Aloha Tofu is no longer just a tofu factory. February marked the grand opening of a sister-venture for the töfu business that Kamesaburo and Tsuruko Uyehara took over in 1950. The new venture is a quick-stop restaurant and take-out establishment called Aloha Tofu Town. Paul Uyehara, Aloha Tofu’s sansei president, said he began thinking of expanding four or five years ago. Aloha Tofu Town is located at 735 Iwilei Rd., fronting the Dole Cannery Theaters (next to Tachibana Enterprises).
Over 100 guests — family members, friends and business customers — joined the Uyehara family for the grand opening festivities, which featured hula by Makiki Christian Church keiki; an ‘ukulele performance by Honoka and Azita; and Okinawan entertainment by Afuso Ryu Gensei Kai, Hawaii Shibu and 2013 KZOO Karaoke grand champion Carolyn Shimamura. The guests also had a chance to watch fresh soba (buckwheat noodles) being made by hand by Takayuki Watanabe, a sixth-generation soba maker and longtime friend of the Uyeharas.
Besides serving up healthy and delicious meals, snacks and desserts, all of them made from töfu, the nearly 5,000 sq. ft. facility will also become Aloha Tofu’s deep-frying operation for products such as aburage (deep-fried töfu pouches) and atsuage (deep-fried töfu).
The lunch menu features töfu curry, töfu hamburger steak and töfu loco moco, which are available daily. There are also daily specials: soymilk cream croquette on Monday, mushroom chicken with a soymilk cream sauce on Tuesday, töfu champuru on Wednesday, töfu chili on Thursday and an “Aloha Friday Bento” consisting of meat or fish or a combination. The plate lunch prices range from $6 to $10.75 for the Aloha Friday combination bentö. Those preferring a light snack can consider soft Oboro Töfu with Kawanaka shoyu, a soybean rice musubi and töfu poke, or desserts such as töfu mousse, okara cream puffs or a töfu roll cake.
Aloha Tofu Town is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch orders can be placed at (808) 585-8585.
