A satisfyingly sweet treat to eat

Shokudo’s Brown Sugar Boba Honey Toast Bowl ($18)

Centrally located on Kapiolani Boulevard, Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar will mark a major milestone next month. The eatery that specializes in Asian fusion cuisine with an emphasis on Japanese food will celebrate its 16th birthday in March.

“That wouldn’t be possible without our loyal patrons. We’d like to extend our deepest appreciation to all of those who have dined with us over the years. Thank you!” says general manager Ryan Ko.

Customers seeking to satisfy their sweet tooth will find heaven in Shokudo’s Brown Sugar Boba Honey Toast Bowl ($18). It contains homemade boba pearls, brown sugar syrup, condensed milk, butter and Roselani vanilla ice cream. The bread is hand-cut, toasted, tossed in butter, cov ered with brown sugar syrup, drizzled with condensed milk, and topped with four scoops of vanilla ice cream.

“It’s nearly double the size of your traditional honey toast,” Ko explains.

Among the restaurant’s savory top sellers are its flavorful sushi rolls. For example, the Lobster Dynamite Roll is a rich and creamy California roll topped with a homemade dynamite sauce and baby lobster tail.

Meanwhile, the Mermaid Roll is another tasty treat, which begins with crispy shrimp tempura and cucumber. Next, this delicious item is topped with a homemade spicy tuna mix, kabayaki sauce and sesame oil.

“It’s the perfect combination of sweet, spicy and crunchy,” Ko notes.

Shokudo’s hot stone (ishiyaki) bowls are also extremely popular. These “hot” sellers are served three different ways: the classic Nagoya-style unagi rice; sukiyaki bibimbap (a traditional Korean dish with a Japanese twist); and the garlic shrimp rice, which is a local favorite. Bowls are served and mixed tableside.

“The 500-degree hot stone bowl creates the perfect crispy texture and adds a nice smoky flavor to each dish,” Ko shares.