Christmas is a little more than a week away, and I couldn’t be happier! Not only do I love the spirit of the season, festive moments with family and friends, sweater weather, sippin’ on a mug of hot chocolate topped with a mound of whipped cream, gift wrapping and more, but this time of year gives me an excuse to eat like a queen. Yes, indeed! Quite honestly, it’s a bit hard to eat healthy during the holidays (believe me, I’m trying), so sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel and indulge.
And you’ll never guess what I’ve been craving this week. Shrimp! These glorious critters of the sea have been calling out my name and I’ve been giving in 100 percent to its succulence.
So, come along and witness the amazing shrimp delicacies at the following Ono, You Know establishments that make for a very merry me! You’ll want to dive right in before they’re all gone!
Blue Hawaii Sushi Bar & Restaurant
Blue Hawaii Sushi in Pearl City is making a splash with its massive spread of tasty eats, combining the best of both worlds by blending traditional Japanese cuisine with Pacific Rim fusion. Open daily, the restaurant offers savory shrimp specialties that will tempt your palate more than you know.
Topping my list is Dynamite ($8.95). This appetizer booms with flavor as the dish is bedded with mushrooms and zucchini topped with scallops and shrimp and glazed with Blue Hawaii Sushi’s famous dynamite sauce. When it comes to selecting an entree, North Shore Shrimp, also known as Garlic Shrimp, is a no-brainer. Priced at $12.95, relish in juicy pieces of shrimp perfectly sauteed in butter, lemon and garlic. I promise you, the aroma alone will have your mouth watering for days. All entrees come complete with a side of rice, assorted vegetables, hot tea, miso soup and house salad with ginger dressing.
Blue Hawaii Sushi most recently added okazu favorites to its onolicious selection as well. The okazuya is open daily from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and offers an assortment of a la carte items, including Shrimp Tempura Cone Sushi ($3.50 apiece), Nishime and the ever popular Bento Box ($5.75), which comes with a free drink.
-
- The editor basks in the glory of Blue Hawaii Sushi’s Dynamite ($8.95).
-
- Blue Hawaii Sushi’s Shrimp Tempura Cone Sushi ($3.50 apiece)
-
- Blue Hawaii Sushi’s North Shore Shrimp ($12.95)
Blue Hawaii Sushi Bar & Restaurant
Pearl City Gateway
1140 Kuala St.
456.2128
Canton Seafood Restaurant
Discover the best in Northern Chinese cuisine at Canton Seafood Restaurant. This Keeamoku Street eatery is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight, and satisfies the most intense of cravings. And if it’s shrimp you’re after Canton Seafood breaks the mold and presents you with a Chinese shrimp creation that goes beyond the norm. Sure, we all love the classic Honey Walnut Shrimp, but this week I wanted to revel in something new. That’s when Canton Seafood assistant manager Helen He presented me with Steamed Shrimp with Garlic and Look Funn. Priced at $13.99, this restaurant favorite is available any time and features a plate full of look fun noodles doused in a house-special shoyu sauce and topped with seven morsels of juicy shrimp adorned with flavorful pieces of minced garlic and green onion.
And Canton Seafood does all the work for you, each shrimp is already sliced in half, so all you have to do is peel off the shell and enjoy.
-
- Canton Seafood’s assistant manager Helen He
-
- Canton Seafood’s Steamed Shrimp with Garlic and Look Funn ($13.99)
Canton Seafood Restaurant
923 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu
955.3388
Max’s of Manila
Transport your taste buds to the Philippines without leaving the comfort of home at Max’s of Manila. Located on Dillingham Boulevard and in Waipahu, Max’s of Manila has been serving up a fiesta of Filipino specialties, including Adobo, Kare-Kare, Pancit and, of course, its renowned Max’s Fried Chicken, to name a few. Yet, if you consider yourself more of a seafood connoisseur, indulge in a traditional Filipino soup, Sinigang, and request to have it with shrimp (pork and milkfish are other options). Shrimp Sinigang ($9.25 regular, $15.50 large) is a must-try, and is a tangy tamarind soup, perfect for the winter months. Assorted vegetables of ong choy, eggplant, long green beans and okra also complement the dish.
A personal favorite of mine, Sinigang with shrimp boasts a multitude of flavors, and the shrimp is absolutely divine when soaked in the delicious broth. Max’s of Manila makes pure magic with each and every bowl. So, the next time you find yourself at the restaurant, tucked away in a booth with a hot, steaming bowl of Sinigang in front of you — really, all you need is a spoon, fork and, most of all, an appetite and you’re good to go! What can I say? Max’s of Manila makes me happy!
-
- Max’s of Manila’s Rhoy Bonilla presents Sinigang with shrimp.
-
- Max’s of Manila Sinigang with shrimp ($9.25 regular, $15.50 large)
Max’s of Manila
801 Dillingham Blvd. (also located in Waipahu Shopping Plaza)
951.6297
See more articles from: Canton Seafood Restaurant, Max's of Manila
