Nearly half a century after Kozo Sushi first opened its doors in Osaka, Japan, the restaurant continues to roll out favorites, as its fresh approach to fast food satiates diners in their pursuit of stellar sushi.
Kozo Sushi has grown throughout the island with five convenient locations, including at Kahala Mall, and as Kozo Sushi management explains, “The fact that we started out in Japan helps to set us apart from the competition. Kozo Sushi is in fact the No. 1 fast-food sushi chain in Japan, and has the largest number of sushi establishments. We also use ingredients and recipes from Japan that have been developed over many years.”
Kozo Sushi’s main priority is to provide great value via quality sushi at reasonable prices. This philosophy allows the restaurant to serve customers who may be pressed for time, including those stopping in for a quick lunch or picking up dinner after a long day of work. The sushi recipes blend traditional Japanese flavors and preparation techniques with more mainstream and local flavors and accents that appeal to a broad spectrum of tastes and preferences, while new items constantly are introduced to keep the menu fresh.
“Overall, our menu has a balanced mix of both traditional and local-style sushi items,” Kozo Sushi management says. “This is because we want to cater to all kinds of people, from children to adults. We also serve traditional items because we want the locals to know more about traditional types of sushi.”
Patrons continue to enjoy out-ofthe-box favorites such as Dragon Maki ($7.25). The shrimp tempura roll is prepared with a tangy sauce and is topped with the ever-popular spicy ahi. Spicy Crunchy Maki ($6.50) also features shrimp tempura, along with cucumber and avocado, but is dusted with tempura chips to add a signature crunch to each bite.
“The tempura chips make the dish unique. It really pops,” Kozo management says.
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- Spicy Crunchy Maki ($6.50)
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- Dragon Maki ($7.25)
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- Tsunami Maki ($7.25)
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- Hurricane Maki ($7.25)
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- Kozo Sushi Kahala manager Miulene Pilanca
Diners also reach for Hurricane Maki ($7.25), a flavorful concoction of shrimp tempura and lettuce rolled into maki form before being topped with salmon, green onions and iconic barbecue chips. The maki is accented with the sweet and not so spicy combination of teriyaki sauce and wasabi mayonnaise. Similarly, Dynamite Maki ($7.25) also presents the sought-after shrimp tempura and barbecue potato chip combination topped with spicy ahi, masago, sweet chili sauce and wasabi mayo.
Those looking for a flavorful, fresh take on a sushi classic are encouraged to try Tsunami Maki ($7.25), which features a California-style roll adorned with fresh ahi.
“To anyone who hasn’t tried Kozo Sushi, we would like customers to know that we have all kinds of sushi, from authentic classics to local fusion varieties,” Kozo Sushi management states. “We also cater to those who cannot eat raw fish or seafood. Also, we sell high-quality bentos and noodle dishes.”
And just in time for those looking to cater family gatherings and business functions, Kozo Sushi offers eight party platters designed to please attendees at any occasion. Popular options, which usually are available for same-day pickup, include Deluxe Nigiri Set ($29.99) with 45 pieces of freshly made sushi, including 27 nigiri pieces and 18 hoso maki pieces. Kahala Special Plate ($35.99) dishes out 46 pieces of sushi, including 24 maki sushi and 22 pieces of nigiri, while Kamaaina Plate ($43.99, order at least two hours in advance, no raw fish) offers the ultimate sushi assortment with 98 pieces.
Additional options include Junior Set ($16.99), Sukeroku Plate ($19.50), Deluxe Maki Set ($25.99) Aloha Set ($25.99) and Family Set ($25.99).
“The party platters that Kozo Sushi serves are a great fit for any type of gathering because there are options that can satisfy everyone’s tastes,” explains Kozo Sushi management. “Whether it’s a small or large gathering, a platter with raw fish or a mixture of multiple items, our food becomes sensations.”
Serving up fresh and local flavors of superb sushi is what Kozo Sushi staff does best, and they do so with a smile — a characteristic of the restaurant group’s commitment to customer service.
Kozo Sushi
Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave., Honolulu (in addition to four other locations)
738-KOZO (5696)
Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.8 p.m.
Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
KozoSushiHawaii.com
Honolulu, HI 96816
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