It’s been a while since I’ve visited an okonomiyaki restaurant. They are hard to find outside Japan, certainly hard to find in Vancouver! Japanese comfort food, casual and tasty. Luckily for Waikiki, there’s a great place for the okonomiyaki experience at Chibo Restaurant.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q2GKSSBUFc&w=560&h=315]
Let’s just say, we were closely followed by a young Japanese couple up the stairs of the Royal Hawaiian Centre, we all got lost and finally ended up at the Chibo Restaurant entrance together as friends. When we were seated, we received front row seats at the grill next to an older Japanese couple who seemed to know exactly what to order and gave directions to the chef. This was inspiring.
We had the Ahi Poke starter, and it was perfect. Very fresh ahi, with just the right amount of fresh onion and seasoning. (Our neighbours had the Ahi Sashimi, and that looked really good.) As a side we had the asparagus & spinach, which I didn’t like, as it was more of an Italian style mozarellay, tomato based dish, just seemed awkward to my naive tastes.
Then we had the Okonomiyaki “Chibo” with beef sirloin, tiger prawns, squid and scallops. The quality of the seafood was just excellent, and later it was nice finding big chunks of scallop or prawn in the okonomiyaki. The okonomiyaki was tall and perfectly cooked, well sauced and with a generous application of bonita flakes. It was a good portion for two.
The chef was attentive, and professional. There was Sapporo on tap, and we had a pitcher.
All in all it was a most enjoyable dinner. A little dressy for okonomiyaki, but the quality made up for the cost (about $65 for two), and it was fun!
I really like the Late Night Happy Hours Okonomiyaki Specials – great for those late YVR-HNL arrivals, just what you need!
I highly recommend it!
Certainly fixed that okonomiyaki craving… for a while.
The first Chibo Restaurant opened in Osaka, Japan in 1967 by its founder and current president of Chibo Corporation, Mr. Masatsugu Nakai. Today there are now 60 Chibo Restaurants including the largest and only location in the United States, Chibo Honolulu. Chibo Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii was opened in April 1990.
Hours:
Lunch: 11:30am – 3:00pm
Dinner: 3:00pm – 10:00pm
Happy Hour: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Fri. & Sat. Late Night Happy Hour 10:00pm – 1:00am
Chibo Restaurant
Royal Hawaiian Center
2201 Kalakaua Avenue,
Suite A-305
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Tel: (808) 922-9722
Video Production by Bernie from YVR
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