Most places serve packaged, pre-made udon, but not Marukame Udon.  They make theirs from scratch, right before your eyes.  Located on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki, you'd expect to pay Waikiki prices, but you'll be pleasantly surprised when you view the menu board.  All udons are under $6.  Tempura and musubis are sold ala carte by the piece.  Where else can you assemble your own side order of tempura?

 

Bukkake Udon ($3.75) with a side of veggie tempura ($1.50)

Close up of the veggie tempura - if you want the most bang for your buck, get this tempura piece (the others are all $1.50 but the veggie tempura is the biggest)

Niku Udon ($5.25)

Marukame Udon
2310 Kuhio Avenue (between Nohonani and Nahua)
CASH ONLY

Follow them on Twitter @xtremetacos for their location.

Every Wednesday and Friday evening is Mongolian BBQ night at the Officer's Club.  Previously, Mongo night was held in the ballroom on the ground floor of the club.  On March 30, they moved it to the main dining room on the top floor.  It's a much better set up - nicer furniture, nicer view, nicer set up.

Here's the main food area.  

First up - collect your noodles and veggies

Then add your meat and/or seafood

After your bowl is weighed (85 cents per ounce), you can add your sauces.  Last night they debuted a new "mongolian BBQ" sauce, for those who'd rather leave the sauce-making to the experts.  It turned out to be ono.

The chefs stir fry your concoction right before your eyes.

Here's the finished product.

Every meal comes with unlimited white rice, fried rice, and dessert.  

 

http://www.mccshawaii.com/kmdiningroom.shtml

Over spring break I had the pleasure of taking my husband's niece out to lunch. We decided to go to the Pineapple Room since she had never been there before.

There many items on the menu that caught her eye, but she decided to try one of their signature items (the signature items are denoted by a pineapple next to it on the menu): The Pineapple Room Burger. She said it was the best burger she ever ate.

I ordered my usual: the Tempura Battered Fresh Island Mahi Mahi sandwich. I love the Tsuyu dipping sauce that accompanies the sandwich, and i like how they slowly toast the bun.

Today I bought a plate from Good to Grill's downtown location to support their fundraising efforts. I'm not normally in downtown during the lunch hour but I came down special to support the cause.

Here's the Korean chicken plate. Honestly, I'm not sure what makes the chicken "Korean". It resembled something more along the lines of teriyaki chicken. But regardless of the name, I liked the chicken. The sauce was sweet and the chicken was moist.

The braised short ribs was a winner too. The meat was really tender and not too fatty. If I had to choose between the chicken and the beef, I would go for the braised beef (if I'm not trying to watch my waistline).

Good to Grill serves these plates at their downtown location on a daily basis, so come down and check them out. They are located in the space formerly occupied by Liberty Grill on Bishop Street (just makai of the S. Beretania intersection).

The Shakey's Special: salami, pepperoni, Italian sausage, seasoned ground beef, mushrooms and black olives on a thin crust.

The 8-piece golden fried chicken with Mojo's.

I rarely eat lunch away from the office, but today I had a training class in downtown, and on the way to my car I spotted Shogunai Taco truck.  My plan to eat lunch at home failed.  This is the "Osaka, Jo, Japanese Taco".  $6.50.  Pork marinated in ginger, shoyu, garlic, and lemon with their special Shogunai Sauce and sprinkled with furikake.  The flavors that stood out were the ginger and the bean sprouts. I could barely see or detect the furikake (did they forget?).  At first glance, $6.50 may sound expensive for a taco, but this taco is definitely a meal in itself and has the same amount of pork that you would find on a Hawaiian Plate (if not more).  I personally prefer the smaller tacos that places like Gogi Korean BBQ Taco Truck and T.A.S.T.E. serve. 

 

I love going to Minato Japanese Restaurant for lunch.  You cannot beat the prices and the food is oishi.

I awoke at 5:15 am Sunday morning to the moon shining brightly into our condo, so I got up and took this picture from our living room.

This weekend the moon is supposed to be situated closer to Earth than it's ever been for the past 18 years.