Teruya’s Andagi

One of the most convenient places in town where you can get goya champuru (bittermelon stir-​fry), done up Okinawan style, rather than Chinese (with black bean sauce), Filipino (with tomatoes), or other cultural preparations.
As another reviewer said, it’s got a little egg in it, so it’s not vegan. It is quite good, though – there’s no attempt to hide the bitterness, which I like (some preparations salt the bittermelon ahead of time, to take out that sting, but what’s the ferkin’ point of that special veggie, then, huh?). Goya still retains its crunch, not disintegrating into sogginess, and there’s no over-​conceptualizing of the dish with too many ingredients – such as extra bacon, katsuo bushi, onion, bell peppers, shoyu/​tare/​dashi, garlic/​ginger, etc. – to trick up what’s basically a simple tofu, egg, and bittermelon mixture.
Other places for Okinawan-​style goya champuru are: Masa’s bento/​sushi/​plate lunch within Maunakea market downtown, Nu’uanu Okazuya, and the Okinawan restaurants in town, such as Hanagasa, Hide-​Chan, Utage, New Violet’s Grill, Sunrise, and so on. Used to also offer some at the Waikele golf course’s Japanese/​Okinawan restaurant when it was Sushi Ten, now probably not so much. [Am NOT counting the wannabe, Japanese/​Yamatunchu-​posing-​as-​Uchinanchu places. Yeah, you, Naru and Off the Wall/​OTW offshoots, you Rachel Dolezals of «Okinawan» food.]
Around $ 4 – 6 for a small container of goya champuru alone, or have it in the tic-​tac-​toe bento sampler, at about $ 10 a pop with other okazu bites, discounted to $ 8−9ish as closing time draws near.
Other reviewers are right, BTW: the andagi in this place pops! Not the half-​assed, Nihonized/​Americanized/​bastardized stuff put out by Zippy’s or Foodland or Don Quixote. Teruya’s andagi is much more substantial, dry-​ish/​crispy-​ish, not-​so-​oily/​-​sticky/​-​sugary inside, unlike the wetter/​sweeter, crowdpleasing, poundcake/​donut consistency of those more local-​/​Nihonese-​assimilated places (Zip’s, FL, Don Q), thank goodness. Not thrilled about the andah-​variations sold alongside the real deals here, such as cream-​puff or chocolate-​cream filled andagi (honestly, why? Whyeeee?), but overall, pretty solid work.
[Some of the above-​mentioned restaurants carry Uchinanchu-​style andagi at least seasonally, e.g. during the end-​of-​summer Okinawan Festival. Also it’s sold at that okazuya on the first floor of the building with DLS sort of across ‘Aiea Square on ‘Aiea Heights Drive – goodness-​to-​gracious MOUNTAINS of andagi in its windows – and used to be at Tsukenjo’s which unfortunately put buttermilk or some awful wrong wrong wrong ingredient in theirs a while back. And, speaking of the west side, Ige’s and Da Andagi Guy (whose anthropomorphized andagi cartoon-​character T-​shirt my proud Uchinaa husband still has) doles out some good andagi, too.]
Hey, Teruya’s also sells pickled goya in its cooler. Not quite my scene/​palate, but effort is appreciated. :)

ANDAGI & SWEET POTATO MOCHI!
This review is based on these two Okinawan snack items…
1. ANDAGI.
2. SWEET POTATO MOCHI.
TERUYA’S ANDAGI is located in SHIROKIYA’S YATAIMURA (2^nd floor). It’s the vendor nearest the Makai entrance.
The ladies working the counter are straightforward, but polite. Helping whoever is ready in the semi-​informal line. They know me… I’ve been coming here for years– the polite tattoo’d dude who loves «Chang» desserts!
TERUYA’s sells other food items too, like Tempura, etc., but I’m here only for the…
1. ANDAGI– Deep Fried Dough.
2. SWEET POTATO MOCHI– Gooey Yum!
WHY THE 5-​STARS?
CHEAP:
Only .75 cents for each Andagi & .70 cents for each Sweet Potato Mochi.
FRESH:
If picking up before 12-​noon more than likely it’s warm & fresh. There’s a BIG difference between fresh Andagi & those sitting for hours. In the afternoon you might be taking a chance, but ask the cashier if it’s fresh. I would avoid night, but it’s usually sold out by then.
The quality is good, but it’s more 2-​bite-​size portions. Not like those giant Okinawan festival ones. Really can’t go wrong for such a cheap snack at the Ala Mo-​Money mall.
YAY for «Chang» desserts!
Near the cashier… You can purchase cold Japanese Itoen Tea’s or Coffee for a buck.
Or, be real «Chang» and pay .10 cents for H2O near Mamaya!
Andagi, Sweet Potato Mochi & Japanese Drinkie for UNDER $ 3. Not too bad for Ala Mo-​Money…
**This is the 4^th part of my Shirokiya series. Please follow me to follow my journey…
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #196

My sister, son, & I absolutely LOVE this place!!! Always have to make sure we go to Shirokiya & eat here if we’re ever at Ala Moana! Our faves are the tofu patties, tempura bento, kabocha, namasu, & andagi (of course!). They are all VERY YUMMY!!! The taste & quality of the food is on-​point. Prices are fairly reasonable for the amount of food given.

A must visit for Sweet Potato Mochi. My daughter loves their bento box. Yum.

Awesome andagi & garlic shimp tempura rolls!

I can’t believe that this place has not had the spotlight shine that it deserves! And if you are in Shirokiya, you can not miss this place. Located on the 2^nd floor of Shiroyika, fronting the 2^nd floor main entrance is the little snack shop that serves up deep fried goodies like shrimp tempura, kambocha, andagi and sweet potato malaladas! TOO DIE FOR, and not for the health freaks– no no, this place is greasy goodness!

Shirokiya’s has had an andagi stand as long as I can remember. You know the big wok fryer with a lady who makes andagi standing behind a glass screen. They also make the cream or red bean paste filled pastries… you know the ones.
Now a days this section is called Teruya’s Andagi and they make other sweets, bentos and small packages of Japanese vegetables of all types.
So today a light bulb goes on over my head as I am cruising around Shirokiya’s while trying to stay away from the Kimukatsu Pork place. I’m going to review all the shops at Shirokiya with a focus on Vegan/​Vegetarian options. Teruya’s will be the first of the series.
Vegan Bento:
Nine items, all vegan except as noted, and very good taste and quality. $ 7.95 is a reasonable price as most bentos at Shirokiya’s are $ 8.95 to $ 13. Nine items. See the photo. Vegetarian: Two items, the bitter melon and the croquette, contained a very small amount of egg. To me the amount was microscopic but really not vegan… just for full disclosure. Rest of the items were vegan. Grilled japanese egg plant, rice, mixed marinated japanese vegetables, green beans, noodles and pumpkin. This was very nice. 4 stars because of taste, quality and the fact that it filled me up. I’d get this again in a heart beat.
If you are at Ala Moana/​Shirokiya food court and you want a vegan meal. Check this one out. No rabbit food here. This is authentic Japanese.
PS: get the Andagi when they are hot out of the fryer. Feel the package to see if they are warm. Otherwise don’t get.

Got my sweet potato mochi.
The ball was super greasy and I couldn’t really taste sweet potato. They do have other interesting andagi stuff though.
2 stars!
Teruya Andagi’s sweet potato mochi is not yummylicious!