Eat Your Fill at Katsu

If you’re looking for a restaurant where you can get affordable Japanese food that will satisfy your hunger pangs, look no further than Katsu, located at 3008 Waialae Ave., previously occupied by Richo Korean Cuisine. The establishment celebrated its grand opening April 3 with about 300 people in attendance.

Owner Masaru Hashiguchi’s mission is to provide the people of Hawaii with a bigger sense of Japanese food while giving value to the customer. “There are so many secondand third-generation Japanese in Hawaii who would understand the culture and the restaurant,” he explains.

Hashiguchi just wants people to eat a lot (at a reasonable price) and enjoy themselves.

This is Hashiguchi’s first restaurant in Hawaii, but he owns nine other establishments (ramen restaurants and bars) in Japan. He hopes Katsu will be a friendly and accessible restaurant where patrons can “pop in” for a good meal.

This is not your ordinary Japanese dining experience. While it is not meant to be a high-end eating establishment, with servers who cater to your every whim, Katsu puts great emphasis on the quality of its food. With only 10 employees, this place is largely self-serve.

There are seven entrees to choose from for now, and Hashiguchi plans to include more dishes on the menu in the future. You must order an entree, and the buffet comes as part of the deal.

Entrees include: Chicken Katsu ($9.75 lunch mini, $12.98 lunch regular, $14.95 dinner mini, $17.98 dinner regular), Pork Katsu ($10.98 lunch mini, $13.98 lunch regular, $15.98 dinner mini, $18.98 dinner regular), Assorted Tempura ($12.98 lunch, $17.98 dinner), Assorted Vegetable Tempura ($10.98 lunch, $15.98, dinner), Chicken Karaage ($9.75 lunch mini, $12.98 lunch regular, $14.95 dinner mini, $17.98 dinner regular), and Spicy Chicken Karaage ($10.98 lunch mini, $13.98 lunch regular, $15.98 dinner mini, $18.98 dinner regular).

There also is a Mega Plate ($24.98 lunch, $28.98 dinner), which comes with Chicken Katsu, Pork Katsu, Karaage, Assorted Tempura, Roast Beef, Zucchini Katsu and Tomato Rice Katsu.

The dinner buffet includes a bottomless drink, but during lunch the drink option costs $1.99. Hashiguchi recommends hojicha (a dark-colored roasted Japanese green tea).

According to Hashiguchi, many people have been raving about the curry, which is part of the buffet. Other items available at the buffet are rice, miso soup, udon and salad bar.

Sides that you can choose from include Curry Flavored Long Rice with Soybeans, Garlic Pasta Salad, Fresh-cut fruit and Mango Pudding.

The benefit of having all these choices is that you can play around with it and make your own combinations. If inspiration doesn’t hit you but your stomach is calling for food, Katsu has a list of combinations you can try such as Curry Udon or Curry Rice.

Katsu is a great place for families to enjoy a nice meal. Two children age 4 and under can eat for free with every paying adult. There is also a 10 percent senior discount for those age 65 and older.

Head down to Katsu and you’ll leave with a full tummy and a not-so-empty wallet.

Katsu