Japanese/Okinawan Hole In The Wall In Honolulu, Hawaii

Today's video is at a small hole in the wall on South King Street called Kotetsu Chaya. They feature plate lunch-like bentos, Japanese style ramen, some Okinawan dishes, and an affordable Happy Hour pupu menu.
Kotetsu Chaya
1427 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
[phone]
/ kotetsu_chaya
Open everyday 10:30am -3:00pm for lunch
4:00pm - 8:30pm for dinner
Closes at 8:00pm on Sundays for dinner
Happy Hour is 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Parking is in the back for $1 an hour via a parking app
Street metered parking in the front as long as it is not tow zone hours, which is during 6:30am-8:30am and 3:30pm -5:30pm
Hey, I'm Misty, and thank you for stopping by my channel. I feature local restaurants to show case what food and menu items that they have to offer. If any of them interest you, please stop by and show them your support. Support local businesses to keep them going!
***Now translations in the Closed Caption section for those who speak Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Filipino, Russian, French, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Hindi, Italian, Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese, and Portuguese! Please press the Closed Caption [CC] button on the bottom of the screen and select your language for translations. Some translations take a couple of days to process.

[@bertchina4071]

Misty, thank you for going there. I'm Okinawan and have really tried to support the food & culture of the Uchinanchu culture. I haven't live in Hawaii for over 55 yrs. now so I appreciate how you embrace all the food that Hawaii offers.

[@FoodFiend]

Thank you so much. I try to be open minded because you don't know what you're missing if you don't try it!

[@steveandyoung]

I haven't been in Okinawa for nearly 40 years now, but I loved Okinawan food when I was there. I think I'll try this place next time we're on Oahu!

[@FoodFiend]

Awesome. I'm glad it made your list.

[@SeanKaleponi]

Aloha Misty! Mahalo for showing the hole in the wall places too! And the Manager was soo nice!!! I don't know much about Okinawan food so this was an eye opener. That bacon on the taco salad and chicken karage looked soo ono and Nhi would love the fried oysters. Gonna have to check this place out. Mahalo for another great review👍🤙

[@FoodFiend]

Yeah you'll love the taco salad. Get the taco rice! That's super good but I ordered the wrong thing. I wanted to try the ginger pork stir fry too. So many choices! Have a great night Sean and Nhi!

[@mannyb9523]

Hey Sean, looking forward to your review. Thank you Food Fiend for introducing this place. Mahalo. Definitely going to check this place out next month.

[@paulafriedmanalohafrommaryland]

Aloha Misty. Love these hole in the wall places, they usually have the best food! Mahalo for showing these types of dining places and your honest reviews.

[@FoodFiend]

Thanks Paula! 🙏 🤙

[@tonisanoedelacruz9754]

Beautiful place. Seems warm and inviting. Mgr also seems sweet.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes very chill and the manager was sweet and kind.

[@BraddahBruce]

I just ate there! They have ono'licious food! Surely a place to go again! Mahalo for sharing! 🍍😎🤙🌴🥥🌺🌈

[@FoodFiend]

Yeah was so ono! Mahalo Braddah Bruce for stopping by again. 🤙✌️

[@telawsonartzy6880]

An Okinawan restaurant to try out, THANK YOU!!!!! WoW that's some seriously good looking food. I'm afraid I'd eat everything on the menu🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@FoodFiend]

🤣 no need to be ashamed if you eat the whole menu. 😋

[@telawsonartzy6880]

@@FoodFiend 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@laurene2586]

The oysters looked so good, and I like the option of two sauces. Great video!

[@FoodFiend]

Yes the two sauces are a nice touch! The oysters were so good. Crispy and not oily.

[@gailsiangco5599]

I love the generous portions on the dishes ! Amazing Japanese /Okinawan bentos ! Love the sauces ! Misty Mahalo for sharing !

[@FoodFiend]

Mahalo Gail! 🤙

[@titasmom678]

Another Okinawan restaurant to try. Can't wait! Utage has been our go to for this type of cuisine, but this place looks great too!

[@FoodFiend]

Yay! This one is a mixture with Japanese. I think Utage is more traditional Okinawan. But it's good to see this in a plate lunch takeout form when you want to just grab and go.

[@clintonmurakami3753]

Thank you for another gem!!..

[@FoodFiend]

Thanks for continuing to watch my videos Clinton!

[@kylerdad123]

Aloha Misty: Glad to see you vlogging this newly opened Japaneses/Okinawan restaurant. This was a great find. Just the appetizers got to me. Your pairing the spicy ika some rice - I am going hungry thinking about it. 🤣. The fried chicken looking really good! Looking forward to the next great and “yummy” adventure. Best wishes to you and Aiden. Much 🧧to my fellow 🐯! 🤙

[@FoodFiend]

Aloha Bill@ im glad the food made you feel hungry! The ika and tako wasabi was so good with rice. I showed a lot just to feature the items and took most of it home but the appetizers with rice the next day made a great lunch! Have a great week ahead and take care! 🤙🤗

[@Young-w1u9j]

Banchan looks good! And the happy hour menu is pretty decent. Great pick!

[@FoodFiend]

Thank you Young!

[@anthonylee2099]

Thks for sharing. Di I catch a Flintstone sound bite.? 🤙😎

[@FoodFiend]

Lol that's my text message sound. The Flinstones. 🤣

[@RodSwansmad]

Hi Misty, Winner hole in wall restaurant 😋🤙 Cheers Rod

[@FoodFiend]

Thank you Rod! Have a great week!

[@B1GJOHNSTUD]

i've been there..the staff is real friendly & respectful! hard to find these days..a lot of restaurants have horrible customer service..

[@FoodFiend]

Yes they are so sweet. Love the service and food.

[@JAnotherday]

I'm currently in Washington state but I'll let my aunt know about this place she lives on Oahu thank you❤

[@FoodFiend]

Awesome! Mahalo. 🤙

[@martykong3592]

:) THANKS MUCH for sharing! NEver would have thought Taco Salad! Looked really good! ENJOY and ALL the BEST! Cheers :)

[@FoodFiend]

Thank you Marty! Have a wonderful weekend!

[@honuhorizen]

I love your videos because you go to hole in the wall places that no one else covers! ❤

[@FoodFiend]

Aw thank you. I try to cover both hole in the walls and fine dining too. 🤙

[@honuhorizen]

@@FoodFiend I love them all. 🤙🏽

[@bigedhaaheo]

Looks Delicious 😋, need to check it out.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes please do! Super ono meals there.

[@ThuanHoang-fd3dx]

Thank you so much for sharing your video Misty. Foods look good I'll be there in April will try it. Have a great weekend Misty.

[@FoodFiend]

You're welcome Thuan! Have a great weekend and one step closer to your vacation!

[@hiroshihiga1181]

You are a great communicator. Keep up the good work.

[@FoodFiend]

Thank you so much. 🙏

[@joyjoyjoyfolie]

Thank you!! Always enjoy popping in when i can!!

[@FoodFiend]

Mahalo for stopping by. 🤙

[@urs-]

Food looked great! I wanna try the fried oysters, among the other ono looking dishes. You got there at a good time too 👍🏼. Adding to my list. Mahalo Misty 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@FoodFiend]

Yes the fried oysters were soooo good! I enjoyed the taco salad a lot too.

[@ginas.6656]

All the food looks amazing yum great prices too oysters look huge thanks for reminding me of the taco rice gotta make it soon!

[@FoodFiend]

🤙 Thanks Gina!

[@wendelld808]

Great pick...add to the list.

[@FoodFiend]

Thanks Wendell. Hope you like it if you go. 🤙

[@JonIchinaga]

Nice video, Misty. Been looking for an Okinawan place and did not know about Kotetsu Chaya. Actually, the taco salad looks DELICIOUS but I want to try their taco rice. Thanks for sharing this video, Misty.

[@FoodFiend]

Thanks Jon! This is like a mixture of Okinawan and Japanese in a grab in go way. If you want authentic Okinawan try Utage Restaurant in Kalihi by Youngs Fish Market. 🤙

[@rudefunk1]

I would like to try the taco salad with a Balsamic Miso Dressing it looks yummy. I look forward to trying it out! Mahalo.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes it was so good with lots of fresh ingredients. I'm not sure if you can choose your dressing though but they are friendly so it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[@miketuggle9273]

MMM. LOOKING YUMM-OH !!!! Now I am hungry. But I am too tired to scrounge some grindage. LOL. Thanks MIsty!!!! hahahahah.

[@FoodFiend]

Lol hopefully you found something simple to eat. If not there's always today! 🤣

[@warreng5394]

Another great vlog! ❤❤

[@FoodFiend]

Mahalo Laura!

[@seizethedayandlive]

Misty, thanks for posting this! I drive by that place all the time and didn't notice it! I just got back from Okinawa in January so I'm especially interested in checking it out 🙂

[@FoodFiend]

Awesome. Hope you enjoyed yourself there! It must be beautiful 😊

[@seizethedayandlive]

@@FoodFiend My friend and I just had dinner there and it was great!

[@FoodFiend]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the food!

[@seizethedayandlive]

@@FoodFiend I made sure she knew that it was all because you uploaded your video; without it, I would continue to drive by it without realizing that it's there!

[@FoodFiend]

@@seizethedayandlive thanks so much!

[@alant.541]

A taco salad in Okinawa. Who knew? Happy hour food is the best. BYOB is even better. Great recommendation.👍

[@FoodFiend]

Thanks Alan. Yes save money with BYOB

[@bolohead1]

Another place we wanna try one day. Taco rice doesn't usually come with egg.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes please try it. They're super nice too. Ah good to know. Maybe it is a Hawaii thing because Ethel's Grill and an Okinawan izakaya I went to put egg on top.

[@eloisedupain]

❤

[@carolpohina3798]

Looks amazing. I'm ono for it all now. Ugh, I shouldn't have watched on an empty stomach 😉😀🤙

[@FoodFiend]

Oh no! Now you gotta go look in the fridge to make something. Or just go buy something. Tonight get plate lunch across BK store in Nanakuli. 🤙

[@carolpohina3798]

@FoodFiend I've been wanting to try them but haven't yet

[@markpang8847]

This place is legit. I go at least twice a month for their tonkotsu ramen. Extra noods. Let’s keep this place busy so they stay around. IMHO it is one of the best tonkotsu ramen on Oahu.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes it's so good. I hope they stay in business. More people need to know about Kotetsu Chaya. 🤙

[@keithmasumoto9698]

Too bad they don't have the bitter melon stir fry called goya champuru. I think you would enjoy that. I will look for this place when i get to honolulu.

[@FoodFiend]

I like Goya chamouru. Yes odd they didn't have it but maybe they thought it's not as popular with most locals. You gotta know the cuisine to enjoy that. Maybe if they get popular with folks that actually appreciate the cuisine they will add it to the menu. 🤞

[@ripleylv426.]

Even though war is horrific, i do find it interesting that throughout history food, culture, and communities blend because of it. Heck we got that canned meats/spam fandom going on here in Hawaii because of the US military presence too. Is it healthy? No but fried spam with some char is so ono! Looked like quality, comforting home cooking 👍!

[@FoodFiend]

Yes so interesting how the US military influenced different foods around the world. Korea also loves spam and Vienna sausages in their kim chi stew and calls it Army stew. I love Spam with a nice char too. So good with rice.

[@nsf96791]

Wat!...no goya?!?!?? I love da bitter melon...any style, filipino, okinawan, japanese, korean..no matter...My wife used to make a bitter melon kim chee. Totally unique and nobody has been able to replicate her recipe! Dang it! Even the filipino farmers behind my house liked it!

[@FoodFiend]

Yeah no goyu champuru here. But get at Utage in Kalihi. If I crave that I just make my own but usually I just like stuffed bitter melon and pinakbet. 🤙

[@phatsmurf575]

Definitely want to go there next time we visit fam in Honolulu. Thanks! Any recommendations on where to get Japanese style croquettes?

[@FoodFiend]

I'm glad you will try to check them out. Not sure, but next door to Kotetsu Chaya is Jugem. They serve Japanese crab croquettes with curry. 🤙

[@phatsmurf575]

@@FoodFiend awesome! Man, I miss all the local grindz.

[@jhash9554]

Yummo

[@FoodFiend]

🤙

[@benjavier8262]

Food is so expensive in hawaii even the locals cant afford to eat out in restaraunts

[@FoodFiend]

Depends. Some can, some can't. Restaurants are still pretty full on the weekends with locals. I see some eat out everyday, which blows my mind.

[@spang9782]

Oh, too bad you didn't get the taco rice! For folks who are thinking....YUCK!, it's incredibly good! On my first trip to Okinawa, our host insisted we try it. I was doubtful. She took us to King Tacos (I believe that's the name) which is supposed to be the best place to get it! SURPRISINGLY GOOD! Now I'll have to try Kotetsu Chaya's!

[@FoodFiend]

Yay! Please try it. If you're looking for taco rice it's around. Ethels Grill has but parking is insane. And Izakaya Naru by University has as well.

[@spang9782]

@@FoodFiend Well since the Okinawa trip, I've been making my own. It's not rocket science. I actually make taco rice tacos: small bed of rice at the bottom of a crispy shell, layer of meat, then toppings! In Okinawa, some places gave tortilla shells, some did not.

[@FoodFiend]

@@spang9782 can't beat homemade!

[@DoubleOTEN]

… Is that next to La Pizza Rina ?

[@FoodFiend]

Yes

[@Walts-Travel]

Look at your tastebuds. You are getting your eat on.

[@FoodFiend]

Yes getting it on. I'll be getting it more on Tuesday 🤗

[@WilbertYuen-x4q]

0:39

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

misty....how is the parking there? on the street or backside?

[@FoodFiend]

I tried to show the parking. There's parking in the back. Entrance is from King and exit on Keeaumoku. Also during non tow zone you can park in some metered stalls. Usually tow zone is during 630 to 830 and 330 to 530 or something like that.

[@Waynes-xt9gr]

@@FoodFiend usually the parking entrance was by that hostess bar before the keeaumoku driveway, and you enter there and exit on King. I would have to turn on my car alarm cuz of the homeless situation by the AG bldg......what attracted me is that they serve miso ramen!

[@chiburu_uchinanchu]

That used to be a pizza place b4

[@FoodFiend]

The pizza place is still there. It is next door. La Pizza Rina.

[@warroom17]

Hi Misty! Was the pasta salad warm or cold? How did you like the shiso furikake compared to regular nori furikake with the chicken?

[@FoodFiend]

The pasta salad was cold. I liked the shiso. Is that what it was? I'm not much of a furikake fan so I'd pick the shish over that.

[@miltonkwock7538]

We call the purple furikake that was sprinkled on the rice "yukari". My kids love the stuff and you can find yukari on musubi at Fukuya and other okazuya.

[@brianhirose8866]

Another great video Misty. Well done and you made me hungry again 😂😂😂. Imma check dis place out since it’s close to where i live! Peace out!

[@FoodFiend]

Mahalo Brian! Yes it really is close to you guys 🤙