Sizzling new specials

Garlic Shrimp ($5.50 happy hour, $7.95 regularly), Mushroom Medley ($4.50 happy hour, $6.95 regularly) Ahi Katsu ($5.50 happy hour, $7.95 regularly)
LAWRENCE TABUDLO PHOTO

To start, for every $50 you spend during one meal, you will receive an envelope with a discount coupon — and one of those envelopes will contain a round-trip ticket to Japan.

Also debuting Sept. 1, Sake Sampler presents a choice of three types of sake for just $7.50. Normally, it’s $8 per glass, so it’s a real deal. “We have an assortment of sakes,” says owner Riki Kobayashi, “so by doing the sampler, it gives people an opportunity to try different ones.”

Also on special during September is Kobe Chanko ($17.95), consisting of Kobe beef, Chinese cabbage, tofu, fried tofu, enoki mushrooms, chives, choi sum, shiitake mushrooms, pork and chicken meatballs, salmon, chicken, Japanese sausage and rice noodles.

“We’ve offered (this dish) before, but we are bringing it back again,” says Kobayashi. “It’s Kobe beef, so people enjoy it.”

“It’s back by popular demand,” says Joshua Sugimura, who, along with Coreen Muraoka, is a new manager at Ichiriki’s town location.

All of that can go into one of Ichiriki’s classic broths, or for $2 extra, a premium broth. Kobayashi’s personal favorite is Pirikara, a shoyu-based broth with pieces of garlic and red pepper.

To complement your meal, Ichiriki has a range of appetizers, many of which are on special during happy hour, which runs daily from 2 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to closing. Popular appetizers include Garlic Shrimp ($5.50 happy hour, $7.95 regularly).

“We get Kahuku shrimp and we batter it,” explains Kobayashi.

“Everything is garlic,” Sugimura continues. “It’s in a garlic sauce and then there are garlic chips also added to it — and then we just sprinkle garlic powder onto it.”

Then there’s Ahi Katsu ($5.50 happy hour, $7.95 regularly) deep-fried with shiso leaf, and Mushroom Medley ($4.50 happy hour, $6.95 regularly).

Also new for September, Ichiriki will introduce a revamped drink menu, which will include a wider selection of liquors and cocktails.

And here’s a final bit of news for Ichiriki: It’s currently working on a fourth location in Kaimuki, which is slated to open before the end of the year and will feature nabe served up conveyer-belt style.

Ichiriki Japanese Nabe Restaurant

510 Piikoi St., Honolulu (and two other locations)
589-2299
Sunday–Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.