Floating on air with new buffet bites
Features Order of the DayAugust 9, 2015
Story By: Kyle Galdeira | Photos by: NATHALIE WALKER
Assorted fresh poke from the lunch buffet.
While multiple generations of diners have grown up with the memorable weekend dinner and Sunday brunch buffets served up at Pagoda Floating Restaurant, local food fanatics will be thrilled to hear that the dining destination now offers a stellar lunch buffet throughout the week.
After more than five decades of serving the community and visitors alike, Pagoda Floating Restaurant represents a local icon known for its fusion of mouthwatering cuisine and unforgettable oasis-like ambience. Surrounded by koi ponds, lush gardens and cascading waterfalls, Pagoda offers up a wide range of Asian-, Americanand Hawaiian-influenced local-style comfort food enveloped by a tranquil, natural setting.
Under the guidance of executive chef Jason Takemura, the familiar restaurant’s menu features locally grown ingredients and fresh flavors. Takemura explains that he takes pride in seeing customers enjoy themselves in the family-friendly environment, where diners of all ages can enjoy their favorite meals while also taking time to feed the giant koi.
Takemura and his heart-of-the-house team have put together a scrumptious lunch buffet ($16.95 for adults, $7.50 for children ages 5-10) available Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The expansive buffet features a poke bar with selections such as shoyu and spicy ahi, mussel varieties and even tofu poke. Two fresh “catch of the day” selections also grace the buffet, including seafood lemongrass and steamed fish, island style. Fried rice, noodles, fresh salads, vegetables, fruits and delec-table desserts also are available on the lunch buffet, which also presents rotating entrees such as teriyaki chicken, Okinawan miso pork and panko-crusted ahi. The Pagoda team gets its fish fresh from the auction and prepares dishes daily to offer the best flavor and incredible value for guests.
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- Executive chef Jason Takemura fillets an ahi.
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- Seafood lemongrass is part of Pagoda’s lunch buffet ($16.95 adults, $7.50 children ages 5-10)
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- Steamed fish, island style
“When people hear ‘buffet,’ sometimes they have the impression is that it’s only appropriate for large groups or special occasions,” explains Takemura. “I want to make sure to let our guests know that the buffet offers great value, and you can still choose from our a la carte menu as well. We do our best to offer the freshest fish possible, everything from ahi to swordfish.”
Diners of all ages also can look forward to Pagoda’s must-try dinner buffet ($38.95, $18.95 for children), available Friday through Sunday, from 5 to 9 p.m. The Sunday brunch buffet ($35.95, $17.95 for children) is offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and, like the dinner buffet, features Hot Snow Crab Legs in addition to a host of local favorites.
Feeling lucky? Through the end of the year, Pagoda is giving away monthly Las Vegas getaways for two winners (no purchase necessary) and entries can be made during breakfast (buffet served from 6:30 to 9 a.m.) and lunch. Stop in now for a chance to head to the “Ninth Island!”
PAGODA FLOATING RESTAURANT
Where: 1525 Rycroft St., Honolulu
Call: 948-8356
Hours: Breakfast daily, 6:30-9 a.m.; Lunch, Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dinner, Friday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m.; Brunch, Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Web: PagodaHawaii.com
Notes: Diners at Pagoda Floating Restaurant are treated to free parking at the adjacent lot on Rycroft Street from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pagoda also offers catering options for those hosting a business function, tailgate party or other gathering off-site, as well as private dining areas for in-house meetings, parties and functions.
