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Meals that appeal to everyone

A La Carte

June 13, 2021

Story By: Don Robbins |

Combination Bento-3 ($26.95) Photo courtesy GYOTAKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT

As a beloved local community establishment, Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants focuses especially on making sure it has affordable meals that cater to people in all age groups.

Featuring locations in Pearl City, South King Street and Niu Valley, the restaurant is the successful venture of co-owners Tom Jones and Nobutaka “Tony” Sato.

“We’ve been doing Kids Eat Free Mondays and Tuesdays for over 20 years,” Jones emphasizes.

“Many of the parent guests taking advantage of Kids Eat Free were avid Gyotaku ‘Keiki Meal Diners’ when Gyotaku originally opened. We’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary on Aug. 1,” he adds.

The keiki menu, which is available every day, has four choices. It also comes with a healthy beverage and dessert.

Keiki Udon ($9.95) Photo courtesy GYOTAKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT

“So, it’s especially attractive on Mondays and Tuesday when mom, dad and the grandparents can enjoy a nice meal and know the kids will enjoy their meal, too,” Jones shares.

In addition, all Gyotaku restaurants have made a commitment to guests and employees by installing GPS Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Technology in the HVAC systems, reducing airborne pathogens and viruses by over 98%.

“We want to make sure everyone feels safe in our dining environment, so they can relax and enjoy their visit. Come check out the air quality. You can feel and ‘not smell’ the difference,” Jones says.

Gyotaku also has its senior menu all day, every day and an early bird menu from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Sato says that there are many popular menu items, including the Combination Bento-3 ($26.95). Customers can select three entrées from the 11-item bento menu, which are served with rice, miso soup and salad. Among the delicious entrée selections to choose from are teriyaki chicken, tempura, nishime, tonkatsu, karaage, chicken katsu, teriyaki salmon, misoyaki salmon, teriyaki beef, sashimi or misoyaki salmon (additional $2.50).

Another fan-favorite dish available at the establishment is the Misoyaki Salmon Teishoku ($21.95). This carefully prepared fish is served with rice, miso soup and salad.

Chicken Katsu Curry ($14.95) Photo courtesy GYOTAKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Another great item available at the restaurants is Chicken Katsu Curry ($14.95). The tender katsu is slathered in rich and savory curry sauce, topped over rice and served with salad.

Meanwhile, the Tempura Sashimi Teishoku ($26.95), has four pieces of shrimp and vegetable tempura, accompanied by ahi sashimi with rice, miso soup and salad.

Don’t forget about the children, as the company has Keiki Udon ($9.95). It consists of shrimp and vegetable tempura, with udon noodles and fruit.

The eatery’s name is a creative combination of kanji symbols that can be translated to “fish on the table,” in one connotation, or also “fish art,” both of which are great monikers for a wonderful Japanese restaurant, the owners note.

Gyotaku’s longtime business partners, Jones and Sato, were born on opposite sides of the globe, but both have been attracted to the restaurant industry since their youth.

This dynamic duo met while employed by the same corporation in Honolulu. Together, their combined skills in management, marketing and food production created a medley resulting in the successful recipe for Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants.

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