Shirokiya

Awesome great amazing smells like Japan… Disneyland of Japanese food a buffet of pretty Japanese girls Yakitori to beer to dance and music culture better than food floor in basement of Ginza Department Stores. One hour Line to get in line still out the door got to come back for beer garden review greatest thing at Ala Moana Center …

This place would have gotten the full 5 stars if the workers here did something about the 4 people who tried to cut in front of us at the sneak peak viewing. 2 elderly woman about the age 70’s and an Asian lady with a child who avoided eye contact when they tried to cut in front of me & my sisters upon entering. Mind you I had my 2 month old infant W me in the stroller as well. I told the workers about the people cutting and pointed them out for everyone else to hear when we entered the store and they did nothing!!! NOTHING!!! So I didn’t let them cut in front of my sisters, specially me! We waited in that line for over 30 mins. They are lucky that I had my daughter because If I didn’t have my daughter W me I would of made a big ass scene. But for my daughters safety, I let it slide and did the right thing by reporting it. But NO, no one did jack shit!!! What a crock.
I’m also furious that there were no beverages for sale. I was hot & thirsty from walking around and caring for my daughter. When I went to purchase a drink, all refrigerated doors in the place to buy bottled water & drinks were tied W zip ties. I asked employees around and not one station sold beverages!!! They had water fountains near the bathroom and just small cups of water that you could get (which was on the other side of Shirokiya from where we were). Horrible! What if I needed water to mix for my daughters formula??? I’m sure he’ll ain’t using the fountain water to mix it. I had no choice but to drink the water fountain since I didn’t want to walk outside to stand in that line again to get in. If you asked me, they needed their sneak peak more organized!
On that note, place was clean and big. Better then the old one and big improvement.

It’s a beautiful new location for Shirokiya located on the ewa wing side of Ala Moana Shopping Center. Yes, I was one of the crazy people who stood in line for an hour this morning to get into the public preview day. It was totally worth it! There was free food being given to the first 1000 people today! I ate so much. It was a great idea to have this event. I can’t wait to come back after they have officially opened on June 25, 2016.
I can’t even begin to explain to you how amazing this place looks. The food choices are never ending. Everything from sushi to hot pot to Korean food and Hawaiian food. Oh. and those hello kitty breads stuffed with custard and chocolate. I could go on and on!
If you missed today’s limited event from 11am to 2pm, do not fear. You’ll appreciate this place more when you don’t have greedy old people trying to knock you over to get a damn free boba tea sample. But I understand, we were thirsty consumers! I would’ve gave today’s event 5 stars but I dropped it to 4 because apparently if you didn’t have a VIP wristband you couldn’t buy any beer or water! I guess that how they make you leave after eating all the free food. Lmao.
I’ll be back though. I’m very excited. But just a heads up. There’s not really any merchandise available for purchase. It’s strictly a Japanese style food court now. I have no complaints but that’s just me. I’m just here for the food. :)
P. S. Beers will be cheap. Including $ 1 bud light, primo, and PBR and $ 2 Kirin.

It makes sense to have a food court style dining area in the new Ewa wing of the mall, especially if you love Japanese cuisine. The Makai Market food court is located a long ways away at the other end of the mall and who wants to walk that far after an exhausting shopping spree? I know I don’t! If the mall keeps expanding they’re going to need to have a shuttle service to get from one end to the other! Don’t even get me started on navigating my way through the new parking structure– someone could seriously get lost just driving around the lot now! By someone, I mean me and it would not be the first time.
Anyway, back to Shirokiya’s new Japan Village Walk…
I was there, along with my two sisters, at the exclusive soft opening that was limited to only 1000 people per day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The line snaked all the way around from the entrance to the post office making a U-​turn back around again. Yeah, you could say it was long! It would not surprise me if the first people in line had camped out overnight (think, Black Friday madness)!
So, you’re probably thinking: all of this just for free samples? Let’s get it straight… This was not your everyday free sample from Costco. All I can say is wagyu beef curry– the BEST ever! Plus, it came with a cute mini scoop of rice (only in Hawaii would there be a riot for rice, so good call on serving it with!).
Once inside, it was like stepping through the automatic glass doors of an oriental heaven. My eyes bugged wide open with amazement as my jaw dropped to the floor. The dining area adorned with cherry blossoms and lanterns with bightly lit signs shining behind it creating somewhat of a halo effect. Still in awe, I was led to an Asian angel holding a tray of samples. «Would you like to try a Hello Kitty waffle? We have chocolate or custard,» she said. I nodded in slow motion while drooling. Okay, so maybe it didn’t happen quite like that, but it was entrancing to say the least.
Once I snapped out of it, visibly noticeable was that not all of the vendors were open for business. While standing in line for free grub, some of the kitchens were empty, but there was no need for all to be open because there was already an endless array of food samples for everyone to try. So much so that the staff outside was giving away samples to people still waiting in line to get in as well as to passerbys wondering what the hell was going on.
It took about an hour to get MOST of the samples before we actually sat down to eat. We didn’t get all of the samples because, well, for one, the lines were ridiculous because the kitchen staff couldn’t keep up with the demand and two, we already had plenty of food for all three of us. By the time we finished attacking our food from the appetite we built up just to get it, it was already 1:30 p.m. and we were stuffed. NOM NOM… There were musubis, chicken katsu, croquets, noodles, salads, poke, shave ice, Thai teas, etc. NOM NOM… It was a good thing I wore a loose fitting dress or I would have been in trouble! NOM NOM…
As we exited licking our fingers with our bellies poppin’ out, there were still people lined up outside peeping hungrily through the glass as the staff turned several onlookers away telling them to try again tomorrow.
Overall, the food tasted amazing and it’s not just because it was free. While still on the inside, as I was stuffing my face with petite-​sized morsels of goodness, I happened to glance at some of the prices. It’s more than it was before, but the food is also more upscale now, too. So, the hike in pricing is justified. Beers are still a dollar, though :) So, cheers!

Wow the public preview day was sure crowded, a long line of people just waiting to get in. Price for the Wagyu area as expected were a bit expensive running around $ 12 and up. Unfortunately I didn’t have much time so basically walked around looking. But the décor is reminiscent of partially the old Yataimura and new. I wouldn’t say it really looked like mozen-​machi shops but I can see the resemblance of the alley way look. There are different sections Guardian Spirits Sanctuary, Wagyu Plaza, Seafood Plaza, Bakery, Yataimura, & the Beer Garden, which adds up to about 56 different shops, there are a lot more seats from what I understand about 900. A few of the businesses weren’t ready but that’s granted as it was the first Public Preview day (6÷14÷2016 from 11−2pm). I can tell it’s going to be a crowded area and probably will take away a bit from Ala Moana Food Court but it is a great addition. I can’t wait to actually try the food next :-) which I’d review separately anyway.

New location is opening June 25^th but I got in line for the free preview June 14&15 11−2pm.
It’s great. The space is great. My wife and I got a free sampling of all the vendors and they taste as good as they look. The décor is great. Lanterns and cherry blossoms, lots of wood. Go check it out! Oh they even have their own radio station! It’s located on the street level of the Ewa wing of Ala Moana directly below the new Nordstrom location.

I always like to go to special events. This special event, marks a new beginning for Shirokiya. The event starts at 11am and it runs until 2pm. The place looks terrific! The wait staff serves samples of food from the vendors. The food tastes fresh.
When we arrived at Shirokiya, many people waited in line for the free food samples. When we went in, the vendors gave us vouchers for the little charms.
This place looks exactly like a village! In the middle of the place, you see small and simple wooden tables and seats.
After walking around the food area we meet ladies wearing the traditional Japanese garb. We exchanged our vouchers for the charm. The charm reflects your birth year.
The grand opening takes place on June 25. They are hiring if you need a job.
Come to this place when it opens! I think you will enjoy this market place.

The newest star at Ala Moana Center, this is not your father’s Shirokiya.
A media preview for the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk was opened up to the public one day earlier, so fortunate shoppers who happened to be passing by had the opportunity to check it out.
Yep– I was fortunate enough to visit «the walk» and let me tell you Bruddahs and Sistahs, you will not be disappointed. Wagyu beef, okonomiyaki, gyoza, shave ice, spam musubi, most of the shops had samples for everyone to see and taste what will be offered soon.
It’s a somewhat expansive/​compact area, much bigger than the old location next to Macy’s. There are a total of 56 shops and 900 seats so there is a lot more selection, from old takoyaki favorites to new Vintage Cave offerings and everything in between.
All in a relaxed counter order setting with informal seating in the area.
Many probably remember when Shirokiya and Daiei used to compete for the same Asian goods market but not anymore. The change that they initiated about 10 years ago has come to completion. Shirokiya is going all-​in with the focus on eating opportunities for the public. There are only about six non– eating shops in this location. The last vestiges of what were mainstays at the former location are gone.
Shops include: Vintage Cave’s Wagyu Plaza (six offering variations), Tokyo Hot Dogs, Kulu Kulu, Marion Crepes, Tamira, Sushi Omita, Sea Dragon, Carp Dori and Vintage Cave Bakery to name a few, like I said, 56 in all. There is enough variety that truly there will be something for everyone to enjoy. The grinds are gonna be good, and beer is only a buck! Great place to relax after work with da gang.
One interesting area is in the Diamond Head/​Makai corner of the walk, a Shirokiya Guardian Spirits Sanctuary is located here and is devoted to the Asian Zodiac with fortune telling sticks (like the one you find at temples) as well as good luck charms and amulets.
Interestingly, Shirokiya is the oldest anchor tenant in the shopping center and had been there since 1959. In Japan, the first store traces it’s roots to the 1600s making Shirokiya the oldest stores still in operation in Japan. The total project cost for the Shirokiya Japanese Village Walk was 35 million dollars.
I’m guessing the initial opening period is going to be a challenge for Shirokiya, similar to what happened when the Ewa wing of Ala Moana opened. But once things settle down, the Japan Village Walk will be a great addition to Ala Moana Center. Two thumbs up Shirokiya. Congrats and good luck.

All in one stop for those wonderful traditional Japanese dishes. Love LOVE coming here for a quick meal.

This may sound crazy but the food court at Shirokiya is a reason for me to want to pack up and move to Hawaii. Beaches (bah!) who needs them! HAHA! Just kidding the beaches and humans on Oahu are reason enough to move.
There are so many options to choose from and it may seem crazy but they have a very good system there. You find the food you want and bring it to the counter, pay and find a seat and dig in! Finding a seat might be difficult as locals come here for lunch and tourists as well. You may end up next to someone and that’s cool, strike up a conversation!
So many options from ramen to curries! the best thing is the happy hour. For you Shirokiya vets you know what I’m talking about. Who doesn’t want to down an $ 8 dollar pitcher of Sapporo or Kirin Ichiban? $ 1 dollar pints, anyone?
I went and got my cheap buzz on while eating curries. I came back twice while on vacation because IDGAFOS the food is on point and you can’t beat $ 1 beer unless it’s free.
All I know is that when I return I will come back t o grub and get appropriately lit (if there is such a thing).

I am going to miss the original Shirokiya location as like many other have very fond memories of the place. It was at one time before all of the big box retailers and mail orders the place to go and get electronics. I mean any type of electronics from home stereos, TV’s small Walkman’s, Panapet (the round globe looking) to rice cookers. It was fun just to always go in and ooh and ahh the large screen tv’s and newest electronics from Japan. Then there was the food that came in the later years. They started out with a grocery area that carried all the hard to find japan items then slowly added fresh hot food items to what they had until they closed with all of the hot offerings. I will look forward to the new space with even more of a impact to the mall but will sadly miss all of what I knew at the old location.

Dear Unilocal Reader,
Caution: This is a homage to my most favorite store in all of Ala Moana Center. It will be extremely longwinded and redolent of boring & trivial nothingness because only happy memories were had here. Feel free to carry on to the next review.
All the Best,
R.
My most cherished Shirokiya memories:
One of, if not, the first store to carry Sanrio products. I was partial to My Melody but alas Hello Kitty has since reached global domination.
As a kid, came here to pad my sticker collection on a regular basis. I collected Scratch & Sniff stickers, stickers sold by the sheet, and by the yard. When sticker collecting got stale, I switched to pencil & eraser collecting.
Got my first 10 sided pencil case here. Just kidding. It was a 3 sided (front, middle, back) pencil case with little compartments on each side, making it a 5 door pencil case? Mines was Little Twin Stars.
Robocon Jigsaw Puzzle. I adored Robocon because he was afraid of the gokiburi, just like me.
Used to be THE PLACE to go if looking for a new tv, vcr, stereo, Walkman, cd player, etc.
Loved their kitchen gadgets & demos when they used to have their housewares department upstairs.
Island Fair: Neighbor Island vendors from Kauai, Maui, Molokai & Big Island showcased their food products. It has been sporadically & individually featured in the last few years or so. Loved Island Fair Time.
Book Off: Used bookstore/​DVDs for Japanese and English readers. They have now sprung up at Pearlridge and this location’s one moved to Don Quijote.

Shirokiya was quick to feed the fads ranging from video games, pogs, clear vinyl school bags with girly designs, etc. It’s a bit sad these types of things have been simply cut out & has been mainly food focused in the past decade or so.
But I get it. Shirokiya helped spring board many a businesses (Beard Papa, St. Germain, Kulu Kulu, etc.)
AND THE FOOD IS WHERE IT’S AT. BECAUSE:
Shirokiya introduced me to European influenced Japan pastries via St. Germain Bakery. Oh man, the bread. The Family Bread & The Ham Rolls. Seems kind of passé and ordinary now, lol.
Now Brug Bakery is in on the action.
Weekend lunch bento fix. My favorite was the teriyaki chicken bento, with the rice separately layered on the bottom, because it was cheap, filling, and delicious. Best part was scoring window side seating in the super cramped, little corner they used to have for patrons. It was squishy, noisy & crowded.
Bulk candy sold by the pound. Expensive but my favorite was the strawberry milk candy. The one with the white wrapper and strawberries dotted all over. I think I’ve seen this at Marukai now. It’s the Sakuma brand.
And chewy milk candy wrapped in rice paper. I wish I remembered the name of it. Don’t think it was peko-chan’s because it doesn’t taste the same. It was similar to White Rabbits but was 10x better tasting. (Only exaggerating since I can no longer get it.)
Ramen Challenger Series: Could never figure out what the «challenge» was but this turned out to be guest stints from Japan and US Mainland ramen shops. My favorites were Keisuke Tokyo’s kani miso ramen and LA’s Ikemen dipped ramen.
I’m sure everyone knows by now that Shirokiya is closing its doors at the end of March & will be moving to their new location in June.
Only one more week remains to say a final goodbye:
Kulu Kulu will move with them but you can still visit their Waikiki location.
Brug is moving elsewhere but it has not been announced where.
If you’re getting nostalgic hurry & visit the So Cute Kawaii Corner where they have little trinkets, plushies and stationery items for sale. I even spotted a 3-​sided Rilakkuma pencil case that will make your jaw drop when you see the price tag.
Til we meet again & Congrats on the big move Shirokiya.
じゃあ、ね。(See ya.)

Oh boy, does this place bring me back to Japan! There are different levels. Shopping level, sweet level, and food level. This is located inside a HUGE mall with lots of brand names – the closest landmark may be Macy’s.
If you have a group of ppl who are indecisive on what to eat, this place is great! There are so many vendors selling amazing food and items that you can take to the beach.
The ramen here was great at Manichi Ramen. I highly recommend this place. I ordered the Manichi special #1.

Fine display of the Japanese food that Hawaii is known for. Food court is at the top of Shirokiya and houses many different restaurants all with traditional Japanese food. Mountains of sushi and heaps of bento boxes galore are all before you. But the highlight to me it’s the simple beer parlor that’s to the left side of the seating area as you walk up because it has a one dollar beer special from 4 to 9 PM each day. And not the usual Budweiser and Miller that is common in the mainland but the more scarce and exotic like beers like Kirin Ichiban, Sapporo and other Japanese brands. It’s great to come to Hawaii and realize how different it is from the rest of the US. The food are more similar here too Japan than the US and even white people are more of the minority here.
I loved the Teppanyaki which is a ball shaped pancake with octopus filling and sprinkled with green onion. The consistency of the octopus is softer than other types I’ve eaten. The outer shell of the balls has a nice crunchy consistency.
Another favorite of mine was the curry with grilled chicken breast.
I heard from from people working here that the Italian Japanese restaurant in Shirakaya called godmother is also very good. I’ve never heard of this combination before and the sign outside of the place almost struck me as comedic combining both an Italian flag and jeep from Japan, ha ha.
Excellent food, incredible value, perhaps the best place to come eat dinner and cheaply pregame before hitting the bars clubs in Hawaii.

As I walked into this store last week, I was reminded of all the times I spent here as a child. I was always in the Hello Kitty section browsing the newest stickers and pencil cases (circa 80s). Years have past but this iconic store still stands, along with Macy’s (Liberty House) as the pillars of the diamond head end of Ala Moana.
The look of Shirokiya has changed completely over the years. Although it is still a Japanese store downstairs, upstairs is probably its main customer lure. Ascend to the second level and you will see the entire floor is filled with food, drink, and dessert options. It has the feel of being in Japan. There’s lots to choose from; bentos, sushi, tempura, ramen, takoyaki, katsu, even Korean food. And there’s a Beer Garden! What???
Choices, choices, choices. On this day we got:
Shrimp Tempura Musubi — Addicted to this. Tasty! It’s dipped in sauce and wrapped in Nori. Great snack.
Shrimp and Tofu Patties — From the Korean food section. Didn’t care for it. I notice it’s a hit or miss with the Korean foods.
Salmon Bento — Normal tasting, good portion-​sized fish.
Miso Ramen — From Tokachiya Ramen, in the older section, next to the door leading to the mall. People had been telling us to try this ramen. It’s Hokkaido style, which is my fave. Noodles were perfect, ramen was yummy. I really enjoyed it.
Overall, I love coming here. I like the variety! Presentation of the foods is always so wonderful. Not as high as Japan standards, but close. I can come here everyday and not eat the same thing. And the beer garden concept is so smart! I don’t go there but I’ve heard it’s very reasonable and popular.
Oh, and downstairs there’s some great desserts. Kulu Kulu is my favorite! The mini waffle, cream cheese filled sweet treats are the best!
I can’t wait to see what Shirokiya will be like when they move to the new Ewa Wing of Ala Moana. It will be a great new beginning for this landmark store!

RAT.
Yes, I spotted ‘the rat’ as people have mentioned in other reviews. I was coincidentally thinking to myself about those reviews that day, wondering if they might be true, as a slurpped on some udon that I got at one of the food stands. Everything here is so delicious. Who can hate Shirokiya? I guess ignorance is bliss.
Mid-​bite I see the bugger scurry past me into the very udon stand I had gotten food from. Jaw dropped. Me and two other people saw it too, we all wore the same startled face.
I lost my appetite right then and there… who knows what kind of goings on happen at night when Shirokiya has shut down. A real life Ratatouille situation here, and not in a good way. Think little tiny rat feet running around in large silver prep bowls, cutting boards, and sinks… leaving behind rat droppings. *shivers* Nope. Nope. Nope.
I would proceed with caution if you still choose to dine here. Until that new Shirokiya dining area opens on the first floor of the mall, I won’t be dining at Shirokiya again.

This place gets me every time. It’s that moment when you’re kind’ve hungry but only want something to hold you over for about one to two hours.
Shirokiya is also that shiny red button that you’re not supposed to touch, but you touch anyway.
I have not been to Ala Moana mall and gotten past Shirokiya without ordering one of their shakes. My personal favorite is their traditional banana strawberry.
Don’t ask for an extra scoop of protein because I’ve already tried, they are all natural stuff. I’ve also enjoyed their strawberry guava shake.
What makes these shakes different are these little bubbly gummy things on the bottom. They fit perfectly in the straw and are located on the bottom of your shake.
The first time I had them I was so confused. Apparently their little tiny universes. Strange, I know.

I absolutely big heart love love Shirokiya! I straight jump to the second floor just to be in the presence of all that Japanese food.
Bento haven, yes I’m home and nothing more comforting then seeing all that food laid out! I might’ve mentioned in other reviews that I adore bentos and Musubis! Bento freak, haha! So many varieties, if you know what you want then great. But if you have no idea, ummmm prepare to spend some time scoping every corner for a purchase! If I could, I’d buy it all.
I like to kinda watch them cook and see how they prepare the food. I do get fascinated by it and I know how it feels to be on the «cooking» end. Believe me, I’ve been there haha. I specifically get the Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, two of my faves at Shirokiya. It’s so awesome!
You can also get bubble drinks, which is great while doing all that shopping. Also lots of places to sit and enjoy your meals, yay! Always a goodie foodie time at Shirokiya!

For some reason I really enjoy coming to this place. They have such unique items and great food.
Today after browsing around the first floor looking at the books and CDs I came across a store that was selling its goods for 70% off retail.
After looking at the purses and thinking if i should buy one as a gift (not for me) I ended purchasing one for my mom for Christmas. Retail was $ 99 and ended up being only $ 31. Great deal!
So if you are in the area. Shirokiya offers a variety of things for everyone especially the second floor of food and drinks.

Definitely one of my favs for finding a huge selection of Japanese food to eat in or take out. I always stop by here when I’m in Honolulu and stock up my refrigerator with two or three days worth of food for lunch or dinner. Saves cooking and the prices are reasonable especially if you come before closing when the vendors mark down everything.
The only thing I found pricey were the various made to order cafes there. The prices they charge is similar to going to full-​fledged restaurants. If I’m going to spend around $ 15 for a dish, I’d rather go to an actual restaurant rather then sit on benches in an open supermarket-​like area. Also, I don’t visit these so this review is not for these places.
Five stars for the places that make the pre-​packaged fresh food.