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Saimin house serves up specials

A La Carte Columns

May 8, 2016

Story By: Yu Shing Ting |

Fresh Corned Beef Cabbage ($10.50)

Fresh Corned Beef Cabbage ($10.50)

When it comes to old-school local-favorite diners, you can bet that Shiro’s Saimin Haven is on the list.

Founded in 1968 by Franz Shiro Matsuo, the local family-run restaurant is known for its tasty island comfort food, including its famous saimin.

Customers can enjoy an extensive menu with more than 60 saimin dishes, an endless list of sides, as well as sandwiches, hamburgers, Hawaiian food, local-style plate lunches, seafood, breakfast food and more.

Try the Old School Special ($10.95, Monday and Tuesday), which includes small Wun Tun Min with vegetables, Hula Burga (hamburger), french fries and a Soda Float. (Also available Wednesday through Sunday for $12.25.)

“A lot of people know we make our own noodles, but we make our own wun tun too,” notes manager Sheena Arca. “We make it fresh every morning, and it has pork, green onion and egg. And the wun tun wrap itself is good, too.

Shiro's is an inviting island-style eatery. B. COLLINS PHOTO

Shiro’s is an inviting island-style eatery. B. COLLINS PHOTO

“Also for the hamburger, it’s a homemade hamburger patty. We make a fresh batch every morning, so it’s really fresh. And it comes with crinkle-cut french fries.”

The restaurant also offers some new specials, such as Fresh Corned Beef Cabbage ($10.50) consisting of fresh, homemade corned beef with cabbage, carrots and potato, and served with two scoops of rice.

“We introduced it about a month ago, and so far a lot of customers like it,” says Arca. “Plus the portion is really big. Right now, we’re creating new specials to attract customers because of the (rail) construction outside. Even though there’s traffic, we want people to know we’re still here, and we have a lot of specials going on.”

Old School Special ($10.95) NATHALIE WALKER PHOTO

Old School Special ($10.95) NATHALIE WALKER PHOTO

In addition to its original Waimalu Shopping Center location, which has a takeout window and dine-in restaurant, Shiro’s Saimin has a second location in Ewa Beach. Both share the same menu, but specials are available at Waimalu only.

Shiro’s Saimin Haven

WAIMALU
Waimalu Shopping Center
98-020 Kamehameha Hwy.,Aiea
488-8824
(restaurant and catering)
488-8834 (takeout)

EWA BEACH
Ewa Beach Shopping Center
91-919 Fort Weaver Road
689-0999

HOURS
Waimalu: Sunday-Thursday,
7 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday,
7 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

WEB
Shiros-saimin.com

Ewa Beach, HI 96706

Aiea, HI 96701

Ilima Awards
Hawaii's Best