[Previous entry: "Jumbo Hot Dog with Garlic Butter Shoyu Musubi"] [Next entry: "Yotteko-ya"]

10/09/2007: "Taishoken"

The quest for the perfect ramen continues! Today's choice comes to us from Taishoken. I've heard many good reviews about this place so I decided to try it out. How did it go?

Side view of the restaurant, a bit shabby looking huh?
Click here for more pictures and the full review...


This is the sign you look for as you're driving down Keeamoku...


Taishoken Menu.


Condiments.


Happy Hour! Either three free pieces of gyoza or 15% off your bill? That's a great deal.


Ramen Combo - Shoyu Ramen and Fried Octopus ($8.45 USD)


Shoyu Ramen.


Close-up of the broth.


Fried Octopus. I thought it tasted all right, not great. Definitely no flavor unless you squeeze the lemon and dip it in the mayonnaise. Kristian didn't do neither so I know he did not enjoy this.


The rice from the combo. I used to think ramen and rice together was a weird combo, I think I'm getting used to the idea now.


Pirikara (Spicy) Ramen ($7.30 USD).


Close-up of the spicy. The spicy ground beef mixture basically provides all the spice in the ramen.


I added a boiled egg ($1.00) to the ramen. To my slight dismay, they forgot the egg and I had to wait quite a while.


Can't get enough of the green onions...


Close-up of the broth and the menma...


Delicious noodles. I'm sorry I couldn't get a picture of it, but Taishoken actually has a room where they make fresh noodles and gyoza! I guess I'm not that much of an expert, because I really can't tell the difference...


Gyoza ($1.99 USD). Another item they completely forgot, I got this after asking for it two times and it came at the end of the meal. The majority of the staff speaks nothing but Japanese so it was a bit difficult to get good service.
I'm sad to say that this is yet another restaurant I didn't enjoy. It wasn't necessarily the food, but the service really put us off. It looks like they're low on wait staff...so we were helped by this very impatient and rushed Japanese man. He got my order wrong twice, and was quite intimidating. However, when he did realize they forgot my gyoza, he was very apologetic about it. The parking lot for Taishoken is quite poor...and the location is a bit sketchy. I do notice a trend when I eat out, we always get mistreated...but always end up getting food either left off the receipt or purposely given to us for free. Anyway, for authentic Japanese style food, Taishoken is definitely the place to check out!

Taishoken
903 Keeaumoku Street, Suite C101A
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
(808) 955-8860

Mondays - Saturdays
11:00 am - 10:30 pm

Sundays
11:00 am - 8:30 pm

Price


Food


Service

Replies: 6 Comments

on Saturday, October 13th, NAte said

And maybe get the char siu on rice too.

on Friday, October 12th, Nate said

Keep it simple - shoyu or miso tsukemen. Always have good noodles with each bite, dipping in the broth each time. Broth is thus stronger.

on Wednesday, October 10th, jenny said

Well, now that my curiousity is there about the tsukemen...I must venture out there one more time.

on Wednesday, October 10th, Nate said

Seems everytime I've been there the guy's been there.

on Tuesday, October 9th, jenny said

Nate! Does that mean this guy is ALWAYS there?? I guess you gotta sacrifice good service for good food sometimes huh?

on Tuesday, October 9th, Nate said

I agree with you on the service by that guy. But I go back because I really like the shoyu tsukemen.