A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S HOUSE SPECIAL: Jalea De Mariscos ($20 personal, $28 family-style)
It’s perfectly normal to instantly feel like family at Mimi’s Place.
As soon as you walk into the music-filled, fiery red-accented establishment, you’re greeted with friendly personalities and an uplifting atmosphere. You may even want to start dancing on the spot.
At the vivacious eatery, you’ll find the heart behind the restaurant in the kitchen, as owner and chef Mimi Rivasplata dishes out her authentic Peruvian recipes with exponential amounts of love. You also can spot this spirited beauty, pictured some years ago on her wedding day in Peru, in a black and white photo on the eatery’s wall. Anyone who meets her can still see that young girl, dressed in elegant white, in Rivasplata’s vibrant eyes and genuine smile.
As for the food, expect an international fusion of ingredients, cooking styles and flavors. Rivasplatas explains, “We have a lot of international food in Peru because we have a lot of tourists. We have Italian, Peruvian, Japanese and Chinese influences.”
Take Lomo Saltado, for instance, which can be prepared with beef ($20), chicken ($19), shrimp ($25), seafood ($25) or vegetarian-style ($16). The protein of your choice is stir-fried with red onions, tomatoes, cilantro and a special sauce — similar to a stir-fry in Chinese cooking — and is served over a bed of fries and with a scoop of rice. There’s also Jalea de Mariscos ($20 personal, $28 family-style), which is the perfect starter to your meal, boasting perfectly fried varieties of seafood.
Mimi’s Place started as, and continues to be, a catering business, which sprouted from Rivasplatas constantly being asked to cook for her family and friends’ parties and events. After operating as a pop-up shop in Manoa and Kakaako for a few years, the business finally found permanent roots in Waterfront Plaza a year ago, and continues to delight diners from all corners of the world, from every part of the island and from varying ethnic backgrounds.
Like Hawaii, Mimi’s Place is an establishment that delights in a mixture of cultures and flavors.
Mimi’s Place
Waterfront Plaza,
500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 1 E, Honolulu
358-1475
Daily, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; 5-9 p.m.
Honolulu, HI 96813
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