Feasting on the perfect mix of Asian foods

Honey Roasted Barbecue Pork ($12 per pound)

There’s something magical about roasted meat.

Maybe it’s the crispy skin, juicy flavors that ooze with each bite, glossy color of the glaze or a combination of all the above. Whatever it is, Asian Mix on South Beretania Street does roasted meat best.

“We have one of the best char siu on the island. All types of people from all over come here to get it,” says owner Daniel Leung. With a special sauce, the best part of the animal — which Leung shares is the tender center cut of the shoulder — is marinated overnight to make Asian Mix’s char siu, or Honey Roasted Barbecue Pork ($12 per pound). After roasting, the meat is glazed over with honey, adding a unique sweetness to the pork. The dish can be served a la carte or in a combination plate with rice.

If you prefer lighter meat, however, look no further than Asian Mix’s chicken dishes. Everyone knows that you order roast chicken for its crunchy, golden skin, but Asian Mix offers the best of both worlds with Crispy Skin Chicken ($9.50 for half a chicken). Not only is the outside crackly and meltin-your-mouth delicious, but the meat also is flavorful and succulent, which is achieved by cooking the chicken in a special soup broth before quick-frying it.

Crispy Skin Chicken ($9.50 for half a chicken)

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“You don’t want crispy skin with the chicken all dried out because you’ve fried it for too long,” explains Leung. “The kitchen does a lot of prep work for the chicken. They fry it for a short amount of time, only long enough to crisp up the skin.”

At Asian Mix, you’ll actually find that a lot of menu items have Hong-Kong influences, like Crispy Skin Chicken, down to the noodles and the methods of cooking used. This specific traditional Hong Kong-style dish is served with a side of salt and pepper, as well as colorful shrimp chips.

So, whether you’re stopping in for the eatery’s roasted meats, noodle and rice dishes, catering options or Taiwanese-inspired milk teas, the restaurant provides the perfect mix of the many Asian foods that Hawaii has grown to love.

Asian Mix

1234 S. Beretania St., Honolulu
521-1688
Daily, 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.