Do-It-Yourself Dining

Although tucked away in quiet Manoa Valley, Hanaki Restaurant has been drawing in the customers with favorites like Chicken Udon ($11.95) and Shrimp Tempura Donburi ($11.95) and, of course, shabu shabu. Located in Manoa Marketplace, Hanaki is a great place to stop by for a lunch break or enjoy a family dinner.

“We specialize in shabu shabu meals, but we also continue to provide our Shrimp Tempura ($4.50 for a side order), Chicken Karaage ($4.50 for a side order) and Misoyaki Butterfish ($4.50 for a side order) that everybody loves,” explains general manager Mark Mitsuyoshi. These dishes also are available as options for Combination Plates (two-choice plate for $9.95; three-choice plate for $12.95). One popular Combination Plate is the two-choice plate with Shrimp Tempura and Chicken Karaage. All Combination Plates are served with rice and miso soup.

Other popular a la carte items are Teriyaki Chicken ($4.50 for a side order), Crispy Gau Gee ($4.50 for a side order), and a variety of ramen, udon and donburi dishes. Try the new Spicy Beef Ramen for $12.95.

The shabu shabu option provides an array of soups, herbs, vegetables, meat and seafood to choose from — and an opportunity to cook up everything yourself. Customers can select any combination of ingredients. The cost of a shabu shabu meal depends on individual selections, but Mitsuyoshi says the average price per person is $13 or more, adding that prices for shabu shabu meals tend to be lower per person with larger groups.

First, diners start by choosing a soup. Soup flavors include Miso, Beef, and Seafood, which is a light, shio-based soup with an onion flavor. Other options are Curry, which is a heavy, creamy soup flavored with coconut milk, and Spicy, which is a strong, beef-based flavor. There’s also Konbu, which is a light soy sauce-based udon soup, and Sukiyaki has a strong soy sauce and sweet sugar flavor. You also can choose from a variety of herbs, including goji berries, dried dates, ginseng and more for $9.

“Each soup has a pretty strong fan base,” Mitsuyoshi says.

The next step is to choose some vegetables, meat or seafood — or all three — to add to the soup. These are grouped together in different containers. Green bowls cost $2.50, red bowls $3.50, and plates cost $4.50. Customers can choose tasty ingredients such as beef, squid, tofu, lobster, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms and more. Plus, rice, tea or desserts, including cake, are priced at $1.50.

Apart from shabu shabu, Mitsuyoshi says that the udon dishes are customer favorites.

“Many customers enjoy these dishes. They have the traditional soup flavor, with a variety of types to choose from. These are big bowls and they taste great.”

Udon options include Fishcake & Egg Udon or Ramen ($11.95), which includes different types of fishcake, egg and vegetables, and Chicken Udon or Ramen ($11.95), which features thinly sliced chicken with fishcake and vegetables. Other options include Beef Udon or Ramen ($11.95) and Shrimp Udon or Ramen ($11.95).

Reservations are welcome, and there is plenty of free parking in Manoa Marketplace. Please note that prices are subject to change without prior notice.

On the Side

Hanaki Restaurant in Manoa has been a local favorite since 1996, and since introducing its shabu shabu options, the restaurant has become a haven for foodies looking for quality do-it-yourself dining.

“We have liked shabu shabu for many years now, and we have wanted to do something like this for a while,” says Hanaki general manager Mark Mitsuyoshi. Wanting to share its love of shabu shabu, Hanaki began offering shabu shabu two years ago.

One of the best parts of shabu shabu is that each individual can cater the dish to their own preferences.

“You can create exactly what you you want to eat,” he says, adding that the most popular ingredients include sliced prime rib, pork loin, lamb, fishcake, stuffed aburage, pork tsukune, udon noodles and enoki mushrooms.

“Shabu shabu is a fun and easy way to have a great and healthy lunch or dinner,” says Mitsuyoshi. Additionally, Hanaki tries to use fresh produce from local vendors when possible.

Not only is Hanaki’s shabu shabu healthy and tasty, but it’s also convenient.

“Shabu shabu is great for a quick lunch,” Mitsuyoshi explains. “Pick your soup, choose your food _— it just takes a few minutes, and you’re ready to eat. No waiting. It’s easy.”

With its spacious dining room, Hanaki also is perfect for family gatherings, as well as quick lunches.

“It’s a very good place for family meals,” Mitsuyoshi says. “Kids can easily get all their nutrition in a meal, while having fun doing it.”

Hanaki Restaurant

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