Nu’uanu Okazuya

Another okazuya gem. So incredibly hard to find these nowadays.
This one opens at 5am Saturday’s…once, I was the first one in line and got first dibs on everything! I love how all their dishes look like they are coming straight from grandmas kitchen, ready to be placed on the family dining table. There is a multitude of dishes, such an assortment. Pre-​made bentos, various musubis, tofu, four or five types of chicken, assorted tempura, hash patties, teri hotdog, omelette, mini hamburger, string beans, fried saimin, chow fun, kabocha… the list goes on and on. Makes it terribly hard to choose and limit yourself to what will fit in your take-​out container.
Friendly service and such a homey feel to this place. I love it. Highly recommend!

This place sucks @$$ now! The Asian guy behind the counter before would give a lot of chow fun noodles… THE ONLY REASON I walked to this place. THERE IS NEVER ANY PARKING IN THE FRONT! The haole kid behind the counter was being stingy with the chow fun AND gave the smallest pieces of shoyu chicken. This place sucks @$$!! Not worth going out of your way to get a plate from this place. Only if you’re a cop.

Nuuanu Okazuya is a very tiny and humble japanese deli. The workers are very patient and kind. Unfortunately there weren’t many vegetarian options when I went in around 11:30. I ended up getting a nori musubi, fried saimin, and furikake katsu. The price for my plate was just over $ 7 including tax.

Stopped by on the way to the beach to pick up some musubi (musubi is the best beach food in my opinion — hand-​held, not messy, great variety if you go to the right places to buy.)
It was 11 AM, and the selection was limited. Next time I will come earlier so I can get all the things in the other Unilocal reviews.
Musubi was OK, but not as good as Mana Bu’s. I have to come back for the other stuff!

Tip: Call ahead before you drive down there to make sure they have what you want!
I was specifically going to Nuuanu Okazuya for the «Furikake Katsu,» and I’m so glad I called ahead first to see if they had it. They did, but it’s made fresh in batches throughout the day, so it all depends on what time you go.
I went on a Wednesday around 9 a.m., so I didn’t encounter too much of the early morning traffic. Fortunately, I also had no problem finding street parking right in front of the okazuya.
All of the cold items are in the window, while the hot items are behind the counter. The ladies there were really nice and patient, as they answered all my questions! It’s hard to see what’s on display in the window (especially the labels), but just ask what everything is and they’ll be sure to help you out. Also, they seemed to have every fishcake flavor under the sun here.
I was a little disappointed that the fried rice musubi that I really wanted wasn’t available during this visit … but that just means I’ll have to pay another trip to the okazuya at some point. I was just thrilled that they had my katsu; the slab may be small, but it’s worth the price!
Here’s what I got for my customizable plate lunch:
«Furikake Katsu»: For a petite slab of katsu, $ 3.50 (everything is a la carte) seems like a hefty price, but you won’t get that furikake flavor anywhere else. I loved the fresh taste of the chicken, as well as the finely breaded exterior. The furikake seasoning added welcomed saltiness and crunch. They ask you if you want your katsu sliced or whole – I opted for mine sliced – and they chop it up for you right there before it goes in the container. They also drizzle the katsu sauce all over the chicken, so I would advise to enjoy this soon, in order to get maximum taste, texture and crunch. Otherwise, you’ll have a soggy slab of chicken, but I’m sure it will still taste good. I really liked the slightly sweet flavor of the katsu sauce. This is one of the okazuya’s shining stars; the lady behind the counter said it’s one of the most popular items!
«Crab and Onion Fishcake»: This was one of the fishcake flavors I got; there are so many to choose from, but the crab one was unique so I went with that. I liked the subtle taste of the crab and each little fishcake piece is bite-​sized.
«Potato Crab Salad»: I didn’t even make it to the cold section to see the salads available for the day, but this is one that I would want to try in the future. It contains two of my favorite elements, so I’m interested to see what it tastes like.
«Nori Musubi»: Since the fried rice musubi wasn’t available during my visit – and I wanted some type of starch to go with my katsu – I got two of these nori musubis. They’re available in triangle shapes and perfectly formulated. They contain a decent amount of rice; I only ended up eating one of the musubis. Good addition, but it was a little plain. Definitely want to try the fried rice version one day, as well as the «spam and egg» or «portuguese sausage» variety.
«Potato Hash Patty»: This was probably my favorite side of all the ones I chose for this meal. It was soft, moist and perfectly mashed … just think of mashed potato but in a circular form. Loved chewing on this in between bites of my katsu; I also can’t wait to try the «Garlic Hash Patty» at some point.

Use to love coming here years ago… but think they are new owners. Items now are tiny… and more expensive.
Came at 11:00 and they still had lots to choose from which tells me that business must have slowed down alot.

Quick and easy. Had their wonton saimin and katsu. The katsu with extra sauce was excellent. Crispy and tasty.

Been here before and food is ok but prices are higher than most other Okazuya places. Just went here at 5:45am and got the Safeway special which is the Furikake chicken katsu with chow fun and a musubi for 5 bucks. Furikake katsu was good but chow fun had little flavor and charsiu but for price it was worth it. Very filling. Ill buy couple more tomorrow. hehe need the coupon on back of Safeway receipts.

Total hole in the wall that made me veggie hash patties special without butter… a tad bit salty but I love my salt so I don’t mind… I love the furikake rice and the fried tofu had just enough kick…
Needed a great breakfast before my shift and I definitely got my moneys worth and a damn good plate to satisfy me.
Very polite people behind the counter :)

I’m a long time fan of Okazuya food. grew up with Kabuki in Aiea and I tend to judge all Okazuya based on pretty high expectations.
Food: I’d go with 3.5 stars for food and would recommend one of their various chicken dishes such as the Chicken Katsu or Chicken Alice. Kombu Maki is pretty good but not as large as Gullick’s. Their mac salad is so so but I just like the combination of the creamy mac salad against the normally salty flavors of okazuya food. They also have a good assortment of vegetarian selections which provides options for those looking to be more health conscious.
Service: Normally quick, efficient, no nonsense. It helps if you know what you want and you know the dishes. They also have several cold dishes that you can ask for such as the mac salad, namasu, etc. which are located in their fridge.
Atmosphere: Small shop, a couple small tables if you want to eat there but I normally take it to go. I usually stop by right around lunch time and I usually am able to park on the street right in front of the restaurant.
Value: A little on the pricier side in my opinion, a full plate will set you back around $ 10 — $ 12 depending on what you order. Not many okazuya choices that provide a good selection later in the day as most places are wiped out by 11 am. I appreciate the Nu’uanu Okazuya will keep most of their dishes stocked till at least lunch time.
Overall a good solid Okazuya choice in downtown that keeps me coming back every few months to satisfy my cravings.

Love the food and the staff. shoyu chicken and homemade kamaboko is the bomb!

After Fasting for my physical at the Kuakini Medical Center. It was off to Nuuanu Okazuya for breakfast. Fried Saimin, Egg, Hash, Shoyu Hot Dog, Mochiko Chicken. Big Mahalo to John and staff for the ono food.

What is this place coming to? Super long wait. Food prices went up & food quality went way down. Beef stew tasted burnt, chow fun had no flavor. I’m sad I grew up on okazuya food and their slowly fading away.

This place is a small hole in the wall place but worth checking out! Everything here is ala carte which is what okazuyas are all about. Must try their Nishime, cone sushi, shoyu hot dog and potato croquettes! Everything here reminds me of my Grandmas cooking! Very tasty and home style!

I enjoy a good okazuya… actually that is a lie… I haven’t met an okazuya I didn’t like… but that is beside the fact…
Nuuanu is the real deal… and it is definitely one of my favorites. Here are a couple of reasons why:
Really good food
Nuuanu has amazing katsu. They put a magical sauce on it that makes it crazy ono! You cant stop eating it! It is always crunchy and they cut it up for you so you don’t look like a fool trying to shove it all in your mouth at once.
The nishime here is also really good… sweet and savory, you can tell it has been slow cooked for a long time.
I also enjoy their vegetable and shrimp tempura. Crispy and yummy… it is so good.
Good service
They are always helpful here and are very quick. Just wait in line and point out what you want.
Open early
For those of us who would rather eat lunch at 530 in the morning… this is your place. Like most traditional okazuyas… they are open early and run out around lunch time… so get there early!
A couple of parting thoughts…
–Okazuyas are not cheap any more… bring at least a twenty dollar bill if your hungry.
–I have never been early enough to try the andagi, but I heard it is amazing. I may just have to place an order for one of the 75 different flavors…

Okazu-​ya Alert! Nelson Q. likes it here!
K, I’ll ignore the mahu-lani’s on every street corner on Nuu’añu! I’ll ignore that «Aunty» was grumpy after I asked her one too many questions! I’ll ignore that they close at 1pm!
But you know what?
This place is surprisingly yummy…
NUU’ANU OKAZUYA!
I’ve had my share of top quality & homey Okazuya! From the legendary ones in Hilo, to the posh ones in Japantown SF, to the half dozen in Kaimuki & Kalihi, but I haven’t tried this place until now. Probably because they have old school, early-​kine hours, and well, that 215-​lb. linebacker mahu-​lani sure the heck scares me!
On my errand day in Downtown I’m suddenly craving a meaty snack on my way to the gym. Hey, don’t judge! Then I remember this place that always seems to be closed when I’m in the area and with all those schizo reviews…
Hey! Why not!
NUU’ANU OKAZUYA!
What?! It’s open! Mahu-​lani and friends on the corner! All good! I’m not here for a date, but for a piece of chicken, yo!
I walk in and see two aunties scooping the ono finger foods. I Immediately notice the large selection of meats, noodles, rice — all the good stuff us macho local guys crave! But I refrain from ordering a typical 3-​plus plate since I’m headed to the gym. I order…
TERI-​BURGER!
SHOYU CHICKEN!
CONE SUSHI!
The Teri-​burger was so manini tiny and I wasn’t impressed by that fact, but the flavor was there! The Shoyu Chicken was a piece of thigh and nicely marinated– definitely a win! The Cone sushi was fresh and the way it should be. Overall I was satisfied with my «pre-​workout snack». It came out to about $ 5 for this mini of a plate which is about average for Okazuya! The regular plate would prob run you in the $ 8-​$ 10 range.
The place is somewhat cramped, but efficient. You walk in, order & point what you want, pay the Aunty and sit at the only two-​seated table or take it to-​go. Complimentary Nuu’añu tap water in the orange cooler! All good!
Yup, I recommend…
NUU’ANU OKAZUYA!
l’ll ignore grumpy Aunty, I’ll ignore the spooky mahu-lani’s, I’ll ignore the bad reviews by spoiled kids under 21-​years old, who btw have no clue what a real Okazu-​ya is all about! Yup, this place gets my Big Kahuna seal of approval! Eh, my Cuz, Kimo S. is a regular here, so must be ono… Unless he likes hanging around the linebackers! Brian M. no be scared of the «lady» with the Adam’s Apple! She no bite! Well…
SOLID. 4.0-STARS!

Five stars for food and five stars for service.
I was looking for a place close by that served delicious and fast food, and Nuuanu Okazuya really surpassed my expectations. I recently moved back to HI from LA and have not been able to find food that really excites my palate, whether it be $ — $$$$, but this place really makes me say YUM!
I stopped in on a Tuesday around 9:30am and was the only customer at the time, a customer had just left as I walked in.
I couldn’t decide between the chow fun and the chow mein so the gentlemen at counter suggested I get half and half so that next time I know which one I like better, well now I know I like both! They do taste similar to each other just thin versus wide noodles, I like that they have a slightly peppery flavor to them.
Fried rice musubi was really tasty, it didn’t have a lot of stuff in it like veggies or onions but it had tiny diced up meat and lots of flavor. They also had three other flavors of musubi available.
Shoyu pork was delicious, thinly sliced, marinated extremely well, slightly sweet but still salty, nice chew to it with some yummy gelatinous fat (I know it sounds kind of gross but, it’s like eating kauyuk, you have to eat the fat then too!)
Gobo, the chopping looks kind of crazy, like not the usual nice thin little slices but random shapes and sizes. But, the flavor and tenderness of the gobo really makes up for the interesting look of it. It tastes delicious and the gobo has a nice crunch to it without having the fiberous chewiness that gobo sometimes has.
Furikake katsu, this was mentioned in a lot of other reviews and also was mentioned as the number one seller by the gentlemen at the counter. It’s amazing, the sauce they use on the katsu is a lightly sweet and salty teriyaki sauce that’s not too overpowering. They just slighly toss the katsu in it so the katsu doesnt get mushy and they chop it once you order it.
Shoyu hot dog, can’t really go wrong with a shoyu hot dog. Was on the saltier side but still yummy.
At checkout with two sodas, my bill was $ 16, not bad at all since I ordered a ton. The lady checking me out also offered me a frequent buyers card, and the card is super adorable. I will definitely be back and I recommend anyone to try this place.

It’s my first time coming here and I was pretty excited since it’s the closest «Okazuya» to my work place. I should have known better than to arrive around 2 pm since all I had left was the leftovers from the lunch rush. The food was all cold by then, well, in a way since they were still in the food tray heaters. HOWEVER, even though it’s not fresh it’s was still tasty. I’ll have to come back earlier next time to have the food freshly made and then write an update.
One thing though, I wasnt sure how many selections came with the regular plate but the person just kept asking what more did I want. I kept picking more items which turned out to be additional. Overall the bill came out to be a little over $ 9.

My hunt for good okazuya food continues!
I’ve always eyed this okazuya out because I see it everyday on my way to work. One Sunday morning, my husband and I decided to give it a try.
They have a wide selection of items that is the typical okazuya fare. The prices are reasonable and there is only street parking.
I tried:
FURIKAKE MUSUBI — nothing special, but it fills that needed position of rice in your okazuya plate.
CHOW FUNN — very tasty; I would say its the best chow funn out of all the okazuya places I’ve tried so far.
CORNED BEEF HASH — it’s the typical hash patty. Tender and also one of the items I have to get when I pick up food from an okazuya.
FURIKAKE CHICKEN KATSU — if there is one reason why I would come back, it’s for this! It’s chicken katsu with a light, sweet sauce (reminiscent of a very thin and light teriyaki sauce). The sauce is not the usual katsu sauce you find at other eateries. Also, they cook the chicken katsu very well — not oily and has a nice crunch.
While it is close by to home and work, which is super convenient, I think I need to continue the hunt for my go-​to okazuya. Maybe, when I crave that furikake chicken katsu, I’ll be back.

I found out this place while getting a half off coupon from one of those daily deal sites. First off, this place only has street parking i believe. So parking might be a little tricky.
Another thing about this place is that, they are opened 7 Days a week, unlike some other Okazyua places that are only open 4 – 5 days a week and only the times when you are on your way to work if you have a day job thats during normal business office hours.
I visited this place about 3 – 4 times and each time I’ve been really happy with my food. They used to have this combo that included Chicken, Chowfun and something else. Also got the Hash, shoyu hot dog and they were pretty good.
The number one item I love is their Furikake Chicken. Its just something how its prepared and cooked that I love alot.
From the reviews recently, it looks like something has changed for the recent reviews have been below average, but the times I have went, the staff was friendly and food have been great.