Page 3 - Dining Out - January 29, 2023

as been working with restaurants Hawaii for more than 22 years, in- luding with industry icons such as ussell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, and is miliar with opening up restaurant oncepts. We sat down and tried a w of the brand’s bestselling items, s he shared what else this restau- nt trio has to offer and what makes
ach concept unique.
L: What do JINYA Ramen Bar, BD Japanese Bar & Lounge and obata JINYA offer?
F: JINYA Ramen Bar is the flagship the brand. What makes this ra- en unique is that our noodles are ade from scratch and undergo a pecial aging process before they re cooked in Fuji water which is 9.9% free from impurities. The roth is slowly simmered for more an 20 hours. There are six signa- re broths, including vegan, that alance flavors — from whole pork ones, chicken, vegetables, and a ombination of bonito, dashi, miso, ombu and other Japanese ingre- ients — that result in a rich, thick,
ll-flavored delicious broth.
Our owner’s vision is one where
people eat ramen every day, like when people order pizza or a burg- er. Hawaii is our 49th location and there will be 12 or more locations expected to open all over the coun- try by the end of the year.
Robata JINYA is more of a fine-din- ing sushi restaurant using the tradi- tional robatayaki type of cooking and techniques that were imple- mented at his father’s restaurant. This features slow charcoal-grilled skewered meats and vegetables, in addition to some fun signature dishes.
LBD is the first of its kind. It stands for “La Brea dining,” not “little black dress,” as many of our guests ask. Our owner wanted to do a Japanese whisky bar in Honolulu, and this was the perfect open-air location.
With the combination of all three options, we offer something for ev- eryone, and each restaurant has its own entrance.
AL: What are the items that chef has prepared for us today?
RF: The Premium Tonkotsu Red ($19.80) is our spicy ramen in a pork broth. It features pork chashu,
kikurage, green onions, seasoned egg, dried seaweed, red hot chile oil and spicy bean sprouts served with thick noodles. You can choose your preference of spice level (0- 10). If you choose higher than level six, an additional $1 will be added. Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna ($10.80) is crispy grilled sushi rice topped with spicy tuna, and garnished with sliced serrano pepper.
We offer extensive vegan/veg- etarian options, like the vegetari- an Impossible Bun ($6.50 for one piece). It’s our plant-based bun, Impossible meat made from plants, guacamole and cucumber with veg- an mayonnaise.
Flying Vegan Harvest ($19.80) features vegan miso broth, Impos- sible meat, tofu, bean sprouts, Broc- colini, green onion, corn, red onion, crispy garlic and chile seasoning served with thick noodles. You can substitute kale noodles for an addi- tional $1.20.
Spicy Creamy Shrimp Tempura ($10.80) is crispy shrimp tempu- ra tossed in JINYA’s original spicy mayonnaise, done in the classic “ebi-mayo” style.
AL: You are known for your spe- cialty cocktails (in addition to your extensive sake, wine and whisky offerings). Can you tell me about these drinks?
RF: We like to give our bartenders a little carte blanche to showcase their talents and show some of their flair. The Lycheetini ($10) is one of our most popular, made with soju, lychee juice and fresh lychee. We prepare this tableside, and it comes with a smoked bubble.
The twisted Twisted Sipper ($18) has Haku vodka, fruit de la passion, lime juice, almond orgeat syrup, mango purée and a serrano disk.
AL: There is a limited-time spe- cial with Sapporo. Can you tell me more about this promotion?
RF: Until Feb. 28 (while supplies last), order a JINYA Tonkotsu Black plus two pieces of crispy chicken and a Sapporo draft for $24 — and guests can take the pint glass home for free.
AL: Is there anything else you want to share?
RF: The mural is iconic and is at
JINYA Restaurants
1118 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 100, Honolulu, HI 96814
jinyaholdings.com
LBD Japanese Bar & Lounge 808-480-8677
JINYA Ramen Bar 808-480-8477
Robata JINYA 808-480-8577
1. Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna ($10.80)
2 & 3. JINYA Tonkotsu Black plus two pieces of crispy chicken ($24, comes with a Sapporo draft)
4. Spicy Creamy Shrimp Tempura ($10.80) 5. Impossible Bun ($6.50 for one piece)
every JINYA location. And our hot sauce is special. It’s handmade with peppers fermented in Napa Valley wine barrels and aged for seven months. All our ramen bowls are handmade and fired in a kiln four times. The process takes about 120 days, and the JINYA kanji is hand painted on each bowl.
Dining Out / January 29 – February 4, 2023 / 3
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Restaurant Insider with Anne Lee
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