Bamboo Tiger Shop by Beer Lab
Photo: Alexander Gates
It’s as if retro-trendy Asia barreled into a craft beer hangout, with attitude: Beer Lab’s latest opening, Bamboo Tiger Shop, debuted at Puck’s Alley this week with a focus beyond the local brewpub chain’s own beers. In line with a menu of Thai curry, Chinese Salt Pep Wings and daikon pickles, soju and co*cktails are offered, with plans to start brewing kombucha. The vibe is summed up by the motto at the center of a graphic tiger-daruma mural by local artist Kaelyn Okuhata: “Drink beer, my friend.”
Open Monday to Thursday 2 to 10 p.m.,Friday 2 p.m. to midnight,Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 2600 S. King St., beerlabhi.com,@beerlabhi
SEE ALSO:Beer Lab Opens a Fun Bar and Lounge with Food at Puck’s Alley
Broome St. General Café
Photo: Courtesy of Broome St. General Store
Ward Village’s new pop-up retail shop is now home to a pop-up café. Beans for Broome St. General Store’s flat whites, cortados and affogatos come from Kailua-based ChadLou’s Coffee Roasters; specialty latté flavors include ginger, rose and butterfly blue vanilla. Weekday breakfast pastries, toasts and sandwiches are made by Sophie Graham, who owns the California-based micro chain with husband Peter; weekend brunches feature plates like this, with smoked salmon and whipped cream cheese. Both shop and café will be open through December.
Daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 310 Kamake‘e St., Suite B, (808) 752-8499, broomestgeneral.com,@broomestgeneralhawaii
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Izakaya 855-Aloha
Photo: Thomas Obungen
Where izakaya are usually low-key pubs, 855-Aloha makes a splash as the phone booth-themed ground floor restaurant at the Romer House Waikīkī. Bay Area-based chef Sho Kamio brings cache to the menu that shares hints of his roots in Sendai in northeastern Japan. Staples include the 855 Chicken karaage, an offally delicious motsu-ni, beef tongue grilled tableside, spicy ‘ahi tataki and playful phonebook-inspired co*cktails to match the vibes.
Daily 5 to 10 p.m., 415 Nāhua St., izakaya855aloha.com, @855aloha
SEE ALSO: New in Town: Summer 2024
Leila
Photo: Mari Taketa
Chris Kajioka’s latest venture, Leila is opening in the old Angelo Pietro space in Kaimukī in early September. With him in the venture is Marrakesh-born Mourad Lahlou, Kajioka’s longtime business partner and chef-owner of San Francisco’s Mourad and Aziza, which both earned Michelin stars. Leila’s Instagram has this vague teaser: “Close your eyes and imagine yourself transported to the bustling markets of Marrakech, the fragrant spice stalls, and the vibrant flavors of Morocco.”
1108 12th Ave., @leila_kaimuki
Lotus Café
Photo: Mari Taketa
The space that housed Kaimukī Café and Café Laufer before that is now home to Lotus Café. The new incarnation serves coffee sourced from Green World Coffee Farm in Wahiawā along with a small menu of bites like grilled cheese sandwiches, lox bagels and fresh chocolate chip cookies. It’s also the latest spot in town to serve up a matcha latté.
Daily 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 3565 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 732-5266, lotuscafehawaii.com, @lotuskaimuki
Mai Musubi
Photo: Mari Taketa
Born in Liliha and nurtured in Mō‘ili‘ili, Mai Musubi in early August graduated to its latest storefront. In the old Karen’s Kitchen space in Kaka‘ako, you’ll find the same array of chicken karaage, ume, mentaiko, Portuguese sausage with egg and other musubis; assorted bentos in the $10 range; and popular drinks from Japan in the chill case, including strawberry milk and melon, mikan and peach sodas. A steady trickle of loyal fans is already wiping out the stock during this soft-opening phase, when selections are more limited. Park in the stalls marked “MUSUBI” out front.
Tuesday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 614 Cooke St., @maimusubi
Mana + Pua
Photo: Thomas Obungen
Salt at Our Kaka‘ako’s newest eatery debuted on the second level near Butcher & Bird in late June. Mana + Pua, familiar to many as a winery-café when it was in Hale‘iwa, serves a mostly seafood menu, including a daily crudo, fresh catch of the day, poisson cru and clam chowder in a coconut clam stock; there’s also bone marrow on focaccia and a venison-pork belly burger. Dining here is al fresco, with views of the emerging Kaka‘ako skyline.
Daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 324 Coral St., (808) 462-1368, @manapua.wine, @manapuasalt
Onkee
Photo: Courtesy of Ward Village
Opening Aug. 28 on the second floor of Kō‘ula in Ward Village is Onkee, the first Hawai‘i eatery planned by SG Dinehill group of South Korea. Dinehill is also behind New York City’s Antoya, a Korean barbecue spot listed in the Michelin Guide. At the Ward restaurant, look for Onkee’s “flavorful stews, noodles, soups and high-quality proteins, which will be available during lunch and dinner,” a Ward Village description says. Flame grills at each table promise another option for DIY barbecuing after Han no Daidokoro, a Korean-inspired microchain from Tokyo, on the other side of Whole Foods Market.
1000 Auahi St., onkeehi.com, @onkeehawaii
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