Page 4 - Dining Out - May 15, 2022

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Dining Out / May 15-21, 2022
Story by
KYLE GALDEIRA
More than two years after taking over Kabuki Restaurant & Delicatessen at Waimalu Shop- ping Center, general manager John Afong and his veteran culinary and service team are thankful for the loyal and new customers who have supported the busi- ness throughout and after emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The electrical contractor by trade wanted to open a dining establishment and teamed up with business part- ner Randall Hayashi to help make the dream a reality. The duo “looked into the numbers” and eventually took over in October 2019.
“Since I frequent bars and restaurants all the time and have many close friends that are in the restaurant indus- try, it was a natural progression and familiar industry for
Photos by
LAWRENCE TABUDLO
me,” Afong says. “I heard that the owner of Kabuki was ready to retire but couldn’t find anyone interested in taking over. The style of cuisine is basic, old-style Japanese food with a lot of different options, all prepared with traditional cooking methods.”
Kabuki’s deli and okazuya service is available seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and guests can enjoy local favorites the helped the restaurant earn first-place honors for “Best Okazuya” in the 2021 edition of Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii’s Best people’s choice awards.
Guests can also build a lunch plate from more than 20 different items (prices vary), including cone sushi, which diners describe as “ginormous, it’s huge!” Deep-
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