With all the recent rain and windy weather, all I’ve been wanting to eat is a warm bowl of ramen.
So, I recently visited Kiwami Japanese Ramen, which was previously located in Waikiki Shopping Plaza for a decade, and moved to Keeaumoku Street (across from Wal-mart) last October. The casual, family-friendly “ramen shop” specializes in “Tokyo-style” ramen, and is known for its clear homemade broth that’s been boiled for more than five hours throughout the day. Also, the noodles are specially made by Sun Noodle Factory, and feature a thinner, more chewy noodle with a slightly different texture from most ramen noodles.
“We think our broth is great because we use a lot of chicken and fruits, such as pineapple, and collagen,” says co-owner Miho Inada.
The most popular menu item is Shoyu Ramen ($8.50 regular, $10.50 large) topped with char siu, menma (bamboo shoot) and green onions. Another customer favorite is Shoyu Ao ($9.25), served with mizuna (mustard spinach), chicken breast, menma and jalapeno.
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- Shio Ramen withTontoro topping ($8.75 regular, $10.95 large; add $3 for Tontoro topping)
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- Homemade Gyoza ($5.99, 6 pieces)
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- Shoyu Ao ($9.25)
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- Shoyu Ao, Shio Ramen with Tontoro topping and Homemade Gyoza.
New items are added to the menu every few months. Among the recent offerings is Tontoro topping (6 pieces for $3), which features an exquisitely sweet and tender pork cut that’s carved from the center of the jowl meat. There also is Homemade Gyoza (6 pieces, $5.99) filled with pork, chives and Chinese cabbage, baked to perfection.
For dessert, sample Black Sesame Ice Cream ($3), Yuzu Sorbet ($3.75) and Green Tea Tofu Mousse ($3.75).
This month, the restaurant also plans to expand its menu with yakitori items available at night, such as grilled chicken, meat and vegetables on skewers.
Inada, who moved from Japan to Hawaii 20 years ago, says her husband always wanted to eat ramen but couldn’t find a place here that cooked it in the particular Tokyo style.
“He loves to eat ramen, and wanted to eat it three times a day,” she explains. “So, he decided to open this restaurant.”
Kiwami Ramen
641 Keeaumoku St. #2
955-1122
11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily (Lunch)
5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (Dinner)
5:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Dinner)
kiwami-ramen.com
Honolulu, HI 96814
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