Affordable yet quality-driven dining spot has its ducks in a row

Roast Duck Hong Kong Style ($12.50 for half a duck, $24 whole).

Asian Mix on South Beretania Street offers the best of both worlds when it comes to eating high-quality Asian food without the high price tag. At the casual eatery, you can get your food in a jiffy and enjoy it there or take it to go.

Asian Mix’s restaurant-quality food can be attributed to owner Daniel Leung’s background of more than 30 years in the Chinese fine-dining scene, including his former restaurant Panda Cuisine. Now at Asian Mix, the same attention to detail is given to food but in a hassle-free and affordable setting.

As a tasty lunch spot for those in the area, Asian Mix serves up many favorites to longtime customers, including signature Roast Duck Hong Kong Style ($12.50 for half a duck, $24 for whole). Leung carefully prepares each duck at length, starting by turning to a good source.

Honey Roasted Barbecue Pork ($12 per pound).

“For the past few years we’ve tried to have the same duck that’s produced from the same farm. We’ve tried a different brand a few times and it’s not as good. We get the duck from the same person who farms it so that the size and quality will be the same every time,” explains Leung.

“If we can’t have the same product we will not sell the item,” he continues. “The texture of the one we get is different from all of the others. Ours is way more tender.”

Preparation for each duck starts 24 hours prior to serving. It is a process that includes boiling the duck to ensure its cleanliness, and pouring a special mix of honey, sugar and vinegar over the skin to give it a nice, crispy and flavorful exterior.

Another popular meat is Honey Roasted Barbecue Pork ($12 per pound), which comes from the same source as the duck. The tender and juicy pork is cut into long strips to be glazed overnight. A layer of sugar and sweet bean sauce is added, and then the honey.

“The honey they apply only after it’s roasted and pulled out of the oven. It’s applied all over to cover the surface of the meat so it can get the honey flavor attached and also to protect the meat from getting dry,” says Leung.

Asian Mix is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is located in the same shopping complex as Safeway, meaning parking is usually ample, in the shade and, most importantly, free.

Asian Mix

1234 S. Beretania St., Honolulu
521-1688
Daily, 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.