People usually can gauge if a restaurant is good by its lines and crowd. One of my favorite casual eateries is Asian Mix, where there’s a steady traffic of customers moving in and out of the restaurant every time I’m there.
Owner Daniel Leung admits to being busy, including at its tea counter where you can order a variety of fresh tea, flavored tea, milk tea, iced milk drinks and smoothies. As for the Asian Mix menu, there are tasty, made-to-order Chinese dishes and ramen, as well as pick-up-and-go Japanese bentos, and a convenient express counter with an assortment of ready-made local Chinese food favorites.
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- Braised Tofu with Vegetables ($9.50)
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- Shrimp with Vegetables ($11.95)
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- Won Ton Noodle ($6.95)
According to Leung, one of its best-sellers is Special Won Ton Noodle ($6.95), which can be enjoyed in Asian Mix’s outdoor seating area or on the go. “Our Special Won Ton Noodle is made with noodles from California because we didn’t find something locally that we felt fit the Hong Kong-style won ton that we wanted,” notes Leung. “Also, the won ton, which has shrimp, is homemade and we use a very thin wrapper with a little crispy texture. The soup is a chicken broth soup base that we make every day. There also are some veggies, such as choy sum and a couple of pieces of barbecue pork.”
Also popular is Braised Tofu with Vegetables ($9.50), featuring baby bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and tofu in a flavorful oyster soy sauce that goes great with rice. The portion size is generous, as are many of the other dishes, and it’s perfect for sharing.
For a healthier choice, try Shrimp with Vegetables ($11.95). This dish blends 12 pieces of shrimp with choy sum, baby bok choy, broccoli and carrots. “We don’t cook the dish until you order it, so the veggies come out fresh and nice,” adds Leung. “We stir-fry the veggies with garlic, and then stir fry the shrimp with a white cooking wine. We use larger and fresher ingredients, and it’s reasonably priced.”
With a growing following of customers, Leung has gotten to know many of the regulars by name. He’s often seen running between the back kitchen and the front of the restaurant, but always gives a friendly greeting. Asian Mix is conveniently located at 1234 South Beretania St. (in the same complex as Safeway, ground floor), and offers plenty of free parking.
Asian Mix
1234 South Beretania St., Shop A-1, Honolulu
521-1688
Daily, 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
hiasianmix.com
Honolulu, HI 96814
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