Quick Pic: California Rock n' Sushi Triple Combo Early Bird Special

Umami had a family dinner on Saturday at California Rock n' Sushi.  It's the sushi place next to the Kanpai (fka Tio's Garage fka Dixie Grill) on Ward, across from Ross and Sports Authority.

From 5:00 to 6:30, CRnS has a Triple Combo Early Bird Special:  for $13.50 you get Tempura (two shrimp, and assorted vegtables), your choice of Grilled Salmon or Chicken Teriyaki, and your choice of Sushi, Sashimi or California Roll.  Comes with rice, miso soup, and salad.  Not bad at all!

Triple Combo Early Bird Special - Tempura, Sashimi, Salad, Chicken Teriyaki

Tempura was nice and crunchy, but, thankfully, the shrimp was not overcooked!  Vegetables were:  broccoli, carrot, zucchini.  Representing the fungus group:  one mushroom.

Sashimi pieces were small-ish, which was fine given the amount of food, but might be disappointing if you're expecting larger pieces.

The Chicken Teriyaki portion was generous, with a tasty, albeit somewhat generic, sauce.

All in all, a perfectly respectable combination plate.  

Given the prices, you can expect a crowd, but the restaurant now takes reservations for parties of four or more.  Or, you can time it to arrive as the first rush leaves (around 6:00), get a table, then as long as the order goes in by 6:30, you're all good! (Or, as Umami's friend, Shellie, would say, "all good in the hood!"  So street, yah?  Word.) 

California Rock ‘N Sushi
404 Ward Avenue (across Sports Authority & next to Kanpai)
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Tel. (808) 597-8000www.californiabeachrocknsushi.com

First Post!! Sekiya's - Hash Tempura (Seriously)

My mother wanted to have a family dinner at Sekiyas's Restaurant & Deli so she could have an "Orange Freeze," which is like a  creamsicle slush (but isn't).  But the menu item that caught my eye was the "Hash Tempura" appetizer.  Consider:  it's a little ball of corned beef hash, coated in tempura batter and deep fried to greasy goodness (loosely speaking).  The batter is on the sweeter, yellower side and, surprisingly, overpowered the hash the first time around.  But on the second try (had to eat two, but two's all you need), the salt of the hash comes through. If this sort of thing appeals to you (and you know who you are . . . ), you won't be disappointed.