Last year my parents debated between Waioli Tea Room and Hanaki, both in Manoa, for our annual Christmas Eve dinner.
Waioli won out for two reasons: 1) My mom had always wanted to eat there and 2) Hanaki, we had heard, was different.
The restaurant tucked in the back of Manoa Marketplace was once a favorite spot for my family, back when it offered a Japanese buffet.
But recently it changed, adopting the whole hot pot trend we’ve been seeing lately.
And I wasn’t sure what to expect.
So on my birthday, my parents decided to take me to Hanaki — to check it out. And let’s just say, I’m going again next week.
Here’s what my birthday dinner looked like:
no images were found
Hanaki, Manoa Marketplace, 2756 Woodlawn Dr. Phone: (808) 988-1551
22 Comments
CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! Shabu shabu I really don’t get. You pay money to cook your own fuud! I’d rather pay to have someone else cook. I prefer the buffet even though I have to serve myself.
Hello Cat,
Fuud pixs Friday!
I enjoyed it when I went too. Time to got back!
Happy April Fools Day! Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!
@Annoddah_Dave My mom says the same thing about paying someone else to cook! Hah!
@M I completely forgot about April Fools’ Day! I gotta get to scheming!
Hotpot places are ok, but i don’t get their appeal in hawaii. there’s nothing like cooking over a steaming bowl of broth to top off a muggy, hot island day. I eat it sometimes up here in cali, but only in the winter and preferably when it’s been raining. hits the spot then.
I have been rudely refused service here twice over ten years when me (haole) and my GF (local-Filipina) have tried to eat here. I mean, “rudely…” and “twice!” We were dressed nicely, were only a couple, can’t think of why except for the obvious reason.
I will refrain from posting my speculation as to why, but I think you know where I’m going.
@MaxMaxMax racial prejudice hurts, whether it’s committed agnst u or whether u witness it agnst someone else. it’s always shocking and base. idk abt ur specific situations, being a local jpnese in hawaii, but having lived and traveled elsewhere, i just wanted to say i’ve felt the same sting.
@nonstopmari Yes, it is shocking, and no one is immune. After it happened the first time, we were like, “did that really just happen?” We thought maybe we read too much into it. But after the second time… Well, there’s lots of other places to eat!
Thanks for sharing this great information about Japanese meals and Hanaki
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First time I had hot pot was in Chongqing, PRC and it was so delicious no way to forget it. Having said that it’s pot was in the form of ying and yang and the hot sauce side was so hot it would strip your palette of all skin if you weren’t careful. It was always alka seltzer before the meal and after!
The thing I remember was ordering shrimp, shrimp is excellent in Sichuan Province. The only thing is it is still alive on the stick so you drop them in the sauce as fresh as fresh can get. It was weird but in the end so remarkably delicious.
Of course life was not complete without Chongqing city Beer or 1956 Brand. Anything and I mean anything but Mao Tai.
Can’t wait to try hot pot in Hawaii and see how it compares.
Wow I had no idea Hanaki stopped doing the buffet. I mean it was never all that great but I had many a workplace special occasion lunch there. One thing I will always remember is the shrimp tempura tray. Every time a new batch would come in it would be like throwing chum in the shark tank, just a total frenzy then only the batter bits would be left until the next batch lol. I like cooking my own meat at yakiniku places, but hot pot I can take or leave.
@matti2d I was just talking to some of my Japanese students about this — how “seasonal foods and dishes” don’t apply here.
@808marv Chum in a shark tank — I love the image!
@dbjack Aw, man, you just made me hungry again. And for something I can’t readily eat.
@Cat Sorry about that! Happy Birthday BTW. A trip to China is worth it, good food and interesting people.
[…] FUUD: Hanaki іn Manoa Marketplace […]
No spring chicken for this meal (last week’s birthday blog), but getting better with each year.
Does Hanaki give Hot Pot Heaven and Sweet Home Cafe a run for their money?
@Nanigurl
@Nanigurl I think SHC is waaaaay better and the best hot pot on island. I live in walking distance to Hanaki and will gladly make the drive to SHC when I’m in the mood for hot pot.
@Nanigurl I think SHC is waaaaay better and the best hot pot on island. I live in walking distance to Hanaki and will gladly make the drive to SHC when I’m in the mood for hot pot.
@Jayparasco Good to know! I guess they can all imitate but not duplicate.