Toyo Sushi

I feel kind of bad writing a review when I didn’t get to experience Toyo, however, I am just so disappointed, I thought I should say something…
The Unilocal photos for this business look awesome; I was salivating as I checked them out on the way to Toyo. I couldn’t have been hungrier today during lunch and after a failed attempt to get ScoopHawaii ice cream sandwiches, I was pretty excited to stop try some okazuya. Don’t judge me, I eat dessert before lunch all the time.
I pulled into the little shopping plaza and saw the sign out front. Awesome. But the parking lot is under construction, thus reducing the size of the lot in half. Less awesome. The shopping plaza did hire people to help with parking though, which was nice and I was directed to a parking stall rather quickly.
I was almost running toward where I saw the sign and got a little scared when I didn’t find the store front (the Toyo sign is on the front side of the building, with all the other tennants’ signs). I turned the corner and glimpsed another sign on the side of the building. Coolio. Until I get there and the store is empty. WTF. I almost died. Just my luck. At this point I’m almost starving and am not feeling Subway or DIm sum. Wahhhh! I made the walk of shame back to my car empty handed. So sad. They should take down the signs… and Unilocal should update the business to «Closed». I would hate for others to be in a similar situation as I was in today because it was the WORST. lol (I’ve been watching a lot of Korean dramas lately, sorry).

this shop is closed! went today, and it’s empty…

There are a few things which get me REALLY EXCITED:
1) Carnival food
2) Unicorns
3) Okazuya
The third on my list is okazuya and I am always on the hunt for amazing new eats!!! So when I read Pomai S’s review of Toyo I excitedly raced to my next meal! Located in the Liliha Square Shopping Center it’s very easy to miss Toyo. There’s a sign that reads Toyo but don’t go to the Chinese window which sits under it! It’s a RUSE!!! Toyo is actually located around the corner. I ordered the four choice combo plate for $ 9.50 so I could try a bunch of different items. I got the noodles, mochiko chicken, gobo and agedashi tofu. I was a bit disappointed that my plate didn’t include rice or a musubi but I guess I should have included it as one of my choices? Not the most delicious okazuya I’ve ever had in my life, but it still has some solid options when compared to its counterparts. The gobo was my favorite part of the meal as it had great flavor and it was cut thinly. Mochiko was decent and agedashi tofu would have been 1,000,000 times better if it was hot and fresh. Toyo is still a solid option when you’ve got okazuya cravings but parking can be a bit challenging as this is a very busy little shopping center.
Photo: 4 choice combo plate with noodles, mochiko chicken, gobo and agedashi tofu (
)

I always see the sign when I hit up Subway in the Liliha Square shopping strip mall, and figured why not come by here to check things out. The shop was a bit of a challenge to find, since it wasn’t even near the sign. I never would have known this place this existed, if it wasn’t for Unilocal and a bit of adventurism and searching on my part. The actual store front enrtrance was in the little corner, next to the Ala Bakery and the Fantastic Sam’s. A bit further away from the Subway, but I guess that’s how it goes. I knew why the Toyo Sushi sign did not or could not fit anywhere in the vicinity of the store. No room! I was tempted to try anything just once and for time, this place satisfied me to a different level.
Toyo Sushi is your typical okazuya places. The store itself is small, but what it doesn’t make up in size, is what it dishes out in good food. The restaurant, if you can call it that, has only a couple of tables. I entered the store and already instantaneously, the lady behind the counter — assuming it’s the owner or owner’s wife — welcomed me in and smiled. That was pretty cool of her. The counter had a select group of tantalizing items for sale. While there was no menu to speak of, it was clear that, if you do load up ala carte, be prepared to pay top dollar for your purchase.
The parking situation is bad, especially when it’s in Liliha Square. The food was good and the service was quick as they come. Almost like any okazuya in Hawaii, this place is good to check over, if you are in the neighborhood. The prices — like mentioned earlier, is not posted anywhere — at least when I was there, so be prepared to shell out more than what you think is the price. There was this guy who was standing in the back of the room. I thought that was the owner. I would definiately come back here, if I can remember. I hope that they make different things daily, instead of the same things over and over. I would need to see if that’s the case. Or better yet, special order something, if they can accomodate. That’ll kick ass!
They offer bentos and plate lunches, but also do catering, if you need local style Japanese fare for your party or event. For me, I got the mochiko chicken a couple of times and that was a hit for me. Sometimes, what looks kind of loco in the display can be amazing in your mouth. I gotta try that when I venture out and try new places and things. I would definitely would compare this place to Mitsuba Delicatessen on North School Street or Toshi’s on North King Street, but in better surroundings. Check it out and you may be in for a treat.
Cash only!!!
Support local!
B+

Awesome food, good service, but they don’t sell drinks all the time.

Great okazu place! They have all types of stuff

This place was hard to find. Had it not been for Unilocal I would have never known it was here… even if I did I likely would have passed on by. I stood confused for a bit under the Toyo Sushi sign on the main strip as the takeout window below was for Chinese food. Luckily it had the number, so I called and was told it was around the corner by Fantastic Sam’s.
For the most part I’m not a fan of deep fried anything, however I made an exception to try the Rice Krispy Tofu. I love tofu. This was probably the most unhealthy tofu I’ve ever consumed but it was spectacularly sinful. I have a whole new respect for Rice Krispies.
Feeling I needed to veggie it up after that indulgence, I chose the gobo, kabocha, and eggplant tofu. The gobo had a nice chili pepper spice to it, the kabocha was like buttah (melt in your mouth fabulous… seriously, I didn’t chew), and the eggplant tofu was not particularly outstanding, but good.
The best thing about eating here was it made me vividly remember my Japanese obaachan (who passed many years ago) scolding me one New Year’s Eve as she and the aunties diligently prepared the maki sushi, nishime, gobo, etc. for not paying attention to how they cooked so I would know how to cook these things myself. Oh well. At least I can still buy something close enough to evoke a memory.

I went to Toyo Sushi today, located on Vineyard Blvd. When I entered the delicatessen, the girl behind the counter was not friendly at all. I expected to see a friendly, welcoming and helpful person. Instead, she had no smile on her face and acted as if she wanted to be out of there. I purchased two plates and found the food to be very salty. Sushi not tasty at all. Teriyaki meat was dry, fried tofu was salty, so was the pumpkin. A very disappointing experience!!! Very pricey!!!

I recently had food catered from here for my son’s birthday party. I ordered the popular Rice Krispies Tofu, Lemon Chicken, and Mochiko Fish. I couldn’t decide between the Lemon, Garlic, or Mochiko Chicken because they were all very good. The Japanese-​style Lemon Chicken turned out to be a hit with the guests at the party… tender and flavorful!
The owners that took my order were very accommodating. I have to say that in town, this is the place to go if you need food for a party or small get together. The prices are reasonable, and the portions are generous.

Like most other types restaurants, each okazuya has a favorite dish that are must-​haves by their regular customers, where those items usually sell out first. For example, St. Louis Delicatessen in Kaimuki and Toshi’s in Kalihi are known for their chow fun noodles and fried chicken. Nuuanu Okazuya on the outskirts of downtown Honolulu is known for their wide variety of fish cakes and kabocha (pumpkin), while Tanioka’s out in Waipahu and Masa & Joyce in Kaneohe are known for their fish patty (not the same as fish cake). Of course, amongst other favorites from each of those places as well.
Well, enter Toyo Sushi in the Liliha Square Shopping Center, where we’ve recently discovered what they should and will be known for from now on in the form of their relatively new creation, the Rice Krispies Tofu. Yes, Rice Krispies Tofu! As in the popular Kellogg’s breakfast cereal also known for doubling as a marshmallow-​sweetened treat bar, where in this application it’s turned into a puffy, texture-​rich and delicious batter coating a sliced block of firm Tofu.
It appears Tyson — the young fellah who works there who created this dish — simply takes a sliced block of firm tofu, dips it in a thick type of tempura batter, then gives it a roll in Rice Krispies cereal, then into the fryer, finally topping it off by drizzling it with a either teriyaki or misoyaki sauce and a sprinkling of finely-​shredded nori and sliced green onion for the finishing touch.
With that, the toasty flavor of the puffed rice cereal after its deep-​fried, along with the somewhat glutenous undercoating of the tempura batter keeping the Rice Krispies glued on adds such a a wonderful flavor and texture compliment and contrast to the subtle, sort of pasty hue on the palate that is tofu. Then you get that savory «umami» boost from the sweetened shoyu teri’ sauce soaking into the golden-​tasty, texture-​rich batter on top, along with an earthy element from the Nori and Green Onion, and POW! Just fantastic!
Of course, using breakfast cereal as a batter component for deep-​fried foods isn’t anything new, as Corn Flakes and Rice Crispy Fried Chicken have already been done. Yet to apply this concept to tofu in an effort to jazz it up and make it more exciting than some folks may think of tofu in its plain, undressed state is simply brilliant! Solid 5 SPAM Musubi… err 5 STARS for Tyson/​Toyo Sushi’s Rice Krispies Tofu. You gotta’ try it!
As always, see photo section for pics I’ve provided of this (and many, many other dishes) offered at Toyo Sushi.

I lived up the street from this okazuya all my life and this is the spot to go. They have so many choices and price is very reasonable too. My favorite is the nishime, gobo, shoyu chicken, and furikaki musubi. It was the best place to buy bento for field trips when I was a kid. Their newest item, Rice Krispie Treat is pretty tasty for a vegetarian item, yummo! Plenty of parking is always a plus :)