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A Tasty Mix

A La Carte Columns

October 18, 2015

Story By: Rasa Fournier | Photos by: Nathalie Walker

Crispy Tofu with Quinoa Salad ($11).

Crispy Tofu with Quinoa Salad ($11).

The elegant dining locale locals remember as Palomino and then Cassis now is Rijo Restaurant, an upscale Japanese establishment. Unlike many chain options on the island, Rijo is one of a kind, and specializes in traditional Japanese offerings, but with a fusion flair.

From an assortment of contemporary sushi dishes, to appetizers, soups, salads and sandwiches, Rijo appeals to a range of interests. The entrées come with side selections of the day, miso soup, a house salad and rice. Not to mention, the weekend buffet spreads.

“We are a modern Japanese restaurant, but Rijo doesn’t look like a Japanese restaurant,” says Rijo Restaurant president John Hayashi. “We have dishes with traditional Japanese taste, but we also have a mix of flavors, like French and American as well.”

There’s the same expansive atmosphere that’s always been a key feature of the space, but one whole wall now is giant-glass panels, offering even more of an open ambience and a luxurious vista of Honolulu Harbor.

Rijo Restaurant

Harbor Court, Third Floor,

66 Queen St.

208-8180
Monday-Saturday: lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Friday-Saturday, lunch is buffet);
dinner, 5-9:30 p.m.; Sunday: brunch buffet, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
reservations@rijohawaii.com

Honolulu, HI 96813

Ilima Awards
Hawaii's Best