Eatery beefs up space, menu

Bento No. 4 ($12), featuring shrimp tempura, pan-fried salmon and ahi N. WALKER PHOTO

Ahi & Vegetable’s Kapalama Shopping Center location (on Dillingham Boulevard) will be expanding this summer with plans to take over the vacant space next door.

According to owner Sam Seo, the extension will result in seating for 80-90 customers, double its current capacity, as well as a bigger kitchen facility and additional menu items.

The popular seafood restaurant also is located in Downtown Honolulu (1126 Fort Street Mall), where it has been serving the business crowd on weekdays for the past 11 years.

Seo opened the Dillingham location two years ago, which has been great for his long-time customers who craved Ahi & Vegetable for dinner and on the weekends.

“So many of my customers from Downtown, they know my menu and my fish, so they bring their family here at night and on the weekend,” says Seo, noting that they also are busy at lunch, especially with people from nearby businesses and construction workers.

Sashimi with Hamachi ($60) B. COLLINS PHOTO

The menu is the same at both locations, and features an assortment of donburi (bowl), sushi, roll sushi, bento and vegetable plates. A popular donburi is Chirashi Don ($16), which consists of sushi shrimp, tamago and sashimi-style ika, hamachi, salmon and ahi, along with ikura and masago over rice.

For those who can’t eat or prefer not to eat raw fish, try Bento No. 4 ($12), which has shrimp tempura, pan-fried ahi and salmon, with rice.

Ahi & Vegetable also offers a catering menu, perfect for all occasions, especially during holidays and potlucks. Among the top sellers is the Sashimi with Hamachi platter ($60) featuring three types of fresh fish — tuna ahi, salmon and hamachi. At least one hour notice is recommended for catering platter orders.

Seo, who is originally from Korea and moved to Hawaii in 1992, has more than 15 years of experience in the fish business. He’s usually up before dawn and at the fish auction every morning (except Sundays) at United Fishing Agency, Pier 38 selecting the finest catches of the day.

Chirashi Don ($16) A. CONSILLIO PHOTO

“I always try to get the best, high-end, high-quality fish, and sell to customers at an affordable price,” he says. “I appreciate my customers. They really enjoy my fish and they know that it is fresh.”

Ahi & Vegetable also sells a variety of fresh Korean vegetables and appetizer dishes, including kimchee, dry daikon, kimchee cucumber and taegu.

Delivery service also is available for 10 orders or more, and within limited areas.

Ahi & Vegetable

DILLINGHAM
1210 Dillingham Blvd.
845-3500
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

FORT STREET
1126 Fort Street Mall, Chinatown
599-3500
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday; Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ahiandvegetable.com