Nori Bar

We finally made it to Nori Bar on a Friday night—and wow, what a great first experience! We didn’t have a reservation (risky, I know), but we decided to try our luck anyway. Timing was on our side: they could seat us right away as long as we were out by 8:15 PM. That gave us just about an hour, and honestly, it turned out to be the perfect pace for a relaxed, delicious dinner.

A unique feature of Nori Bar is that it’s all counter seating, which makes the experience feel more personal and interactive. You get a front-row seat to watch the chefs prepare each dish with precision and care—it really adds to the atmosphere and appreciation of the food.

One of the first things I loved? The ordering system. Everything is done online—just scan the QR code in front of you and start building your order. 

There's no pressure to order everything at once, which is great if you like to add on as you go. Your tab stays open, and the process is seamless.

Now, onto the food. Here's what we tried:

• Nigiri Flight – A beautifully presented selection to kick things off.

  

  
  

  

• Blue Crab - Truffle Kanimiso – This was the star of the night. I loved it so much, I ordered it twice.

  

• Maguro Avocado Roll – Simple and fresh.

  
  

  

  
  

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• 2-piece Seared Garlic Truffle Salmon  

• Unagi Roll – A rich, flavorful finish.

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  We had a $100 gift card, and yes—we spent it all. Every bite was worth it. Watching the sushi being prepared right in front of us added to the whole experience. You could see the care and attention that went into each piece.

Would I recommend Nori Bar? Absolutely. But next time, we’ll be sure to make a reservation!

Take out is available!

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NORI BAR

1000 AUAHI STREET

808-379-1144

 

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JINYA Ramen Bar - Honolulu

Attention ramen fans - there's a new, hip ramen-ya that recently opened in Ward Village. JINYA Ramen Bar is not your ordinary ramen restaurant. They have a wide variety of ramen options (including gluten-free and vegan), small plates (gyoza, pork buns, spare ribs, corn), rice bowls, salads, and even mini tacos!

The four of us shared JINYA's pan fried, pork filled gyozas. 

My friend ordered the Cha Cha Cha, which is on their secret menu (you have to ask for it). It's a really hefty bowl of ramen with virtually everything in it! It is also served with a side of fresh peeled garlic cloves and a garlic press. All garlic-lovers need to order this!

cha cha cha (off the menu!)

I opted for the lighter wonton chicken ramen, and requested thick noodles.  

wonton chicken ramen

The wontons were thick, as were the noodles! I really enjoyed this bowl of ramen, down to the last drop.

The restaurant was full for lunch service - you should definitely consider making a reservation if you're planning to dine here. 

For more information on JINYA, visit their website.

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JINYA Ramen Bar

1118 Ala Moana Blvd.

(808) 480-8477

 

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Kamitoku Ramen

I am still thinking about the feast my friends and I recently shared at Kamitoku Ramen in Ward Centre. A few years ago they started out as a food truck, then they opened a shop in the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk, which is now closed for good. This location at Ward Center (next to Piggy Smalls) is their only location in the United States (they have two locations in Japan).

Kamitoku specializes in Gyu-kotsu ramen, which is beef born broth ramen.  They offer a variety of different flavors of broths, such as shoyu, Yuzu, Miso, Spicy, Tan Tan, and they also have Tsukemen on the menu (chewy noodles with a dipping sauce), which is primarily the reason why I like to come here. To accompany your ramen, you can choose from a number of side dishes, like deep fried gyoza, tofu salad, cold ginger tofu, fried chicken, takoyaki, fries, and a host of others. They also serve alcohol!

For more information, visit Kamitoku's website.

KAMITOKU RAMEN - WARD CENTRE

1200 Ala Moana Blvd. 

808-784-0292

Fried Gobo

French Fries

Fried Chicken

Tsukemen - chew noodle with cream shoyu dipping sauce

Beefy Wild - creamy beef broth

Seabura - creamy shoyu broth with stewed beef back fat

 

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Last call - Ryan's Grill At Ward Centre

Ryan's Grill, once one of the places "to see and be seen", will close its doors for good on January 20, 2018 after 34 years in the business.    My friends and I met for lunch here today, to reminisce about the fun times we've had at Ryan's, and to enjoy their famous Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip and Crunch Pea Salad one last time.

Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip

Sandwich & Salad Combo Plate (Ryan's Crunch Pea Salad and 1/2 French Dip Sandwich)

RYAN'S GRILL

1200 Ala Moana Blvd.

(808) 591-9132

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Opening Friday: Piggy Smalls

The sky is the limit when it comes to The Pig and the Lady. From humble beginnings as a pop-up in Kakaako, to a successful brick-and-mortar in Chinatown, the Pig and the Lady will be adding yet another arm to their family business tomorrow, when Piggy Smalls opens to the public in Ward Village.  This is in addition to their booths at various Farmers Markets around Oahu, special events, and private functions!

The Le Family invited their family, friends, and the media to get a sneak peak of the menu that will be featured at Piggy Smalls.  As an old friend of one of the Le brothers, my hubby, aunt, and I were invited to get a taste of the offerings, and let me tell you folks - this is a dining experience you will not want to miss out on.

The mastermind behind Piggy Smalls is executive chef/owner Andrew Le. Here he is with his wonderful wife Teri and their almost-two year old son Ollie.  

Andrew Le, Ollie, and Teri

Piggy Smalls took over the space at Ward Centre, formerly occupied by Kua Aina. They have a handful of two tables and a long communal table for those who dine-in.

The kitchen is open and visible from the floor. 

Executive Chef Andrew Le and Chef Du Cuisine Brandon Lee

Here's a preview of some of the offerings on the menu:

FIRST THINGS FIRST

L.F.C.

Loaded Baked Potato Beignets

VEGETABLES

Moroccan Green Papaya Salad

Roasted Cauliflower

Salad of Sprouting Seeds

FRESH PASTA

Farmer's Goulash

BANH MI, MYSELF, AND I

Pho-Strami

Pho-Strami

TREAT YO SELF

Slushie of the week: lilikoi

Milk & Honey

Chanh Muoi & Apple Tarte Tatin (ala mode +$2)

Jackie, Me, John, and Alex Le (owner)

I am so excited for the Le Family. This is the perfect addition to their repertoire of new-age Vietnamese Cuisine. 

On a side note, Chef Andrew recently won the 2017 Hale Aina Award for Restaurateur of the Year, and The Pig and the Lady won awards for Best Oahu Restaurant, Best Business Lunch, and Best Cocktail and Best Vietnamese! Congrats to the Le Family and The Pig and the Lady crew!

Follow Piggy Smalls on Twitter (@piggysmallshi), Instagram (@PiggySmallsHawaii), and Facebook (PiggySmallsHI).

Piggy Smalls

Ward Centre

(808) 777-3588

Hours: Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Ryan's Grill

I feel like I can always count on Ryan's Grill for a great meal - whether it's with family, friends, or colleagues.

A few weeks ago I met some of my favorite tourism industry colleagues for lunch at Ryan's Grill.

Complimentary Bread

Soup and Salad Combo - Ryan's Crunch Pea Salad and French Onion Soup

Turkey Panini Sandwich

I had the Turkey Panini Sandwich, which I've ordered before, and it didn't disappoint.  The fresh baked Focaccia, cheeses, and mustard aioli all melded together to create a very delicious sandwich.

It was very filling, and had I not had an event to go to later that afternoon, I would've taken my leftover half sandwich home for dinner.

Service was good, and overall it was a very nice lunch once again at Ryan's Grill!

Ryan's Grill
1200 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 591-9132

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Zpizza - Honolulu

Not too long ago I met Nat at Zpizza prior to a movie screening at Ward.

We wanted to go somewhere quick and that wouldn't leave us overstuffed since we wanted to indulge in some popcorn at the movie.

There were only a few options available to purchase by the slice, so I ended up getting the Casablanca.

Topped with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and a roasted garlic sauce, I thought it was pretty good!  The crust was good too - a thin, yet crispy crust.

Nat got the Italian.

Each slice is $3.50 and they'll even toast it up for you so it's nice and crispy.

Zpizza turned out to be a great place to stop by for an inexpensive, light dinner!

ZPizza: 1200 Ala Moana Blvd.  Auahi street shops, Honolulu, HI 96814; 808-596-0066

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