All the flavors you want in one tasty spot

Oxtail soup is a highlight on the dinner order menu.

One of the best things about Hawaii is its food, so why not go to a restaurant that serves it all? At Makino Chaya, diners can dive into seemingly endless buffet lines that offer all the local dishes you could want in one convenient location.

Over the years, the locally owned and operated eatery has become an island favorite for its great food, value and service. Every day, families and friends flock to the restaurant for its all-you-can-eat buffet, which offers about 90 items for everyone to sink their teeth into.

Makino Chaya offers a daily lunch buffet Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $15.98, and Saturday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $20.98. The eatery also serves a dinner buffet Monday-Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for $33.98, and Friday-Sunday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for $35.98.

Restaurant manager Chris Mitchell highly recommends Oxtail Soup, which is offered on the dinner order menu only (part of buffet pricing: $33.98 Monday-Thursday; $35.98 Friday-Sunday).

“The meat is slowly boiled until it is tender and falls right off the bone,” explains Mitchell.

This soup surely will have diners’ mouths watering, as it also is seasoned with ginger, garlic, rock salt, orange peel and star anise.

Look forward to delectable lobster when dining at Makino Chaya on Mother’s Day.

Another beloved dish off the dinner order menu is Kalbi (also part of buffet pricing). According to Mitchell, this local-favorite Korean short rib is marinated overnight with hints of shoyu and garlic before it is finished off in a salamander oven.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, Mitchell reminds Dining Out readers that Makino Chaya is prepared to cater to large parties. During the holiday, it will be serving up its buffet classics such as sushi and tempura, teppanyaki steak and miso butterfish. He says to look out for the lobster, in particular, which is cooked to perfection on the teppan grill. Call to make your reservations.

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: Monday-Thursday, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 5:30-9 p.m.