The Famous Hiroshi Mayaki

Umami and Elle were walking along Kapahalu Avenue, looking for a place to eat lunch.  Rainbow Drive-In was, not surprisingly, prohibitively crowded, so they moved on.  Passing Hee Hing Plaza, they looked up and saw a noren proclaiming "Healthy Japanese Food" and, under that "Hiroshi Mayaki" and, under that "Shochan."  Who was this Hiroshi Mayaki?  What was his healthy Japanese food like?  Intrigued, they went upstairs to check it out.

The place looked like it had just opened.  A hand-lettered sign said that more menu items and liquor were on the way, but, for now, they were serving okonomiyaki.  "What's that?" asked Elle, she was ready to pass on it.  "Like a frittata" said Umami.  Not quite correct, but close.  And Elle, who loves her breakfast food, was sold.

Okonomiyaki

The food is cooked to order, so, while they were waiting, Umami googled "Hiroshi Mayaki" and discovered, to his amusement, that they had been reading the sign wrong.  Because "Hiroshi" was on one panel of the noren and "Mayaki" was on the another, they had assumed it was two words:  "Hiroshi Mayaki."

So wrong!

It's one word:  "Hiroshimayaki," a particular style of okonomiyaki, in which the ingredients are layered, rather than mixed together.   Another blogger had made the same mistake.   http://nakama-m-photos.blogspot.com/2009/05/shochan-hiroshimayaki-restaurant.html.

The restaurant is actually called Shochan Hiroshimayaki and it used to be in Puck's Alley on University. And the food . . . ?

Oh, Hiroshimayaki!

Very, very good!   Their standard okonomiyaki has a bottom layer of cabbage, topped successively by a little pork, bacon, yakisoba, and, finally, a crepe-style omelette.  It's covered with mitsuwa sauce and served on a sizzling cast iron platter.  Mayonnaise and extra sauce can be added and it makes a perfect late breakfast.  Total tab for two - $20 with the tax and tip.  Not bad at all.

Umami and Elle will definitely be back.  But they'll probably always call it "Hiroshi Mayaki."

Shochan Hiroshimayaki
Hee Hing Plaza (3rd Floor, next to Tokkuri Tei)
449 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii  96815

Happy Valentine's Day!

Umami and Elle (aka "Woman-to-Blame") were discussing what to do for Valentine's Day.  Elle said that she wasn't really that into the fancy dinner and roses scene (though chocolate would certainly be acceptable).  Umami doesn't know if he should take that at face value . . . or as some sort of devious test where he's supposed to go all out anyway.  Such a quandry!

But, at Punahou Carnival, at Art Gallery, they were both intrigued by a little winged apple sculpture:

Guardian Apple

"Guardian Apple," by Johanette Rowley, is a not quite 5" tall earthenware apple, with inexplicable black spots, gold lustre wings, and three feet.  Umami and Elle bought it as a Valentine's Day present to themselves.  They named him "Chester."    

Sugar Factory - Frozen Hot Chocolate

Umami and Elle wandered into the Sugar Factory - American Brasserie at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.  Why?  Because they were hankerin' for something sweet.  And they needed a walk after eating and drinking their way through the AFC Championship Game (Won by the Pats!).

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Umami's tried Serendipity's Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate and was curious to see how Sugar Factory's Classic Frozen Hot Chocolate ($8) stacked up.  It's undoubtedly a great looking drink, and is plenty chocolate-y,  but it's also a little thinner in feel than Serendipity's.

A couple of days later, Elle tried Serendipity's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.  And, in the frozen hot chocolate challenge, by unanimous decision, the winner is:  Serendipity!  Serendipity's version is just richer, more decadent.  Which is not to say that Sugar Factory's is bad . . . but if you like chocolate milk, go to Serendipity, and if you like Yoo-Hoo, go to Sugar Factory.

[Note, however, Sugar Factory's Vanilla Milkshake ($10), made with vanilla ice cream and vanilla sauce, is very good indeed.]

Sugar Factory - American Brasserie
Paris Las Vegas Hotel
3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 331-5100