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Feels Like ‘Home’

A La Carte

November 26, 2017

Story By: Yu Shing Ting | Photos by: Anthony Consillio

Three-soup option ($24.95) with an array of sides (prices vary)

As its name suggests, Sweet Home Cafe offers a comfy, homey feeling along with heart-warming flavors that are sure to hit the spot.

Known for its exceptional hot pot, guests start by choosing their broth (there are about 15 varieties) and meat. Then, head to the glass-door refrigerators stocked with 110-plus items, including vegetables, seafood, noodles and more (prices vary by color of plate).

“It’s really convenient,” says assistant manager Jeff Pack. “We have shellfish, shrimp, mussels, clams, lobster tails, cabbage, baby bok choy, noodles and more — and you can choose your dipping sauces.”

There are two Sweet Home Cafe locations: its original Moiliili restaurant that has been open for about 10 years, and a new Waikiki eatery that opened in September.

Two-soup option ($14.95) with sides (prices vary)

Pack notes that new items are regularly rolled out, such as a new soup called Volcano. The restaurant also is

BYOB, but serves a variety of drinks (the Milk Tea Boba drink is a must, as well as the new Matcha Soy Latte). The Moiliili location also has allyou-can-eat for $17.95 from 4 to 6 p.m.

“We always greet everyone with a smile and our No.

1 goal is to make sure everyone feels at home,” adds Pack. “To top it off, our soup is outstanding. We’re one of the pioneers for hot pots on the island, and we want to thank all of our dedicated customers. It really does feel like a family here.”

SIPPING ON SOUP

Sweet Home Cafe encourages family-style dining, and, to make it easier to share, the restaurant offers split hot pots where you can enjoy more than one broth. The Moiliili location offers a single or two-compartment hot pot (prices vary by selection), while the Waikiki location has a one($8.95), two($14.95) or three-soup option ($24.95). Among the favorites are Healthy Herb ($8.95) made with 14 herbs that have been boiled for about eight hours; and House Special ($8.95), an original item described as a well-balanced soup with a seafood base, and various herbs and spices.

Assistant manager Jeff Pack recommends Spicy (his personal favorite), made with a beef base and house spice. “It’s very flavorful and actually very mild, but we can adjust the spice level,” he assures. “We have a very wide variety of soups that appeal to all diets — vegetarian, vegan, meat-lovers, seafood-lovers — we can do it all.”

Honolulu, HI 96815

Honolulu, HI 96826

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