Plenty To Go Around

Sizzling kalbi

Pay a visit to Makino Chaya on any given day and you’ll see hungry diners making their rounds to and from the eatery’s beloved buffet line. Families especially love to come Monday through Thursday for the

Early Bird Special from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., when they pay $23.98 (regular dinner price is $33.98) for a diverse all-you-can-eat buffet.

Makino Chaya has become an island tradition for its great food, value and service. Locally owned and operated, its extensive buffet menu offers about 90 items for visitors to indulge in.

Oxtail soup heats up at Makino Chaya.

The dinner special for this month (offered during dinner Friday-Sunday for $35.98) is Lechon. The crispy fried pork belly is seasoned with salt and pepper, and accompanied by the chef’s own sauce, which is similar to ponzu. The meat is finished off with onions and tomatoes on top.

Next month, look forward to a King Crab dinner special.

DINNER MUST-HAVES

Oxtail soup and kalbi are offered daily on the dinner menu (included with buffet pricing Monday-Thursday for $33.98 and Friday-Sunday for $35.98). Oxtail soup will have your mouth watering as the meat is slowly boiled until it is tender and falls right off the bone. The soup contains no MSG and is seasoned with ginger, garlic, rock salt, orange peel and star anise. As for the succulent kalbi, it’s marinated overnight in shoyu and garlic and then finished off in a salamander oven.

Makino Chaya

Westridge Shopping Center,
98-150 Kaonohi St., Aiea
486-5100
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.;
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9 p.m.