Maguro-Ya

Wednesday night family dinner with mom, dad, and sister. My family usually comes here once or twice a week for simple Japanese meals. Entrees and dinner combos are priced right around $20. It's perpetually crowded here during dinner - lots of family parties and groups dining.
Mom and dad love the sashimi set ($20)...
...it comes with so much stuff: rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, salad, and chawan mushi.
So pleasing to the eye :)
...Tiff (always) gets the tempura and udon combo ($13)...
...two pieces shrimp tempura, and three pieces of veggie tempura (changes frequently, it was sweet potato, mushroom, and carrot on that particular night).
...and I like the sushi dinner ($18)!
And of course we never pass on dessert :) Sister and I each opted for the special of the night, housemade castella cake with matcha ice cream.
Mom and dad stuck to their usual: green tea ice cream with mochi and azuki beans. Most the desserts are $3.75 each.

Post-dinner, I walked up a few blocks to Gecko's for some Archie comics. I've been going to Gecko's since I was in 5th grade. When I got to the shop it was all boarded up...they shut down :'[ This was THE best place on the island for Archies - used, new and collectibles. I am sad to see them go...never thought this would happen. It must have been pretty recent because this news article came out in August and they were doing fine then..."Sanchez (owner of Gecko's) though, hails from a dying breed of people. The owner of Gecko Books and Comics in East Oahu says longevity is keeping his store afloat." Man. I guess some things do change here :/

Maguro-Ya
3565 Waialae Ave. Ste. 108
Honolulu, HI 96806
(808) 732-3775

Che

Mom made one of our family favourite che's for midnight snack. Sweet potato, tapioca, mung beans, and jellies in coconut milk. So good hot and cold. She made one big pot and now I'll have plenty for breakfast in the days to come!

Palama Market

Korean plate lunch time!!! :D
Meat Jun and Kalbi Combo ($7.50). Big enough to feed two! That's a ton of meat jun on the left and kalbi on the right. Did you know meat jun (and fish jun) is a "Hawai'i thing"? Apparently it doesn't exist anywhere else.
Look at that meat jun...makes me positively giddy!
The plate comes with four pieces fried mandoo...
...kimchee (Palama's kimchee is just so-so)...
...and super mayo'ed mac salad, tofu, bean sprouts, and a green vegetable. I can't remember the name of the vegetable - will ask my mom. Boy, this place is super bargain. Usually I get the Bi Bim Kook Soo plate ($5.50), but I was in a particularly meaty mood. Plus, it's been a million years since my last mac salad!

2008 Palama Market post

Palama Market
1670 Makaloa Street
(808) 447-7705
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96814