Page 5 - Dining Out - May 16, 2021

Cover Story
TsuruTonTan
Royal Hawaiian Center 2233 Kalakaua Ave. B310 808-888-8559 tsurutontan.com/hawaii Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; 4:30-8:30 p.m. daily
“People are still recovering from the COVID effects on the economy, so we want to help them get as much value as we can,” says Lathrop. “We want to give the best pric- es we can to help out the community.”
To that end, a hot-ticket item on the menu is Uni Cream Udon ($25 regular; $21 happy hour). A unique concept, uni — or sea ur- chin — not only tops off the noodle dish, but is also incorporated into the base. Mentai Kamatama Udon ($20 regular; $16 hap- py hour), meanwhile, is served cold, and encompasses slow-cooked egg, tempura flakes and green onion.
“This one is really nice because of the presentation of that slow-cooked egg — cutting it open and having the yolk ooze into the udon,” says Lathrop. “The mixture makes it a lot more creamier ... and it has that bit of crunch from the tempura flakes, as well.”
The restaurant’s namesake — TsuruTon- Tan Deluxe ($25 regular; $20 happy hour) — is the perfect match for those who just can’t make up their mind. It’s a “loaded udon” as Lathrop puts it, and the restaurant’s
most popular dish. It features the flavors of beef, chicken and egg, with vegetable and shrimp tempura. The Curry Deluxe ($25 regular; $20 happy hour), meanwhile, fea- tures exquisite beef flavoring, along with pork katsu and shrimp tempura.
Lathrop adds that the Nabeyaki Udon ($21 regular; $18 happy hour) is ordered most by kupuna “because it’s a traditional udon that people ate growing up.”
Open for dine-in and takeout, TsuruTon- Tan offers a bento lunch (prices vary), as well as a weekly changing special for $9.95. Check them out on Instagram (@tsuruton- tan_hi) to keep up with the latest news.
Coming up, the restaurant is set to de- but new menu items, as well as an outdoor seating area, this summer.
1. Mentai Kamatama Udon ($20 regular; $16 happy hour)
2. Nabeyaki Udon ($21 regular; $18 happy hour)
3. Uni Cream Udon ($25 regular; $21 happy hour)
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NEW! LUNCH & HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL AT ROY’S KO OLINA ROSÉ & BRIE SPECIAL  $29
BAKED BRIE ENCROUTE
CABERNET POACHED FUJI APPLE | TOASTED BAGUETTE | LOCAL HONEY BUTTER
CHOICE OF BOTTLE OF ROSÉ
FABRE CÔTES DE PROVENCE | ARNOT ROBERTS| PETITE BOURGEOUS
SCAN FOR MENUS, SPECIALS, & RESERVATIONS »
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ROYYAMAGUCHI.COM
Dining Out / May 16-22, 2021
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