Calling all seafood lovers

Are plump and juicy morsels of shrimp your ultimate craving? Or perhaps tender pieces of fresh fish speak to your seafood devotion. Regardless of which treasures of the sea you adore munching on, Canton Seafood Restaurant is ready to serve them up to your liking in traditional Chinese fashion.

The Keeaumoku Street eatery houses classic Cantonese persuasions, and as its name suggests, it specializes in seafood dishes expertly prepared by chef Sou Keung Wong. When it comes to favorites such as shrimp entrees, Canton Seafood boasts at least 10 variations alone, including its beloved Shrimp Walnuts with Mayonnaise.

“Our chef is good at seafood preparations, and he is from China,” says manager He Gong, pointing to the authenticity of the menu items.

Gong suggests trying one of the eatery’s best sellers, Seafood Fried Noodle ($8.50 special price through April; regularly $9.99), which presents a smorgasbord of seafood goodies. Shrimp, scallop, fish fillet and squid combine with bright spurts of choy sum and carrots on a bed of Hong Kong-style crispy noodles. What truly sets this dish apart is its incredible house-made gravy, which the manager insists contains no added MSG, and is prepared with homemade chicken broth and oyster sauce.

Another must-have is Steamed Sea Bass Filet with Ginger and Green Onion ($9.99 special price through April; regularly $12.99), a healthy selection that is particularly popular with Canton Seafood’s senior patrons, as it is nutrient-rich and easy to digest. In this sharable entree, the savory sauce and revitalizing seasonings complement soft, flavorful fish.

If clams are more your style, with regards to seafood, you’re in for a treat with Clams with Wine Sauce ($13.99). Packed with flavor, each fresh clam explodes with rich wine sauce, bits of garlic, green onion, bell pepper, Chinese parsley and a dash of spice from chili peppers. Gong notes that this stunner, which pairs perfectly with rice, also is available with black bean sauce.

A number of Canton Seafood’s ocean-sprayed wonders grace its party menus, as the clean, bright and welcoming eatery is ideal for hosting large gatherings such as Mother’s Day celebrations and graduation parties. Hosts may choose from a variety of set menus ranging in price from $188 to $398 that serve 10 to 12 people and include such delicacies as fresh Maine lobster, Live Crab and Peking Duck. “They’re very reasonably priced for the food quality,” adds Gong.

The manager offers assurance that even if you are not a seafood fanatic, a plentitude of meat and vegetarian house specialties are there to delight. “Some people don’t eat seafood, so we have Beef Broccoli, Mini Chicken Fried Noodle, Jai and many other options to choose from,” Gong says, noting that customers often describe the restaurant’s Mongolian Beef as the best in town. Canton Crispy Chicken, presenting half of a chicken for only $4.99, also is wildly popular.

Canton Seafood Restaurant

923 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu
955-3388
Daily, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Note: Canton Seafood has its own free parking lot behind the eatery.