Yes, I am back again lol. I treated my cousin for her birthday and she chose Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant – what you like me do? We also had the buy one get one entree half off coupon so Chinese people win again haha! This post really is just more of the same…
Hamachi Carpaccio | $17.75
This was the biggest bummer of the night. I love hamachi and I love carpaccio so how did it go all wrong? The preparation. They serve it with like a chinese steamed fish style soy sauce (imagine a scallion oil soy sauce combo) – I expected the usual ponzu type sauce so it was very shocking when I tried this. And I gotta say, that style sauce does NOT work with raw fish. It made the hamachi taste fishy in a bad way and slimy. DO NOT GET THIS DISH.
Miso Soup and Small Salad
Assorted Poke Don & Tenpura Set | $33.45
This is the only dish I get and it’s the only dish for a reason. It’s GOOD. Didn’t disappoint yet again. We both got the same dish lol. It’s just the perfect mix of different types of seafood that makes a beautiful taste sensation.
Shave Ice Special (Watermelon) | $5.25
We both shared this dessert to end the night. It was okay, nothing spectacular but it was a nice sweet treat to refresh ourselves after dinner.
Hi Jenny:
Long, long time ago, we used to frequent Gyotaku a lot; when they were on King Street. Then they started to go downhill, and I made such a comment on Yelp. Their GM responded to my post and was nice enough to host us again at Niu Valley to try them again — we liked it again and started to frequent Gyotaku again (the Niu Valley location). Then they started slipping again and raising the prices, so we have stopped going there again.
We now go to Teishoku in the Kam Shopping Center.
BTW, I am an expat Kamaaina, been living on the Mainland now for about 40 years. But we go back to HNL each year and I always like to eat the local kine foods at the smaller restaurants.
Hey Alan! Great to hear from you again! That’s very nice that they were attentive to customer postings and asked you to give them another chance! Funny I had a junk experience at Niu Valley last year but good experiences at King Street. Prices still high, only inclined to go when we get those coupons.
I haven’t been to Teishoku basically since they opened so maybe I gotta try them again! What other restaurants do you go to when you visit home??
Unfortunately all my old time places are either gone or gone downhill. I always try to find an old school Cantonese place since I used to live on Catonese food (my late wife was Cantonese too). My last place, Duk Kee, was sold and now is not-so-good. Teishoku is my “go to” Japanese. Even my favorite Korean food places are gone – once in a while I still go to Kim Chee 2 and next trip I will try McCully Buffet. For gourmet buffets, I like Koolina. My present wife, who is haole, loves Duke’s Waikiki and we used to love the buffet at the Sheraton Waikiki which they closed during Covid. We both also used to love Chart House, but since their recent remodel, I noticed they took the deep fried tai off the menu, so they are now out too. I am always searching for cheap places to eat! Lol!
the ads for their food always look so tempting.
I think the last time I went was their take out only during COVID at the King St location and it was pretty good so been wanting to go back but haven’t yet. I think I’m just a miso butterfish or grilled salmon person.
Yes! Just go when you get the coupon! That’s when it’s worth it for me. The service for sit in at King Street is pretty good. I gotta try their miso butterfish, I love butterfish!
Thanks for the review of their hamachi carpaccio. I was always curious but it was too expensive so I never ordered it. How CAN it go wrong? Wrong.
Their tempura is always good. Butterfish is good. And I like their senior nishime because I order cheap when everyone else is doing combos, etc. For dessert, their green tea ice cream with matcha shave ice and azuki beans is winnah! But only if I am eating in and not doing take out.
Yes, we need to spread the word not to get that dish! Or until they change the way they prepare it, so odd.
I don’t qualify for senior meals yet but am excited when I am lol. I’ll try their miso butterfish one day. I love their Okinawan sweet potato pie but I am always too full for it.
bummer that they changed the sauce. glad the other dishes were good
Still worth it to try this place, gotta support local!
I passed by Frog House and thought that’s Jenny’s place! Really limited parking! I wanted to try the Bahn mi place but the parking is a hassle and too much walking. I did look up longingly though. Walking is tough with my bad health so i gotta figure out logistics wherever I go. Maybe one day when I feel strong.
lol! I haven’t been to frog house in a while, haven’t been able to sneak out on lunch break. The parking is limited and tandem and a bit dangerous because if you can’t reverse park into that lot, you gotta back out into a VERY busy roadway. Never had issues with parking at lunchtime on a weekday.
The banh mi place, either park in Walmart lot and cross the street or if you are just getting the sandwich, there are like 3 stalls downstairs that is just for pick ups so you don’t have to deal with their parking! I do hope you get stronger soon.