2207 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Hours: 3 pm to 1:30 am (12pm Tues)
Phone: (206) 956-9329
Menu: http://www.ohanasushigrill.com/menu.html

Hawaiian food can be unique, and to say it’s a fusion of other culinary styles brought to the island depends on who you ask. I’m sure most folks agree it really is a combination of ideas from other regions and when I’m craving something authentic, I just have to visit Hawaii and hope I get invited to a Lūʻau. I want to experience that true Ohana spirit, and this operation is so aptly named, I want to come back!

What’s provided at Coco Grill (review) is “real” but it’s not the food I’m looking for. Where’s the poi? As for all the pokes, they’re a dime a dozen and while they come from humble island origins, that’s not what I’m after. There’s always going to be some pork dish at all diners, but what about the seafood? With eel, having enough to feed the masses can be problematic. And who would’ve thought Seattle would have the ideal outlet to get my Japanese and local flavour right. At Ohana, the environment felt just right, and I dived right into the ocean blue as easily as a dolphin into water.

The Sweet tender succulent pork of the ​Kalua Pork Sandwich was juicy and mouth watering. There were various flavours dancing in my mouth upon each bite. Sometimes it was peppery and other times had a kick of a pickle to make it right. And just like I make my sandwiches at home, when I don’t have lettuce around, I use cabbage to get the crunch I’m craving.

It was a good meal, and to my surprise the sushi here is much more affordable and perhaps better than the nearby four-star Japanese restaurants here. They know they’re competing and have their own sushi chef to create some fashionable fusion rolls that delighted me a lot more than others. I had the yellowtail, and it was such a smooth sweet texture that made me think I should’ve gone for a sushi meal instead of semi “mexi.” Everything was right. There was a mild scent from the rice, and it had the right chew factor to say this is better than what mom buys at home.

And finally, I got to taste what the fuss is about concerning this island’s version of putting a slice of spam on top of a bed of rice. The musabi, as they’re known, is just a fancy name for what I know as a triple sized nigiri serving. I had spam on top, and that’s nothing one can rate. Spam is processed ham. It was crispy and with the right sauce, can be a meal in itself. They’re huge! If only I had a bigger appetite, I’m sure I would’ve finished my three plate dinner easily, but I had leftovers at the end. It included one of these (the dish came with two servings) and some french fries (nothing to rave about).

The next time I’m back in Seattle, I’m definitely coming back to try their other offerings. There are other dishes I want to sample, like the Lumpia Shanghai. It’s basically egg rolls cooked Filipino-style, and the filling is enough to salivate my taste buds from afar. It sounds like a version of the deep-fried wonton from my culture, but I’m sure there’s more. And there’s also the Adobo, which are chicken legs braised in a brine made of garlic bay leaves, shoyu, and coconut milk. It’s later grilled until the crust is caramelised and that alone has me drooling.

I usually visit the Emerald city when there’s a pop culture convention. That means planning months in advance, but when I do, I often make the most of that trip and Ohana may well become a staple in the coming years.

4 Blokes out of 5