Warm Up to Hanaki

It’s time to head to the mountains. Time to venture deep into Manoa Valley, where the wind blows a bit cooler and the Koolau mountain range seems to rise above you like a giant ascending from bended knee. As you weave your way through the peaceful town of Manoa, the restaurant to stop for a warm and comforting lunch or dinner has to be Hanaki.

Hanaki, which used to be known for its elaborate buffet menu, now specializes in shabu shabu-style meals, with plenty of a la carte options to choose from as well, many taken from the buffet menu as recommended and remembered by loyal customers.

“We have a nice family atmosphere. We can seat a lot of people. Most come for a combination of shabu shabu and side orders like tempura or our Misoyaki butterfish,” says general manager Mark Mitsuyoshi. Shabu Shabu allows you to pick your simmering soup base, which at Hanaki includes your choice of konbu (a light seaweed base), clear seafood, hot and spicy broth, beef, a heavier curry-style soup, a healthy herb with ginseng and Chinese herbs or a traditional miso-style, which Hanaki has been serving for more than 15 years.

A foundation of Hanaki is its 6-foot-tall refrigerator which holds all of your pre-portioned shabu shabu additions fit for your chosen broth. Many of the items cost between $2.50 and $4.50, and include a variety of meats, vegetable and seafood choices such as shiitake mushrooms, chicken, beef balls, tofu, cabbage and many more.

“Shabu Shabu is great, it is easy and nutritious,” adds Mitsuyoshi, whose personal favorite is the konbu or seafood broth.

Hanaki Restaurant