At first, a $60 dinner probably sounds pricey. But, when you consider that includes A4 and A5 wagyu from Japan, it’s a good deal.
When Hiromi-Ya opened this past January, it initially offered motsunabe, or a Japanese hot pot dish that features pork or beef offal (small intestines). While motsunabe is still available as an a la carte option, the eatery recently changed up its dining experience to focus on all-you-can-eat wagyu yakiniku. The eatery made the switch to support hardworking wagyu farmers in Japan — as well as to give local customers the chance to enjoy delicious Japanese wagyu.
AYCE wagyu costs $59.95 for guests ages 12 to 59 years old. The restaurant charges $29.95 for kids ages 6 to 11 years and $49.95 for seniors (individuals ages 60-plus years).
Your whole dining party must order the same all-you-can-eat course. The time limit is 90 minutes, and two items are served per person at a time.
The meats feature A4 and A5 wagyu from Japan. The premium selection includes kalbi, Hiromi-Ya kalbi (beef short rib), special harami (premium beef outside skirt), garlic salt loin, and sukiyaki with TKG (wagyu rib cap with egg). The cuts of premium A4 and A5 wagyu beef are limited to three orders per person, but the meats are so rich that the amount felt sufficient.
We especially enjoyed the flavorful kalbi. When you get the egg, mix it vigorously to dip the cooked meats in. You can even pour the egg-and-meat mixture over the side of rice.
Other meats include sliced beef tongue, beef intestines (grilled beef offal), fatty and juicy beef small intestine, pork belly and chicken thigh. All tables provide lemon juice, homemade yakiniku sauce and Gochujang miso paste for dipping the meats. The yakiniku sauce was my fave, but those who want a little heat will enjoy the Gochujang miso paste.
The eatery also provides a generous amount of soup and rice dishes. The selection includes kimchi soup, wakame soup (seaweed soup with a light broth), white rice, mini curry rice and yakiniku rice. I especially loved the latter, which is a savory combo of rice with seaweed flakes and a housemade sauce. The curry rice is also hearty and flavorful.
Side dishes include kimchi, sesame-salted cabbage, cold tofu, edamame, corn butter and Korean seaweed. Finally, customers are served housemade mandarin orange jelly for dessert.
The restaurant has parking in the back (you can also find street parking on Kapahulu Avenue) and is BYOB.
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CONTACT
Hiromi-Ya
758 Kapahulu Ave. Space B, Honolulu
808-628-1530
Instagram: @hiromiya808
Open 5-11 p.m. Wednesdays-Mondays, closed Tuesdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
