Imari

Lately, I've been indulging in a unusually large number of Japanese foods -- ramen, sushi, curry rice and now, bentos.  Imari has an excellent selection of bentos on it's menu and it's probably one of the best Japanese-style bento-ya around.

Normally, if you want to eat a bento in the evening, your choices are limited to stores specializing in Japanese foods/goods, such as Daiei, Shirokiya or Marukai.  Most bento shops, or okazuyas as they are called in Hawaii, are open during the early morning to early afternoon hours, closing long before I even have the chance to think of leaving my office. What I really like about Imari is that they are open late enough for me to stop by after work.  In fact, I believe they're open until 9:00 pm daily.

Inside, the shop is homey and filled with knicknacks.  You'll find them virtually everywhere throughout the shop.  To the left of the entrance is a notice board offering Japanese language services, apartment rentals, and deals on used appliances and furnishings -- all posted by the shop's customers.  To the right of the entrance, there are a couple of small tables, in case you want to eat in.  Most often times, people order their bentos to go.  This evening, there are few people inside the shop when I arrived.

Here's the bento that I brought home with me.  Neatly secured with a couple of rubber bands, a packet of tonkatsu sauce was tucked into one end, and a napkin and a pair of chopsticks was tucked into another.

This was the mixed fry bento (US$5.95).  Three pieces karaage fried chicken, one piece pork cutlet (tonkatsu), and one crab cream croquette.  Also included (back from left to right)was some takuwan (pickled daikon), potato salad,; vegetable (sorry couldn't figure out what kind), kinpira gobo (seasoned, sliced burdock root) with carrots, renkon (lotus root) and konnyaku (devil's tongue jelly), hijiki (prepared seaweed), and underneath it all, a lone umeboshi (pickled plum).

The chicken, tonkatsu and croquette were freshly fried and still warm by the time I got home.  The chicken was bite-sized and nicely seasoned.  Although it was a little oily, it was still delicious.  The tonkatsu was crisp and crunchy, and I wished there was more.  It was so good.  And the croquette?  Outside it was crunchy, and inside it was creamy and smooth, with lots of imitation (?) crab chunks.  Delicious.

The size of the bento was just right for dinner.  The combination of the included items provided me with a nice sampling of what Imari has on offer.  The flavor and the freshness of the food was excellent.  The only downside to this whole experience was the wait time.  Since every bento is prepared to order, expect to wait at least 5 minutes, or longer if there are people ahead of you, for your bento to be ready.  Tonight, the wait for me, was just under 20 minutes.  In my opinion, the quality of the food justifies the wait.  Next time, however, I'll make sure to call ahead so that my bento is ready by the time I arrive.

Imari
Samsung Plaza
661 Keeaumoku Street Suite 102
Telephone:  808.941.8866

Comments

[babe_kl]

looked oily from yr photos... i usually won't order deep fried stuff. too much oil. can't stomach too much of that.

[AugustusGloop]

Ooh deep-fried goodness and rice are a match made in heaven.

Are you an umeboshi fan? I can feel my cheek twitching just thinking about some of the ones I ate in Japan! :-P

[MrsT]

Delicious..!! I so envy you ..!!

[ST]

Reid!!! First its the triple choc cupcake which I keep dreaming about. Now its Japanese food. *Chants to myself* I am on a diet I am on a diet...

[Trisha]

I LOOVE Imari. It is THE best bento in Hawaii. You know, Imari is true Japanese style and not the localized style of bento. You can tell. Besides, the owners are from Japan who came here to open the business.

If you want to try something different, try ordering a combo (if you are hungry!) with the Japanese style hamburger steak and something else. Japanese style hamburger steak has a daikon oroshi instead of gravy. You know when you take daikon radish, grate it and add a shoyu dashi to it? That's what it is. It's different for local taste but very Japanese. I love it! It's less oily than gravy too for those who are trying to cut their fat intake. :)

[Robyn]

oooh.. That looks good. Maybe I'll go there after my appointment in town... :)

[lance]

At that price and freshly made right when you order, I think I'll forget about Marukai's "production-line" bentos and go there instead for their bentos. Thanks Reid.....

[jupiter]

yummy! That is what I usually order, the mixed fry. Either that or a wafu hamburger steak and tonkatsu combo. Too bad Tokiwaya closed down before I got a chance to try it. I heard it was better than Imari.

[pinkcocoa]

Looks delicious! I loveeee croquettes esp. the creamy type ;-) But er, like ST, I am on a diet...on a diet...-_-...*sob*

[Reid]

Hi babe_kl,

I know...too much oily food can cause digestive problems in us all. Unfortunately, I love to eat deep-fried stuff. I seriously need to stay away. The food really wasn't that oily even if it looks like it was.

Hi AG,

I love the sourness of umeboshi. When I was much younger, perhaps around your age =P, I used to eat chazuke with just umeboshi and takenoko. Mmmmm!

Fried stuff is great, however, I need to cut down a bit!

Hi MrsT,

Do you like Japanese food? Any good Japanese places in Nova Scotia?

Hi ST,

Long time no hear! Hope everything is OK in Singapore. =)

That chocolate cake from Grand Café was to die for. In fact, I went back and got another slice a couple days later. Absolutely sinful, and I have no shame admitting it.

Judging by your comment, I take it that you like Japanese food. If there's one good thing about Hawaii, it's the wide availability of good Japanese food. This is one of the places that I really, really like.

BTW...you're on a diet? Last I saw, you looked like you were in excellent shape. After all I ate in Singapore, I'm the one that needs the diet! =)

Hi Tricia,

I like Imari too. I've actually been here several times and the first time I was here, I remember ordering the 3 choice combination...wrong move! It was way too much for me to finish. I did order the wafu hamburger steak which I found to be excellent.

Hi Robyn,

It does look good, doesn't it? Hope you had a chance to visit after your appointment. If you did, I'd be interested in knowing what you thought.

Hi lance,

The bentos at Marukai are great and convenient, especially if you're in the area and don't really have time to wait. I also like the bentos at Daiei, when I need something quick.

The bentos here are an extraordinary value, especially since the food is cooked fresh. Hope you get to try this.

Hi Jup,

The mixed fry is one of my favorites, though normally when I've eaten my allotment of fried food for the week, I'll normally order something a bit lighter. I tried the bento at Tokiwa-ya a while back, but I think the bentos at Imari are better, if only slightly. BTW...I have to agree about the wafu hamburger steak.

Hi pinkcocoa,

Yes, I really love croquette, especially cream croquette. This one was so good that I was wishing for more. Next time, I might just order the crab cream croquette on the side. =) And if you're thin like ST, you really don't need to be on a diet.

[Julia]

Oh, lucky you, Reid! The bento is really value-for-money, and really worth the waiting time if it's as delicious as you described. I love all the fried Japanese items, but hardly make them at home because I hate the cleaning up after deep-frying food.

[Julia]

Oh, lucky you, Reid! The bento is really value-for-money, and really worth the waiting time if it's as delicious as you described. I love all the fried Japanese items, but hardly make them at home because I hate the cleaning up after deep-frying food.

[AugustusGloop]

Wow... You remember back then? Were the umeboshi in colour, or was it black and white in those days? =P

[MrsT]

It's an understatement.. when it comes to japanese food.. and I.. hahaha!!!
Sure there is .. in NS.. but not in Yarmouth.. where i am.. :(
The nearest sushi place.. is in halifax.. a 4hrs drive from Yarmouth.. so it kinda suxs big time for me.. :(

[Reid]

Hi Julia,

I hate the clean up too! That's why I prefer to go out and eat this. Besides, I don't have to cook either. =)

Hi AG,

Hmmmm. I'm not sure if I can really remember anymore! =P

Hi MrsT,

I feel for you. I don't know what I'd do without my weekly dose of Japanese food.

[John]

I've had bad experiences with Imari. Let me inform you that they pay their coworkers with cash or they have done so in the past. They use frozen food for their squid and croquettes, and the owner of that store does not have a valid working visa.

[Tanega]

No more she closed up???!!!