Hawaii's First Pepper Lunch

 

I recently met up with a couple of friends for dinner at Pepper Lunch, a Japanese chain that recently opened on Oahu. It was all of our first time, so we were excited to see what it was all about.

Ordering is done at a kiosk, and once your food is ready, the employees bring it right to your table. Each table comes equipped with two sauces—a garlic soy sauce and a sweet honey sauce—so you can flavor  your meal to your liking.

We decided to try a few different dishes: the Cream Shrimp Pasta, Beef Pepper Rice, and Angus Rib Eye. Each dish arrived sizzling hot in a stone pot, and the aroma alone was irresistible! You can hear the sizzle and smell everything cooking as soon as it hits the table.

Cream Shrimp Pasta

Ribeye Steak

I ordered the Beef Pepper Rice and added garlic chips because, well, why not? It was VERY garlicky, but in the best way possible. The garlic chips added a nice crunch and even more flavor to an already delicious dish.

We also ordered a side of onion rings just for fun. They were crispy and a nice addition to the meal.

As someone who loves teppanyaki, I really enjoyed the Pepper Lunch experience. I like that you get the fun of a sizzling teppanyaki-style meal without the formal sit-down experience. Everything was flavorful, interactive, and satisfying.

This was my first visit, but definitely not my last. I'm already thinking about bringing the family next time!

Open daily: 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM.

PEPPER LUNCH

930 VALKENBURGH STREET (MOANALUA SHOPPING CENER)

808-458-5237

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Visit Alaska: Extreme Fun Center

We were near Wasilla, so we decided to stop at Extreme Fun Center.

It's a huge center, with an arcade, bumper cars, mini bowling, rock climbing, and so much more. 

We were there solely for the arcade. 

The arcade is huge, with all sorts of games that kept the kids busy for nearly two hours. 

What I really loved at Extreme Fun Center that I never saw in any other arcade - someone cleaning the game controls, buttons, etc. throughout the day.

I really appreciated how they take cleanliness seriously.
 
Extreme Fun Center

3501 E Old Matanuska Rd

Wasilla, AK 99654
 

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Visit Kauai - Mariachi Mexican Cuisine

After our hike in Kilauea, we drove back towards Lihue in search of lunch. When we spotted Mariachi's Mexican Cuisine restaurant we decided to check it out. The menu is extensive with your choice of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and so much more. They also have a nice collection of margaritas.

I ordered the mariachi's chimichanga with shredded beef that was served with rice and refried pinto beans. The complimentary basket of chips and salsa was delicious and held us over until our meals arrived. We all really enjoyed the food and the nice relaxing ambience of the casual eatery. Service was great too. Perfect for large groups.

Mariachi Chimichanga

Tacos

Mariachi's Mexican Cuisine

4-1387 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746

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five | one | six at Four Seasons Resort Oahu

Stunning views and chill vibes await at five | one | six at Four Seasons Resort Oahu — a rooftop bar and lounge where you can unwind with your favorite cocktail (or mocktail).

I was fortunate to attend a media event there to experience the amazing views and easygoing vibes for myself.    

It's a great spot for pre-dinner drinks, or if you simply need a place to hang out and relax with a drink in hand after a long day. 

Sit back, order a drink, and enjoy the view at five | one | six!

five | one | six

Four Seasons Resort Oahu
92-1001 Olani St

Kapolei, HI 96707

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Visit Kauai - Bella Dia Spa

If you are ever in need of a massage in Lihue, Kauai, check out Bella Dia. Located on the second floor of the Lihue Harbor Mall, Bella Dia offers spa services as well as yoga and fitness classes. I found Bella Dia from their great reviews on Yelp. Our group of three wanted to get massages on a Sunday before flying back to Oahu. They called in extra therapists to accommodate us so we could have massages at the same start time which we really appreciated.

I had a Swedish massage with Chelsea and she was amazing. She listened to my concerns and checked with me on the pressure. The massage was wonderful and just what I needed. My friends had deep tissue massages with Michael and Missy and they also raved about their experiences. Highly recommend!

Bella Dia

3501 Rice St Suite 2016

Lihue, HI 96766

(808) 378-2278

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DOMODOMO

I have an affinity for golf course restaurants, so I was excited to visit DOMODOMO.

Agedashi Tofu

Chef's Choice 8-Piece Sushi Plate

Truffle Salt Fries

Miso Black Cod

Washu Beef Udon

Pork Loin Katsu

Upon arrival, we were told we had a 2-hour time limit for dinner.

I enjoyed the tofu (lots of umami) and the fries (so addicting).  I don't eat much sushi, but the kids loved it.

I had the Miso Black Cod.  I thought the carrot puree gave it a little too much sweetness, but overall the dish was fine.

The Sushi & Hand Roll Course can be shared.

Sushi & Hand Roll Course:

Seasonal Fish Crudo

Chef's Choice 9-Piece Premium Sushi

Hand Rolls

The timing was off for the coursed menu.  

We were waiting a very long time for the hand rolls to come out.  When a FOH was clearing the dishes, she asked if we were waiting for anything else, and we had to advise her we were still waiting for the hand rolls. 

Turns out, regardless of when you were seated, if you ordered the coursed menu, the third courses were all dropped at the same time.  

A server finally came out with 4 plates of hand rolls and dropped them to tables that were seated much later than us, with our table being the last to get dropped.  

We decided not to get dessert because we didn't want to wait any longer than we needed to.

Despite the timing and service issues, the food was overall good. 

DOMODOMO
91-050 Fort Weaver Rd

Ewa Beach, HI 96706

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Visit Anchorage: Akutaq at Blackbull Native Store

I saw a thread on Reddit that you can find akutaq, a type of Native Yup'ik "ice cream," at Blackbull Native Store.  

Traditionally made with animal fat (from caribou, reindeer, etc.), fish, and berries, modern versions are made with Crisco, sugar, and berries.

At Blackbull Native Store they offered a huge variety of flavors.  

The employee said to try the "OG" flavor, which was made with salmonberries. 

It was slightly sweet, slightly tart.  It was nice to try a native type of dish.   

The store also offers teas, goods, and other types of foods.

Definitely check out Blackbull Native Store to try some akutaq!


Blackbull Native Store

501 W International Airport Rd Unit 30
Anchorage, AK 99518

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