Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya - Windward Mall

Mahalo to our sponsor for the complimentary meal. All opinions are my own. 

We’ve been fans of Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya ever since they opened their Ala Moana location. Their original Kapolei restaurant was a little too far west for us to visit regularly, so having a more central option made us longtime supporters. So you can imagine our excitement when we spotted the signage for their newest location at Windward Mall a few weeks ago — finally, one of our favorite ramen spots right here in our own neighborhood!

This new location takes over the former Kikuya space. While we were sad to see Kikuya close, I was also excited to see Tanaka move in. It’s always nice when a restaurant space continues on instead of sitting empty.

One thing we immediately noticed is that this location offers several seating options. In addition to the indoor dining area, there’s also outdoor seating as well as tables along the mall walkway. When we arrived on a Saturday during early dinner hours, the inside seating area was already full, so we had to choose between outside seating or the mall walkway tables. We ended up choosing the outdoor area since it seemed like it would have a little less foot traffic.

Of course, outdoor dining comes with a few trade-offs. Between the nearby cars and the flies that showed up once the food arrived, it wasn’t the most peaceful setting. Still, we appreciated that they’ve added extra seating options to help accommodate the crowds because this location already seems very popular with the locals

One of the best parts about this Windward Mall location is that they offer the full menu. Some Tanaka locations have more limited offerings, but this one has a huge variety — and even some new items that aren’t available elsewhere, including yakitori sticks.

Honestly, the menu makes it too hard to decide.!They’ve got everything from salads and sashimi to ramen, donburi, curry, fried rice, and appetizers. After a lot of debating, for appetizers we ordered the pork gyoza, crab stick tempura, Brussels sprouts tempura, and a chicken yakitori stick to share.

For ramen, we tried the Tanaka Rich Garlic and the Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen. 

The son customized his bowl with half-and-half broth, beef sukiyaki, and thick noodles, which made for a pretty impressive-looking bowl when it arrived at the table. 

We also ordered the shrimp fried rice.

Everything was amazing — seriously, nothing was left behind by the end of the meal. 😄 My personal favorites were the shrimp fried rice and the Rich Garlic ramen.

 The ramen came with thick noodles, which I absolutely love because they really hold onto the broth and make each bite extra satisfying.

We’re so excited to have Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya in Kaneohe now. Between the expanded menu, and convenient location, this spot is definitely going to become part of our regular Windward dining rotation!

TANAKA RAMEN & IZAKAYA

45-056 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY

SECOND FLOOR, near HawaiiUSA FCU

Read More

Birthday Dinner at Zia's Caffe

This year, my birthday landed on a Monday — not exactly a party night, but I still wanted to enjoy a nice dinner without too much fuss. We decided to keep it close to home and headed to Zia’s Caffé, a cozy neighborhood spot that always hits the mark for comfort food and good vibes.

Zia’s has been a go-to for us for years, and it never disappoints. The service is friendly, the food is consistently great, and the atmosphere is casual — perfect for a low-key birthday evening.

We kicked off the meal with an order of garlic cheese bread, which came out hot and crispy. It was so good, it was hard to stop eating it.

We started off with the keiki menu for our son, who chose the spaghetti with meatball. 

It's the perfect size for keiki, and even adults!

The husband who doesn't eat meat ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which was rich, flavorful, and perfectly crisped — a great vegetarian option that still felt indulgent. 

I treated myself to the Pappardelle alla Bolognese, one of my favorites on their menu. The house-made pasta was silky and fresh, and the hearty meat sauce brought everything together.

Of course, no birthday dinner is complete without dessert. I couldn’t resist their tiramisu, while the son enjoyed the scoop of ice cream that came with his keiki meal. 

All in all, it was exactly the kind of dinner I was hoping for — quick, delicious, and close to home. 

For more information on Zia's Caffe, visit their website. 

ZIA'S CAFFE

45-620 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY

808-235-9427

 

Read More

Jolene's by the Bay

Jolene's Hawaii has been a popular spot for seafood lovers ever since it first opened in Chinatown in 2019 right before the pandemic. Known for their affordable and delicious lobster rolls, the restaurant quickly garnered attention and expanded over the years. With three locations now— airport area, Ewa Beach, and Kaneohe—Jolene’s has solidified its place as a local favorite. While it’s sad to see their original Chinatown location close, you can still get their delicious lobster rolls and 18-hour smoked brisket at their new spots more than makes up for it.

We recently had the chance to visit the Kaneohe location, which is nestled at the Bayview Golf Course. This location boasts a stunning view of the lush green golf course, but what’s even better is that the entire restaurant is open-air, so you can enjoy the breeze while taking in the beautiful surroundings—making it a perfect place to unwind with some great food.

Of course, we couldn’t visit Jolene's without trying their signature dish—the famous lobster roll. It absolutely did not disappoint! Generous chunks of fresh lobster are packed into a soft roll, and every bite is bursting with flavor. It’s the kind of lobster roll that makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth with every bite.

But there’s more to Jolene's than just their lobster rolls! We were also blown away by their braised brisket. Whether you choose to have it as a sandwich or plate, it’s absolutely divine. Tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, it quickly became a favorite with the boys at the table. If you’re a fan of hearty, savory dishes, this one should definitely be on your list.

To round out the meal, we couldn’t resist trying their bubble drinks. These refreshing beverages are the perfect complement to the rich and savory flavors of the lobster roll and brisket. Plus, who doesn’t love a good bubble tea to sip on while enjoying the view?

From the generous lobster rolls to the mouthwatering braised brisket, there’s something for everyone on the menu. And don’t forget to add a bubble drink to complete your experience! 

_______________________

JOLENE'S BY THE BAY

45-285 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE

808-236-1010

 

Read More

Adela's Country Eatery

At a recent get-together with friends in Kaneohe, we ordered take-out from Adela's Country Eatery for dinner.  Adela's is known for housemade pastas using local ingredients such as ulu, avocado, and  taro. They top their pastas with savory proteins and veggies such as garlic shrimp, lechon and portobello mushroom.   We each chose a plate and enjoyed them all family-style, since we wanted to try the different menu items.

We each chose a plate and enjoyed them all family-style, since we wanted to try the different menu items.

Angel Hair with Marinara Sauce and Portobello Mushroom

Pork Belly with Garlic Rice

Ulu Pasta with Garlic Butter and Shrimp with Garlic Butter

Taro Special 

The ulu pasta with garlic shrimp was my favorite, as I love garlic, shrimp, and this dish reminds me of the garlic noodles from my favorite restaurant in San Francisco (Thanh Long). I also liked the garlic rice! 

Ube, Matcha, Lilikoi, and Guava Cheesecakes

 For dessert we tried a variety of cheesecakes - they were all very rich but delicious. I'd say the ube was my favorite, and also their best seller (and also very Instagrammable!).

Adela's is open 6 days a week (closed Sunday). Customer parking is available right in front of the restaurant. Take-out only.  I recommend calling in our order ahead of time - all items (except for desserts) are made to order.

-----------------------------

ADELA'S COUNTRY EATERY
45-111 KAMEHAMHA HIGHWAY
808-404-8884

Read More

Ayame Ramen and Curry

Ayame Curry & Ramen has been at the Windward City Shopping Center for over 20 years, but it appears that the next generation has taken over operations. They have a new look that includes new menu boards, menus, and menu items. 

Combo Set C is the way to go.  It comes with choice of mini ramen (my son always gets the Tonkotsu Ramen which is $1.50 extra), 4 piece gyoza, and a mini pork fried rice, all for $17.95! 

They use Sun Noodles, which supplies a lot of noodle restaurants on Oahu. The Tonkotsu broth is tasty and not as rich as it looks. While my son and I normally prefer shoyu broths, I like this tonkotsu broth.

We love the gyozas here - they're plump and pan fried to perfection. I'm pretty sure they're made in-house and my son really enjoys these more than the frozen ones that I make at home.

The fried rice usually comes last, and we're usually too full to eat it at the restaurant, and when that happens, we pack it up to enjoy the next day.

On this particular day, I was craving fried noodles, so I tried their shrimp fried noodles for the first time. I ate about 1/3 of the plate and packed up the remainder for the next day. 

Note - they add on a 2.5% surcharge if you pay with a credit card. 

Take-out is available.

Closed on Wednesdays.

______________

AYAME RAMEN AND CURRY
45-480 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE 
808-236-3883

Read More

Now Open in Kaneohe - Whiskey Smoke 808

Whiskey Smoke 808 has a new home in Kaneohe, in the building formerly occupied by Fresh Catch. The building, which used to be blue, is now black, with a couple of huge smokers in the back of the building. I had always wanted to check these guys out when they were in Kailua, but never got a chance to. So when I saw that they were moving to Kaneohe, I couldn't wait to try their southern style BBQ!

We went on grand opening day, and apparently they have a large following, because the place was quite crowded. It took a while to get our food, but that's to be expected on the first day of business. 

I really loved the brisket.  It was very tender, with a perfect amount of smokey flavor. We selected the smoked mac n' cheese and smoked bbq beans as our sides, and guava chili pepper for our bbq sauce.

We added a side of pork ribs  - the husband wanted to try it.

I'm glad that we now have a place to go for southern BBQ in Kaneohe!

Current hours are Wednesday - Sunday: 10 am - 8 pm.

___________________

WHISKEY SMOKE 808
45-118 Kamehameha Highway
808-861-7683

Read More

Zia's Caffe

After running the Hapalua Half Marathon, I rewarded myself with dinner from Zia's Caffe, one of our favorite neighborhood eateries.  

 

The hubby and I shared an order of Crispy Calamari and the Chicken Saltimbocca.

The calamari was very crunchy and nicely-seasoned breading. I like how it comes with TWO dipping sauces - basil aioli and marinara.

The Chicken Saltimbocca was amazing! It came with a large piece of breaded chicken breast, topped with thinly sliced prosciutto, spinach, shredded mozzarella, and garlic mushrooms. It's very rich, which is why the hubby and I have to split this dish every time. 

My only regret was not ordering the tiramisu for dessert!

Click here to order online!

________________________________

ZIA'S CAFFE
45-620 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY
808-235-9427

Read More

Noods Ramen Bar Now at Windward Mall

I was beyond excited when I found out that Noods Ramen Bar opened a location in Windward Mall. They took over the spot formerly occupied by Manichi Ramen, in the middle of the food court on the first floor of the mall. Unfortunately, the menu at this location is smaller than the Kaimuki location (due to the size of the kitchen), and they don't have tsukemen, which is my favorite menu item on the Kaimuki menu. 

I decided to try the shoyu ramen ($12), gyoza ($6), and garlic fried rice ($4). 

Their shoyu broth is very light and tasty - I loved it and so did my sons! We had to order another bowl because they tried the ramen and ended up eating it all.

The noodles they use are the straight, thin noodles that you normally see in tonkotsu broths. I prefer the thicker, wavy noodles, but the broth is what really attracts me to this bowl of ramen. 

The flavor of the garlic fried rice was subtle, but still enjoyable.

Gotta have my ramen with gyoza! These were nicely pan fried and had a decent amount of pork filling.

 Their prices are very reasonable compared to other ramen restaurants on Oahu, and I really hope they do well here, because there aren't a lot of options for ramen on the windward side (especially in Kaneohe). 

____________________________

NOODS RAMEN BAR
46-056 Kamehameha Highway

Read More

Dosirak now available at Ono2Guys

After a brief closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ono2Guys is back in business, with a new offering called Dosirak. The best way I can describe it is that it is like a korean-style bento box.

Each box comes with rice, protein, and banchan.  Currently priced at $5.72, this is a really good deal for what you get!  Selections change daily.  Call or follow them on Instagram @ono2guys for updates.  

They also offer a limited selection of breads and other bakery items.  The Korean cheese cake (pictured in the first pic) is one of my favorite desserts here.  Similar to Japanese style cheese cake, it's very light in texture and not too sweet (opposite of classic cheesecake).

ONO2GUYS

45-773 Kamehameha Highway

Kaneohe, HI

(808) 762-3111

Read More