What’s that name again? Osoyami? Say it a few times and the play on words will come to you. The playful and “yummy” description hits the nail on the head.

The bar and grill has a DIY, comfortable, low-budget feel; you can come as you are and jump in and out or stay a while to hang out with friends.

The experience

Osoyami feels like a place to drink; it’s not too dark and not too bright, with black walls and a back-lit bar. It strikes a fair balance between classicism and youthful inventiveness — part no-nonsense watering hole, with its simple furnishings and basic menu, and part creative start-up, with musicians daylighting as wait staff and a filling, humorous menu that is designed to bring a smile to your face.

Owner Blane Nishizawa also operates Station Bar & Lounge on Kapiolani Boulevard, a live, similarly DIY-style music-lovers hangout that is almost four years old. He says Osoyami has been open for nearly three months.

It took some work to open up, requiring plumbing repairs, new equipment and a rebuild of the interior before it was ready.

“When we first took a look at it, it kinda looked like it got hit by a hurricane,” Nishizawa said.

Nishizawa and crew did a fair amount of rehab on the place themselves, from installing new walls to rebuilding the bar top. There’s a special, welcoming vibe to a hand-built place, and while it’s not fancy, Osoyami is definitely welcoming.

The furniture is basic, but there’s enough room to spread out, and you can see the chef at work in the kitchen to keep an eye on your order as it is prepared. There’s enough room in the back of the bar to squeeze in a musician or a band, too; though Osoyami hasn’t scheduled any music at this time, with music-friendly Station as part of its bar family, it wouldn’t be out of the question in the future.

The food

If you like bar food — the baseline for Pau Hana Patrol — you’ll love Osoyami. This bar’s sliders and specialties are the bomb. Mid-month, the bar added Taco Tuesday specials, too.

Sliders are made with locally raised, grass-fed beef, and come with two 3-ounce patties per order ($7 to $9) during regular hours, and with one slider and fries ($5; add $1 for bacon or for garlic fries) during happy hour. Osoyami has been steadily adding variations, and is now up to 12 different slider choices, including one made with Thai peanut chili sauce, a Loco Moco slider and a Wild Mushroom slider with garlic butter sauteed mushrooms.

The house specialty is topped with beer-braised sausage, crispy “frazzled” onions and hollandaise sauce, and will surely cure your hangover before you even induce it.

I added bacon to the Guacamole slider, which is also topped with pepper jack cheese, and loved it. For me, the Hollandaise Signature slider was a bit much; I liked adding some bite to the beefy, juicy mix of tastes, and enjoyed the Greek Tapenade slider, topped with sun-dried tomato, olive tapenade and feta cheese.

As if the sliders weren’t enough to harden your arteries, Osoyami also offers Fried Kimchi ($6). “Think fried pickles but with a local twist,” the menu advises.

Beyond the slider variations and the Garlic ($6) or Parmesan Pepperoni ($8) fries, however, there’s something you’ve GOT to try: the Fried Cheesy Sriracha Balls ($3 for a mini version at happy hour, $6 at other times). With an interior of ramen and cheese, deep-fried and served with a side of blue cheese sauce, this bar food is irresistible. IMO, it puts a ramen burger to shame.

Just do it. You can jog later.

The drinks

Osoyami’s prices are hangout-friendly any time, but only two drinks are discounted during happy hour: a Lychee Cooler, made to taste like the tropical fruit with mango-flavored rum, pineapple juice and Sprite; and an STP cocktail, made with Midori and Malibu rum. Both are offered at just $3 — and normally go for five bucks.

Outside of happy hour, Osoyami’s cocktail menu sticks with its playful theme, with an Oh My Maitai for $8, Tropical Trashcan for $10 and vodka with Red Bull for $6.

I was also pleased to see a good variety of bottled beer at this small bar. Asahi, Heineken and Corona ($5) are offered, of course, along with Coors Light and Bud Light ($4). So are good choices such as Kona Brewing Company’s Longboard Island Lager, Widmer Hefeweizen, Newcastle and my preferences, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA and Black Butte Porter (all $5).

You can also get a Guinness or a Rogue Dead Guy Ale for $6. The joint’s got its beer bases covered.

The verdict

Osoyami may not be glamorous, but it’s something even better — a friendly, accessible, tasty place to have drinks with friends and walk out with some money left in your pocket. With its low prices, versatile bar options and clever menu, you may want to return again and again.