Aloha Tofu Town

*Hours: They are opened even on Saturday, but business is slow so if you are looking for a good day to go, this is the day for you!
*Customer service: Awesome, there’s chairs and tables inside for you to sit and eat. There’s also a water dispenser. The owners are really sweet and nice, they make you feel like home :)
*Location: Located in Dole Canary on the side (if you exit the Dole Canary theater, it should be on the side).
*Food: Everything has tofu in so it’s very hearty!
Food Review:
1) Tofu Musubi: It was rice drenched in shoyu and had soybeans to add a grainy texture. It was pretty yummy, but I would rate it ³⁄₅ stars.
2) Cream Croquette: It had a soft and moist texture on the inside, while the outside was crunchy. It was very fresh and tasty (⁴⁄₅ stars).
3) Okara Croquette: The moist and tasty inside reminded me of something, but I can’t remember what it was. It was very tasty, but not as moist as the cream croquette (⁵⁄₅ stars).
4) Regular Curry: It was spiced well and the tofu added a different depth of flavor. I believe there was flakes of ground beef in the curry to add textures. On the side, there was a tasty macaroni salad and salad of greens with pineapple salad dressing. (⁵⁄₅ stars)
5) Soy Milk: It tasted like legit soy milk in it’s purest form – no sugar or anything so I wasn’t used to it and didn’t like it that much. However, according to my boyfriend, it tastes good with the iced coffee they offered. (³⁄₅ stars)
Dessert:
1) Cheesecake mousse: My boyfriend got it and it tasted very light, but had a distinct cheesecake flavor. It was really good, basically a cheesecake in a tofu mousse form. (⁵⁄₅ stars)
2) Strawberry mousse: It tasted like strawberry yogurt, but in a tofu strawberry form. I really loved it and would get it again because it’s light and fluffy. (⁵⁄₅ stars)
3) Okara cream puffs: The outside was tasty and the inside was light, fluffy, and moist. (⁵⁄₅)

When you think of fun places to visit, the word «tofu» does not automatically come to mind.
Can you take me to funky town?
Yeah, that sounds cool!
Can you take me to toon town?
Oh yeah, I love toons!
Can you take me to tofu town?
Get out of my face before I beat you up.
My friends Thomas and Chuggy Bear brought me here for lunch one day and thank goodness because I would never have visited Aloha Tofu Town on my own accord. Located on the street level of Dole Cannery, it’s right next door to the Regal Dole Cannery theaters. It’s a really small shop with a handful of tables if you want to eat in.
Bentos, musubi, and tofu… sooooooo much tofu. If you’re not a tofu fan then you should probably not come here because this is literally the house that tofu built. Everything from tofu croquette to tofu loco moco to tofu dessert. After you order your food at the counter there’s even free hot self-​serve tofu that you can sprinkle with green onion and shoyu. I was almost expecting to see a tofu river that churns all the tofu and a few dancing oompah loompahs, but that brief daydream unfortunately did not come to fruition.
I enjoy tofu but my favorite part of the experience is the Japanese man who runs the cash register. He popped his head out of the ordering window and I almost died because he was so adorable. I don’t know if it was the apron he was wearing or the inhalation of too many tofu fumes, but seeing him put me over the top. He’s the mayor of tofu town!
Must order is the pineapple tofu mousse which I demolished. Again, you must love tofu or you probably won’t enjoy it and will wonder why I ever told you to eat it. It’s light and not too sweet, and you can taste the fresh pineapple in every bite.

I am a carnivore. But the tofu hamburger steak and the tofu loco moco is a nice alternative. You can hardly tell the difference. I’m sure their yummy gravy has a lot to do with it. Everyone is so friendly as well. Really love this place!

So… I’m a pick-​a-​terian. Which means I don’t eat meat and most seafood. So for people like me, we eat tofu for protein. Of course with a place called tofu, one would imagine, they would cater towards us pick-​a-​terians who survive off of the protein from tofu.
Not this place. I remember the first time I went I mistakenly ate some ham because they decided it would be a brilliant idea to wrap the tofu in ham before battering it up to fry it… and sell it as «tofu katsu». I told them they need to clearly write «contains ham» so people know it’s not just tofu in that katsu.
Ok, so after a few months I went back to give it another shot. C’mon… by now they gotta have some vegetarian friendly items. I walk in and see Tofu Loco Moco… mmmmm Tofu Hamburger Steak… mmmm… and Tofu Curry… mm… I was so happy until my happy bubble was popped when I found out EVERY item contained meat. I asked… what do you have that doesn’t have meat? Tofu Steak they said. !!! Just a slab of tofu???
So over it. Even though it’s called tofu, this place is not veggie friendly. Sad panda.

Tofu… one of the most consumed… and disliked foods on the planet…
What is it that ‘tofu-​haters’ cant stand? Looks, texture, flavor… yeah probably…
I mean, I get it… not one of the prettiest foods on the planet… but I love it. From health benefits to versatility… few ingredients can match up with tofu’s strengths…
But that really isn’t going to stop people from saying…‘I don’t eat hippie food’…and ‘it doesn’t taste like anything’…
…until now…
Take your anti-​tofu friends to Aloha Town Tofu. Get them the hamburger steak plate… and they will never question tofu again…
I have tried a few dishes here… the curry as well as the hamburger steak, but the hamburger steak is my favorite. It is a mixture of meat and tofu together to make the hamburger steak patties, but you would swear it’s all meat. The great equalizer (and brilliance) comes from the gravy. Probably the best hamburger steak gravy I have had on the island… complete with caramelized onions and mushrooms. The patties and gravy are put over rice, and the plate also comes with mac salad and a small tossed green salad.
I will tell you that this is not the cheapest lunch plate I have ever had, but it is in the ‘lunch range’ of prices, and I was full when I finished.
The inside is very small, almost nowhere to sit… but it seems most people get it to go. The gentleman behind the counter is always courteous and helpful. He is always quick to offer a sample of their tofu as well, which is always good.
The service is very quick, but this is also because they don’t offer many options. Usually two dishes, and a couple of sides. But honestly, do you really need another option besides the Hamburger steak?
Not only do I love this plate lunch, I crave it… sometimes, there is no substitute for hot, gravy-​soaked goodness… who cares that it’s made with tofu… it’s amazing !!!

Aloha Tofu Town is small, mainly take out store front for Aloha Tofu. Since my office is right next door, I will often head over to Aloha Tofu Town when I’m craving a fast and healthy lunch.
Food: Tofu curry is excellent. Served on a bed of rice along with a vegi/​imit crab salad it hit all the right notes for me. The curry was full flavored, depth of flavor, with good size chunks of tofu. The vegi/​crab salad gave it a nice mayo based counterpoint, healthy but satisfying for those that normally enjoy a mac salad with their curry. The side dish of tofu was served cold since we’re in the middle of a heat wave, tasty and fresh. There’s also a case with various deserts which I haven’t tried yet but will get to one of these days.
Service: Friendly, quick, and they will explain all of the different menu items if you have questions.
Atmosphere: Located next to the Dole Regal Theaters, the retail side front a much larger prep area in the rear. There are a couple of small tables but most people take it to go. Clean, convenient, and they have Aloha Tofu merch for those true fans.
Value: Regular sized plate lunches will run $ 9…maybe a buck or two more than some other plate lunch places (not many these days) but I’ve always found the ingredients to be very fresh. I wouldn’t call it «cheap eats» but I think I get my moneys worth.

Forget what you know about tofu.
This place will serve you up a great lunch and dessert and you wouldn’t even notice tofu was in it. I was amazed how good the mousse was! One of the ladies explained that the chef who makes them used to cook for the Imperial family. Pretty amazing! The mousse is abut 40% tofu! There was no way of me telling, but it probably depends on the flavor too. The blueberry is great! Harry works the front and is super friendly and helpful if you have any questions.
The other amazing thing is their plate lunches. It’s a $ 9 plate with quality ingredients. You get half/​half brown and white rice, two meat/​tofu patties, salad, and crab or macaroni salad. The hamburger steak has a sweeter gravy, while the loco moco has a richer flavor with bacon in it. The hamburger steak is good, but the loco moco is freakin’ awesome! The curry plate is great too. Their tofu steak is amazing and my new favorite thing to order! Their is a bunch of veggies on the tofu that is cooked with pepper and garlic, so it does have a steak flavor to it. If you buy a regular plate, they offer you fresh tofu they made that morning in a cup.
The location is sort of hiding in plain sight. The storefront is to your right if you’re facing the theater on the street. The sign is on the interior, so during the day the glare from the windows hide the sign unless you are standing in front of the shop. They should put the sign outside. There are a lot of people that work around the area that might not even know it’s there.

As an almost vegetarian, i get pretty tired of being fed tofu. They really do not have a lot of vegetarian options which surprised me. So carnivores, give it a shot. The Katsu tofu has ham in it and looks really yummy. I had the tofu steak, oriental style, and it was probably the best tofu dish I have ever had. Delicious sauce with tsekumono style veggies. Also came with rice, a side of greens with a yummy pineapple dressing and a kamoboko style salad with broccoli. Everything was delicious! The old Asian man at the register is so sweet and helpful. Their bentos and side salads are supposed to change daily so I will keep checking back! So close to my work that I will be back at a minimum weekly when I don’t have time or energy to pack a lunch. Keep feeding me tofu.

If you like tofu, at Aloha Tofu Town you’ll find it in all its wonderful glory. Find bentos, musubi, tofu poke, okara, desserts, and coming soon — tofu curries.
The thing is, you may not even realize you’re eating tofu when it’s mixed and deep fried into a croquette. I enjoyed my two fat tofu croquettes served with shiso-​sprinkled rice, hijiki with carrots and aburage, and takuan. Just $ 7.50.
If that was lunch, imagine my delight to see a row of desserts featuring tofu in a cream puff, in a mousse and even in a cake roll! The cream puff was light, not too sweet and the custardy-​tofu filling had barely a hint of tofu flavor. Get a 4-​pack for $ 5.
As for the mousse, it was a negative for me. The blueberry tofu mousse had a heavy handed dose of yogurt, while the green tea matcha tofu mousse lacked the light and fluffy texture which gives the mousse its fame. Estee T. and I ate about 2 bites and tossed our small cups ($ 2.80 each), but we did love the miniature folding spoon that comes with the dessert. Cute and handy.
Speaking of cute, there’s a plethora of Aloha Tofu souvenirs featuring a whimsical cartoon tofu; about $ 5 for a pen and $ 4 for a phone accessory. Also find t-​shirts and tofu cookbooks.
There’s limited indoor seating and validated parking is available in the Dole Cannery movie theatre lot. It’s something different to try, and I’ll go back if only to try the tofu cake roll.

Went exploring one day for lunch and remembered that Aloha Tofu Town just opened up a couple months ago. It’s walking distance from where I work and plus their hours are only from 11a-​2p Mon-Fri.perfect opportunity to try it! Just so happens as I was searching for it, I had an older couple come up to me and ask if I knew where it was. It’s not that hard to find, if you’re facing the theater entrance on the street. it’s just to the right of it.
Aloha Tofu Town is super small. I prefer to take-​out rather than eating in because they only have limited seating (2 tables). The man that works there is very nice and sweet! It’s been a while since I’ve received such awesome customer service. He offered me a menu, even though I kinda knew what I wanted from browsing. Apparently, their menu changes everyday and they’re known for providing more healthier food options.
I got the okara cream puffs since everyone was raving about them. It was $ 5.00 for 4… and they were good, just not as amazing as I was expecting. It was like a regular cream puff, just not as heavy and sweet. It was very light and a bit plain tasting. I also ordered a somen salad bento that had mushrooms and crispy tofu. Good portions and might go back on another day to see what else they have for lunch specials.

When I got there they opened 5 mins early nice. Picked up some Okada and the plate lunches the Loco moco was super yummy. The Okada was really good also wait time was pretty fast my wife was happy with the Okada cream puffs. BEST PLACE EVER

It’s smart business looking for outlets for your product. In this case, it’s locally made tofu. There are a myriad ways one can prepare this versatile food, and it comes to life here in town at Dole Cannery.
Daily fare includes reasonably-​sized plate lunches (not humongous) that can be curry, hamburger steak or vegetarian steak, or loco moco — all with tofu as a featured part of the dish. There are even desserts made from the venerable soy bean: cream puffs and tasty mousse.
If you’re in a hurry, this is the pack up and go place for you. Seating is limited and some say parking isn’t convenient, but we didn’t find it all so bad.
Bottom-​line: the food is good, reasonably priced, and helps support local business. Lastly, service is old-​fashioned, which means thoughtful, considerate and with a good helping of Aloha.

4.5 stars, but I’ll round it up to a 5 because of their service.
Recently opened store & factory in the Dole Cannery (next to the theaters).They validate if you park All their dishes (including desserts!) have tofu or soymilk products in them so it feels healthier.
Pretty limited menu: 3 entrees served available daily, 1 lunch special that changes daily and a few quick grab-​and-​go items (tofu poke, edamame musubi, desserts etc). All entrees come with a side of oboro tofu which you self serve while you wait for your food.
I love their dessert tofu mousse and the plastic folding spoon it came with is pretty cool.

I found Aloha Tofu Town through Unilocal and the concept sounded so unique and delicious that I had to stop by on my next visit home! I had parked near Costco and spent a while looking for this place and I finally found it in the building with the movie theater. It’s one of the stores closer to the street.
I didn’t check the store times before going to the store. I had no idea that they were only open for a limited amount of time (11am-​2pm). We got there at 2:20PM and they were already closed but the gentleman working inside let us in and told us that we could still purchase pre-​made food items even though the café was already closed. (OK, wait, this is also a café?!) I had no idea that they also served hot food there since I had only gone there to try the okara cream puffs (which were amazing btw). The guy offered to let us sample anything we wanted, but since I was set on buying the cream puffs and it was already past their closing time, I just bought the cream puffs and left. He was really nice! :D
I definitely want to come back next time I’m home to try the food items on their café menu. I don’t know too many places that use tofu creatively (tofu hamburger, tofu poke, tofu curry, okara cream puffs?!)
I hope you all check it out!

I have been dying to try their tofu mousse from their factory but now that they have a store front, it was time to pull the trigger. My wife suggested we try here for lunch and I could not say no to a supposed healthy lunch.
Their menu is limited which normally can be a good thing as long as the food is good and the selection is enticing. I must say that I was a little disappointed with the flavor. The flavor in my opinion was slightly bland for my taste buds. Now before you get all defensive, I understand that it’s tofu and their goal is to make well prepared simple dishes. However, flavor can still be accomplished in my opinion. A good example of that is their Tofu Mousse which was amazing and also my favorite thing from them. I had the strawberry mousse and it tasted like I was eating strawberry pudding.almost. It can be a great healthy option for dessert if you’re on a diet or not. We ordered the mini beef bowl which (mine), the mini veggie patty bowl (Wife’s), Tofu Poke which we shared and the strawberry mousse for dessert. The price for all of that was around 16 dollars which is not bad.
The ENVIRONMENT is mainly a take out location but they do have two tables if you’re lucky enough to get them. They are LOCATED in the dole building around the corner from the movie theaters. They validate in case you’re wondering.
Their SERVICE is definitely top notch. From the moment we came in to the moment we left we were taken cared of. The counter and the table are very close together but they still delivered our food to us instead of passing it over the counter. They were also very friendly and welcoming.
Overall, I understand that they are fairly new to the store front side of things and they have things they need to work on so I’d still be willing to come back and try them again. You too should also give them a shot. I was debating between a 3 and 4 because of their service but ultimately the food needs to be touched upon a little more for me to upgrade them to a 4.

Super sad that there were no okara cream puffs available! They have them only on Mondays and Thursdays. Also, I didn’t realize they only offer one entrée selection per day. I went on a Friday, so on the menu was their Aloha Friday Bento that comes in 2 sizes. But most importantly, I learned that okara cream puffs are available only on Mondays and Thursdays!
As I sit here eating my bento that took one hour to get because of traffic, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that it came with only two pieces of ham & tofu katsu. Why didn’t I go on a Monday or a Thursday??? I start to feel better about my bento as I have my second bite of the ham and tofu katsu and soon I am wishing there was a third piece. It’s really delicious and now I don’t feel as letdown. I also still have the pineapple tofu mousse to look forward to. It is an authentic tofu dessert made by Aloha Tofu’s Patisserie, formerly of Hotel Okura in Japan. Yep, it’s delicious. It’s creamy with real pineapple chunks and you can definitely taste the cream cheese. But dammit, it’s not an okara cream puff so I will be back… on a Monday or a Thursday.
Located on the ground floor near the movie theatres in Dole Cannery.

This hidden gem just opened up right next to the theaters at Dole Cannery. A stone’s throw from downtown, I will gladly drive, walk or catch bus here for lunch.
Aloha Tofu is looking to step up to the plate and increase aburaage production that has been in short supply since other local tofu shops have closed their doors in recent years. Aloha Tofu Town will be part production facility, part takeout spot.
The Japanese staff really takes their heritage to heart in the way they prepare their dishes. The menu is minuscule but each item is thoughtfully prepared and flavored. I didn’t have a single mediocre dish here.
Cash only, open only for lunch (for now, they want to experiment with the space being a pop up for other restaurants during dinner very soon).
Aloha Tofu’s pastry chef is best known for providing her cheesecakes to the Emperor of Japan! The sweets here are phenomenal.
I went on a Tuesday and tried the loco moco which is one of the best I’ve ever had. I really enjoyed the texture of the two beef patties mixed with tofu as a binder. The demi glacé pulled the dish together.
The okara cream puffs were a pleasant surprise. If you’re Japanese like me or have had okara before, this dessert sounds… interesting. Okara wouldn’t be high up on the list of things to add to a sweet item like a cream puff. But! It was light, airy and had the right balance of sweetness. Definitely recommend.
When you have a chance, check Aloha Tofu Town and if you’re passing through downtown on the way back, I’d appreciate if you bring me something. Thanks!

I went to town at Aloha Tofu Town today! I love tofu and how awesome is it that a whole store is dedicated to tofu?! My friend and I went totally bonkers ordering tofu poke, crab and spinach sandwiches with tofu spread, a regular sized shrimp tofu plate, okara cream puffs, sesame mochi rice balls with soybeans, and strawberry tofu mousse. My favorite among all of this were the okara cream puffs.
Aloha Tofu Town might be better for take out. We were lucky enough to snag one of two tables in the place. Each table is accompanied by two chairs. It is a smaller place, but their food is delicious!
Along the side of Aloha Tofu Town are shelves selling merchandise. I liked how you could buy your own tupperware and bring it to their factory to score a 10% discount every time. There were also utensils, towels sealed in tofu containers, aprons, and so much more!
The cashier was exceedingly helpful with answering any questions I had. He knew the menu very well and was nice. He even got us some water. Maybe a tip jar could be placed at his register so he could get some tips.
Parking can be found in the same multi-​story lot as Regal Theaters. Validation is good for two hours. Aloha Town Tofu is also located in the same building too on the ground floor. If you’re facing the theaters, it is on the right.
I definitely need to come back as they feature a different plate everyday. I really enjoyed the Aloha Shrimp Tofu one. I also definitely have to come back for the okara cream puffs. So light and yummy! It is an awesome dessert!

This initial review is for Aloha Tofu Town’s «Aloha Friday» Bento. Which for their first week of opening, was a combo bento including Ham & Tofu Katsu, Curry Saba, Hijiki & Aburage Nimono and Potato Salad for $ 10.
OMG, one of the BEST BENTO I’ve had in YEARS!
The Ham & Tofu Katsu will probably have most scratching their head wondering how the heck it’s made. Well, it’s simply a thin slice of ham wrapped around firm tofu, then dipped in an egg wash and panko and deep fried. And it is freekin’ OISHII!!! The thin slice of ham offers just enough flavorful porky, meaty ‘n salty goodness to the otherwise predominant mass (block) of firm tofu, where that ham permeates it. So you get the majority health factor of the tofu plus the meaty flavor, without the negative effects of too much meat, if you know what I mean. It comes with a small packet of Kikkoman Tonkatsu Sauce, which is the perfect amount to enhance the two generously sized pieces of Ham & Tofu Katsu with slightly sweet and acidic umami tones, and that Tonkatsu Sauce truly is the icing on the cake. It’s the «bam!» factor that glues it all together. Summing it up, Aloha Tofu’s Ham & Tofu Katsu is BRILLIANT! If you see that on the menu, ORDER IT!
Then there’s the Curry Saba (Mackerel), which was also wonderful. Very moist (not overcooked), while that curry flavor was mild, yet there in a quite complimentary way. It also had a wonderful crusty finish to it, which I think they lightly dusted it in mochi flour or something like that. Just watch for the tiny bones, as they are there. All-​in-​all, the Curry Saba put a fantastic «surf» to the «turf» from the Ham & Tofu Katsu.
The Potato Salad served on this bento was by far the best potato salad I have ever tasted. Period.
The Hijiki & Aburage Nimono was the perfect robust compliment to the huge mass of rice on the bento, while there was also a a very tasty broccoli salad, plus a green salad that included lettuce, cabbage and carrots, served with Minato’s Pineapple Dressing, of which that dressing was fantastic!
I work in the area, and all I can say is, WELCOME ALOHA TOFU TOWN to our Iwilei Town! We will now be eating super tasty, yet super healthy Tofu-​based ono ‘kine Aloha Tofu grindz!

Iwilei is not known for its great dining options, and most of the choices you have in the area are either chains or decidedly unhealthy. While Aloha Tofu has welcomed people at its giant factory in Kalihi for years, this new retail storefront is something new for the 64-​year-​old company.
Tofu doesn’t have to be boring. The lunch menu at opening includes tofu curry, tofu loco moco, tofu beef bowl, and shrimp tofu. And every Friday, there’s a special combination «Aloha Friday Bento» (though for these you’re encouraged to order ahead of time).
On the side, you can get a Soybean Rice Musubi, Oboro Tofu or Tofu Poke and for dessert, Chocolate or Strawberry Tofu Mousse.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.