Polar Bear ($9)
Tsukada Nojo only opened a few months ago, but it’s quickly becoming a go-to destination for diners looking for delicious Japanese fare made with local ingredients. The modern restaurant boasts a great selection of hot and cold small plates, as well as hot-pot specials.
For starters, restaurant general manager Edward Mailoa recommends Chicken Veggie Tacos ($12), made with curry chicken, tomato, red onion and cilantro wrapped with a sliced radish.
Chicken Veggie Tacos ($12)
“It’s one of our No. 1-selling dishes,” he says. “For the taco shell, we don’t use real tacos. We use a radish and make it in a taco shape. It’s popular for sharing, and a lot of ladies like this item — it’s light and more on the healthy side.”
In terms of entrees, Tsukada first-timers often order Bijin Nabe ($25). All hot pot specials feature a simmering pot of stock that’s placed in the center of the table and served with a side of accompaniments in a box.
“The Bijin Nabe is our specialty,” Mailoa explains. “There are three different meat choices — chicken, pork or beef — but we’re known for the chicken. It comes with a lot of vegetables, like zucchini, watermelon radish, tofu, enoki mushrooms, maitake mushrooms and a tsukune meat ball. Tsukune is basically ground chicken.
Bijin Nabe ($25)
“We also have other different nabes like Bijin Sukiyaki Nabe ($45) and Spicy Bijin Nabe ($17.5),” he adds. “A lot of local people like the spicy option.”
Don’t forget to save room for dessert. Mailoa says the signature Polar Bear ($9) dessert is not one to be missed.
“It’s shave ice and we form it in a bear shape,” he says. “There’s a mix of fruits, mochi and black bean on the inside, and it’s topped with milk syrup and vanilla ice cream.”
kada first-timers often order Bijin Nabe ($25). All hot pot specials feature a simmering pot of stock that’s placed in the center of the table and served with a side of accompaniments in a box.
The interior of Tsukada Nojo sports a beautiful wood theme.
“The Bijin Nabe is our specialty,” Mailoa explains. “There are three different meat choices — chicken, pork or beef — but we’re known for the chicken. It comes with a lot of vegetables, like zucchini, watermelon radish, tofu, enoki mushrooms, maitake mushrooms and a tsukune meat ball. Tsukune is basically ground chicken.
“We also have other different nabes like Bijin Sukiyaki Nabe ($45) and Spicy Bijin Nabe ($17.5),” he adds. “A lot of local people like the spicy option.”
Don’t forget to save room for dessert. Mailoa says the signature Polar Bear ($9) dessert is not one to be missed.
“It’s shave ice and we form it in a bear shape,” he says. “There’s a mix of fruits, mochi and black bean on the inside, and it’s topped with milk syrup and vanilla ice cream.”
Tsukada Nojo
1731 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu
951-4444
Monday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, 5-10 p.m.; happy hour: Monday-Saturday, 9 p.m.-closing
nojohawaii.com
Honolulu, HI 96826
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