This summer, where will the temperature rise the highest? Well, if we’re talking in terms of food, then Makino Chaya is hot, hot, hot with its Japanese seafood buffet. During a season where a fast-paced lifestyle seems to slow down a bit to allow for some fun, it’s also the perfect time to open yourself up to an all-you-can-eat buffet. No limits, no boundaries; you can indulge in as much grub as your stomach will allow.
Located in Aiea’s Westridge Shopping Center, Makino Chaya opens its doors at 11 a.m. daily. Still, at half past 10, a few eager diners already have gathered outside the entrance of the restaurant,waiting for the rest of their party. The spacious dining room — capable of hosting upwards of 300 guests — comes alive as guests head straight for the expansive buffet line, spotlighting everything from a teppanyaki station, to a sushi bar, salad bar, hot line, ramen station, full dessert bar and more. And that’s not including the establishment’s made-to-order dinner selection. Peruse the menu, and steamed Argentinian king crab and Maine lobster reel in crustacean fanatics who speak highly of the lobster’s sesame Tobanjan sauce, which brings a zing of sweet and spicy to the dish. For something richer, Lobster with Cheese Sauce is ideal. Makino Chaya’s famous Miso Butterfish made with Chilean sea bass also wins over appetites, big time. In fact, the restaurant routinely goes through 300 to 400 pounds of fish per week to satisfy the overwhelming demand from patrons. Oyster connoisseurs are partial to the classic Rockefeller oyster, as well as broiled oysters smothered in bacon and cheese. So, if our math is accurate, this amounts to more than 100 items readily available to feast on. Let the eating marathon begin!
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- Miso Butterfish
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- Floor manager Bri-Anne Carvalho enjoys Makino Chaya’s seafood favorites, including Steamed Snow Crab, Manila Clams, Lobster with Cheese Sauce, Ahi Poke, Raw Oysters and Ahi Sashimi.
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- Floor manager Bri-Anne Carvalho with Steamed Crab Legs
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- Steamed Snow Crab
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- Manila Clams
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- Kobe American Beef
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- Ahi Poke, Raw Oysters and Ahi Sashimi
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- Lobster with Cheese Sauce
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- Oyster Rockefeller and Bacon and Cheese Oysters
The lunch buffet is priced at $11.98 Monday through Friday and $18.98 Saturday and Sunday. The dinner buffet, featuring king crab, lobster, soft shell crab and butterfish (with bone), is available Monday through Thursday for $27.98 and Friday through Sunday for $29.98. “For an all-you-can-eat buffet, our prices already are very affordable. Better yet, we recently introduced an Early Bird Special from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in which customers can partake in everything on the dinner buffet line for only $19.98,” says restaurant manager Chris Mitchell, noting that menu items and other discounts or promotions are not applicable with this special deal. “You can’t go wrong with such a great value for an all-youcan-eat dinner buffet, and many patrons are taking advantage of this early-bird option.”
And who wouldn’t? Endless rounds of Kobe American Beef served at the carving station are more than enough reason to get an early start on dinner. “The meat is so tender, it melts in your mouth. It’s beautifully marbled, flavored with our special Makino Chaya rub,” says Mitchell.
Fresh-shucked, raw oysters are a cool, refreshing treat on warm evenings — a nice follow-up to time spent at the sizzling, teppan flat-iron grill. According to Mitchell, locals love this succulent seafood option, in addition to fresh cuts of ahi poke and ahi sashimi; all integral components of a top-notch buffet here in the Islands. “Ahi is the most popular, and we go through more ahi than anything else,” he confirms.
At Makino Chaya it’s been well determined that patrons come for the seafood first and foremost. Of course, Dungeness crab and snow crab are the rage among the dinner crowd, which has no shame stocking up on succulent Manila Clams.
Log onto makinochayahawaii.com to access coupons redeemable at Makino Chaya, as Mitchell says the restaurant does its best to give its new and loyal customers the best deals.
“We want to keep our local customers coming back for more by offering them good food at good prices,” he adds. It’s because of their loyalty and support that our restaurant continues to thrive.”
Makino Chaya
Westridge Shopping Center
98-150 Kaonohi St. #B219, Aiea
486-5100
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 A.M.-1:30 P.M., Saturday And Sunday, 11 A.M.-2 P.M.
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday, 5-8:30 P.M., And Friday-Saturday, 5-9 P.M.
makinochayahawaii.com
Aiea, HI 96701
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