In Tokyo, Japan, Tsukiji Outer Market is a popular tourist attraction where customers can find a variety of street food, restaurants and specialty vendors.
One of the market vendors is popular for its larger-than-life shrimp crackers — which has a whole shrimp pressed inside — and the treat has gone viral on social media in recent years.
Thanks to recently opened Yamitsuki Gyotaku Senbei, you now don’t have to go to Japan to enjoy a similar treat.
Ebi senbei is the main attraction at Yamitsuki Gyotaku Senbei, according to business owner Shingo Katsura. Katsura, who is from Japan, thought it would be a good idea to bring popular Japanese street foods to Hawaiʻi.
“The ebi senbei is a popular one — it’s all over Japan,” he says. “We’re using Kauaʻi prawn and local ogo.”
Customers can currently find the new business at the FarmLovers Kakaʻako market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, and at the Ono Grindz and Makeke market at Wai Kai (in ʻEwa Beach) from 4 to 8 p.m.
Katsura says the business is starting with senbei, but will eventually expand its menu.
“‘Yamitsuki’ means ‘addicting’ (in Japanese); this is just the beginning with the senbi,” he says. “Eventually, I want to have multiple Japanese street foods, like in those night markets (in Japan).”
Senbei are made to order; each takes about 6 minutes to cook, according to Katsura. Customers can choose from Kauaʻi shrimp ($12) or octopus ($12) senbei, or opt for a combo to include both seafood. So far, he says the shrimp senbei has been slightly more popular.
“I like doing one shrimp and one octopus as a combo,” he says.
Creating the senbei batter was a result of a lot of trial and error.
“Whenever we’re at the house, there’s flour everywhere,” Katsura says. “It’s super crispy, but it’s a balance of different types of flour, plus the temperature.”
Katsura recently added smoked ‘ahi dip to the menu, which can be enjoyed with the senbei ($3) or a la carte ($12 for an 8-ounce container).
“It’s like our little play on chips and dip,” he says. “I teamed up with a local fisherman; I make the smoked ‘ahi and the ‘ahi dip.”
Customers can look forward to more senbei flavors — including some dessert options, according to Katsura.
“It could be ube or Kona coffee with a dark chocolate drizzle on it,” he says. “We’re just getting started. Sometimes we get backed up (when making the senbei), so when that happens, please be patient with us.”
While the senbei is designed to be enjoyed immediately, the business can also wrap senbei to-go. We took ours home, and we were pleased to discover that even the next day, it retained its ultra-crispy, crunchy texture.
CONTACT
Yamitsuki Gyotaku Senbei
Various locations
Instagram: @kazuto_llc
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
