieties of cookies, and Henry will offer you samples of each – not da kine small manini crumbs, but whole cookies. There’s a very good reason he wants you to sample his wares. These are definitely not the kind of cookies your obachan baked. Until you actually taste them, you would never believe that such unlikely ingredients could be combined to produce such amazingly delicious treats.
There’s a line of cookies he calls Aramania, each with arare as a key component. The best seller is the Macadamia Roll, a crunchy cookie with macadamia nuts and arare, rolled in nori. Look like one big brown makizushi. Another popular choice is the White Chocolate Wakame – white chocolate, arare and macadamia nuts dusted with wakame. Like I said, sound funny kine, but trust us, da cookies stay really ono. He even has a cookie called Thai Opae made of Thai chili paste, macadamia nuts, dried opae shrimp, coconut and nori (okay, okay, I nevah like try dat one).
If you go Big Aloha, no fo’get bring back some omiyage for us guys.
One Mo’ Tip
When your Hawaiian vacation stay pau, one of da best ways fo’ keep da Island feeling alive is through music. Check out Honolulu radio station KINE FM 105.1 on the Web to listen to their live broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week (www.hawaiian105.com). It’s their normal radio broadcast, so in addition to the great music, you’ll also hear the entertaining deejays, weather reports (sunny and warm with a chance of windward and mauka showers), and even the commercials.
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Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are the Two Japanee Bruddahs. Read past articles on their Web site at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com or email them at wot@twojapaneebruddahs.com.
Japanee
bruddah Kyle with KINE-FM
on-air personality Bruddah Wade