Hana hou Grindz of the Day here, this time where we begin at Musubi Cafe Iyasume, a multi-location local musubi-ya. Iyasume formerly had one of their shops in a tiny strip mall right across Walgreens (formerly Tower Records) at the corner of “Koreamoku” and Makaloa Street, just mauka of Ala Moana Center. That strip mall, along with several other former business complex properties within that corner of the block is now under construction to become Azure Ala Moana, yet another luxury condominium development project that’s part of Condo Kaka’ako.

So Iyasume Musubi Cafe has now relocated right across the street on the “Koreamoku” street side of Walmart (Sam’s Club on top). Here now, they’re next door neighbors to Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, Golden Coin Bakeshop & Restaurant, Jamba Juice, Supercuts, Starbucks, and within Walmart, an L&L Hawaiian Barbecue.

Iyasume Musubi Cafe is best know for their wide variety of made-to-order Musubi, using high quality Tamanishiki rice at very affordable prices. Definitely at the top of my list as far as the classic Japanese style Musubi is concerned. Iyasume Musubi always hits the spot!

While we’re in the Ala Moana area, right in the center itself at the bottom of Ho’okipa Terrace, what was formerly the Brilliant Ox — and prior to that, Pearl Ultra Lounge nightclub — has recently changed to HAUS Supper Club. From what I hear, it’s the same owners of Brilliant Ox, as well as the also recently closed Ginza Nightclub on nearby Kona Street. Their menu is focused on shareable appetizers such as fried bao buns, braised pork belly, ikura canape and ube panna cotta.

Touted as featuring a lounge, tapas, live music, karaoke, a speakeasy bar, sushi and dancing, HAUS has some rather odd hours, being 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 4:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 4am (cabaret liquor license) clubs being a rare thing to find in Honolulu nowadays!

Heading east-bound not far from Ala Moana Center to the Ala Wai Golf Course Club House in their main dining room, what was many other iterations before it, including Ala Wai Golf Course Cafe, is currently, of things, an L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurant. It’s open from 5am to 8pm daily, featuring the entire L&L menu at surprisingly very competitive prices, as far as plate lunches all around Honolulu go for nowadays. They also feature a bar serving select beer on tap as well as house wine, plus big screen HDTV to catch the sports game of the day. The enclosed dining room is expansive, able to accommodate large parties for special events, complete with picture window views of the fairway.



Mochiko Chicken plate from L&L Hawaiian Barbecue @ Ala Wai Golf Course Club House, $8.99

Next up, one of my all-time takeout faves, the “Lunch Box” sushi bento from Kozo Sushi. This one from Kahala Mall. Just like Iyasume Musubi, their sushi is made-to-order, making all the difference. Bang-for-the-buck, Kozo’s Lunch Box, including a full set of fresh Nigiri sushi always rocks my world!

Next up we’re at This Is It Bakery in Kaka’ako on Cooke Street. Never been here before, however Diner K wanted to try it, so we dropped in where she got their Rossi’s Special: hash brown, bacon, egg and American cheese (sans the cheese per Diner K’s request) on one of their fresh-baked garlic bagel for $5.85.

And? Um, it was just OK. Nothing to write home or hear about, really. I’m a bagel lox (salmon and cream cheese) kinda’ guy, so that’s what I would’ve ordered. It was too early for that, so I didn’t order anything, nor was I hungry at the time.



This Is It Bakery & Deli fresh-made bagels



This Is It Bakery & Deli fresh-made bagels



This Is It Bakery & Deli fresh-made bagels



This Is It Bakery & Deli fresh-made bagels

Finally, we’re at Doraku in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki, where we dropped by for a quick lunch bite. Some Nigiri Sushi and “Dynamite” style sushi, along with Shrimp Tempura and Miso Soup.

And? Oishii! Our only disappointment is that the Shrimp Tempura tasted like it was the frozen type, not made fresh from scratch. That’s a pretty big bummer for what should be an authentic Japanese restaurant. And how would we know that? Well, Diner K currently works in the Waikiki hotel restaurant industry professionally as a chef (she has a college culinary degree), so she knows exactly what frozen shrimp tempura both looks and tastes like, as she works with it all the time. I’ll give that the oil was clean, so it tasted as good as it could be, but still, I’ve had way better shrimp tempura than this; such as oh, say most recently from KatsuMidori Sushi Tokyo in the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Other than that, for the most part it was all “G”, while service was friendly and quick.