Just like the clean air we breathe and the awe-inspiring views we take in, there is something else we enjoy as residents of the beautiful 50th state: an endless supply of fresh, healthy fish. Home to the one and only Honolulu Fish Auction, it is no wonder why longtime ahi wholesaler Sam Seo decided to launch his own restaurant Ahi & Vegetable more than 10 years ago.
“As a wholesaler of fish, I have access to the freshest inventory of ahi tuna,” says Seo, who heads over to the renowned fish auction every day before sunrise. “Because I buy directly for the restaurant without the use of a middle man like some businesses, I can afford to maintain a reasonable price point.”
Managed under the tagline, “fresh, healthy food,” Ahi & Vegetable’s menu reads like a sashimi and sushi lover’s dream, with more than 40 different options of high-quality sashimi and other proteins paired alongside fresh greens or a choice of white, sushi or brown rice.
Along with using high quality ingredients to maximize flavor, Ahi & Vegetable employs top-notch cleaning practices and boasts state-of-the-art coolers to keep the fish at its best. “Our fish is obtained from the auction on a daily basis, so it is never frozen or mixed with MSG,” says Seo. “Having a facility that can support our dedication to freshness is important.”
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- Sushi Bento B5 ($11)
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- The owner’s son, Paul Seo, 7, enjoys a bento for lunch.
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- Ahi Vegetable (starting at $9)
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- Sashimi Plate (starting at $11)
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- Sushi Bento B2 ($11)
Popular menu items include Ahi Vegetable (starting at $9), a fresh salad of local greens, fish eggs and nori strips, as well as Sashimi Plate (starting at $11), which consists of a generous portion of tuna and salmon sashimi over a bed of leafy greens. For $1 more, customers can order a side of miso soup and rice with their meal.
In addition to salads, the eatery also features an array of donburi-like entrées, udon noodles and curry options. Diners also frequently request Ahi & Vegetable’s signature bento meals, such as Sushi Bento B2 ($11), which comes with fresh ahi and salmon sushi alongside spicy ahi nigiri.
Sushi Bento B5 ($11) is another star item, consisting of grilled chicken, spicy ahi and poke served over warm rice. “The bentos all come with generous portions of food and include miso soup, so it is very filling,” says Seo. “Customers also can customize their bentos by replacing certain ingredients with something that appeals to them.”
In addition to a dine-in menu, Ahi & Vegetable provides catering options. Customers who place a minimum purchase of 10 orders may also qualify for delivery.
Ahi & Vegetable
Kapalama Center
1210 Dillingham Blvd., Honolulu
(with an additional location at Fort Street Mall)
845-3500
Daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
ahiandvegetable.com
Kapalama Shopping Center, Honolulu, HI 96817
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