OGO Ona-Loa

When anyone mentions "Hawaiian food" the first things that come to my mind are: loco moco, spam musubi, kalua pig and poke. It's not the most refined food but it's quite delicious when done right and in Tokyo, the real deal can be found in the unlikeliest of locations, on the 5th floor of a small building one block from Akasaka Sacas. Walk through the cloth curtain and suddenly...you're in Hawaii. It's a tiny space with just 4 or 5 tables, but the decor, the laid back vibe, the big blown up Spam and the occasional surfer dude or jolly looking Polynesian make you feel like you are in Oahu rather than in the middle of a major business district of Tokyo.

I don't know how they make their Kalua pork taste so authentic - slightly smoky, pulled chewy-tender pieces of pork seasoned with sea salt, it's really delicious. But the real star is their tuna poke - fresh pieces of bright red tuna cubes marinated with a slightly mayonnaise-y soy concoction, mixed with nori and tiny fish roe. For lunch they offer only loco moco, kalua pork, tuna poke and a rotating daily special with rice, but I'm told the dinner menu is much more extensive.


Combination lunch platter with kalua pork and tuna poke - the poke is some of the best I've ever had!

Food rating: ****
Bang for buck rating: 5 (for their lunch deals!)

The essentials:
http://www.ogo-onoloahawaii.com/
Location: Akasaka Sacas, Tokyo
Average price of meal for two (lunch): 2000 yen (~$22)