Quick Pics: Imperial Cafe - Bento B

Umami's not really sure what this place is called.  Imperial Cafe?  Cafe Imperial?  (Somewhat improbably) Kaffee Imperial Tonkatsu House?  Regardless, it's a hidden gem of a katsu place.

 

Literally, "hidden" because, although it's in Imperial Plaza on corner of Cooke and Kapiolani, on the ground floor, it's not actually visible from Kapiolani or Cooke because it's in a little jog that cuts through that corner of the building.

The katsu is very, very good, crispy coating, not greasy, meat still tender.  Umami tried to be good today, but ended up ordering the Bento "B" . . . 

Bento "B"

Clockwise from upper left:  (fake) crab nigiri, unagi nigiri, chicken katsu (with a shrimp tempura on top) on a bed of rice, inside out California Roll, and a small tossed salad.  $12.99 for a lot of food.  As mentioned, the katsu is very good.  The tempura was overcooked, and the sushi is only okay, but it's a pretty good deal nonetheless.  Oh, Bento "A" substitutes unagi for the chicken katsu and costs $15.99.  Bento "C" substitutes tonkatsu for the same $12.99.

Oh, and the "three small things" were an interesting mix . . .

Three Small Things

From top:  Seaweed, Kim Chee (very mild), and an interesting salad of sweet potato, pineapple, corn, and peanuts.  Very interesting . . . and tasty!

Umami has to give props to Trivia Chuck for introducing him to the place . . . and also for starting Umami on the whole food blogging thing in the first place.  Umami will run the Facebook posts that started the whole thing sometime!

Cafe Imperial?  Imperial Cafe?  Kaffee Imperial Tonkatsu House?

725 Kapiolani Blvd  (Corner of Kapiolani and Cooke)
Honolulu, HI 96813