Ono for okazuya

That signature nori chicken, potato hash, shrimp tempura and assorted musubi are back.

After being closed for half a month for renovations and repairs, Fukuya Deli reopened to the public on July 1. The Moiliili-based shop closed to do a lot of underground and electrical work, according to owner Arrison Iwahiro.

“There’s nothing major that customers would notice visually, but we were trying to finish the project as fast as we could,” he says.

Like many other businesses, Fukuya had to switch things up in the most innovative way possible when the pandemic hit last year. Fukuya was known for both its walk-in okazuya and catering, but had to immediately focus on takeout service.

“We used to do a lot with funeral homes, but that all went to zero orders with the shutdown and no gatherings,” Iwahiro says. “We concentrated on our takeout, which was very slow in the beginning, but we stuck it out. During the pandemic, we noticed people would come in during lunch, but they would also buy something to take home for dinner.”

Fukuya still features customer favorites — including nori and mochiko chicken, shrimp tempura, potato hash and sushi — in its okazuya section. Iwahiro says the hot dog roll, mochiko chicken and chow fun noodles are also hot sellers.

“We don’t have monthly specials, but we do change some of the dishes during the week to provide variety,” Iwahiro says.

With the decrease in catering orders, Fukuya started packaging smaller quantities of its bestsellers. These smaller family-style meals, designed to serve five to six people, were especially popular during the holidays.

“We had to adapt to going without catering and packing in smaller quantities, but we got used to it,” Iwahiro says. “In terms of having smaller menus (family meals), we’ll play it by ear, see how things go and see what people want.

“Hopefully, we will be able to ramp up the catering side again, but this last year was a learning experience all the way around,” he adds. “We are fortunate to have loyal customers and that people kept coming to support us.”

Fukuya Deli

2710 S. King St., Moiliili
808-946-2073
6 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays
fukuyadeli.com
Instagram: @fukuyadeli

Want more onolicious okazuya? fill your plate at these places.

Blossom’s

This Kailua-based okazuya is known for its Korean chicken, sesame chicken, maki sushi, cone sushi, corned beef hash patties, and shrimp and vegetable tempura. Blossom’s is open Tuesday to Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon (or till sold out).

Hashi Okazuya

Formerly Sato Okazuya, this Waipahu spot is known for its fried noodles. The bentos are some of the bestsellers on the menu, which also includes $10 plate lunches and okazu items like corned beef hash, shrimp tempura, shoyu hot dogs and more.

Masa & Joyce

This Kaneohe-based okazuya is known for its poke, hand rolls, assorted musubi, sweet potato mochi and Hawaiian plate lunch. Its musubi selection, ranging from garlic chicken and shrimp to hot dog, is particularly extensive.

Mitsu-Ken Okazu And Catering

This Kalihi-based okazuya is known for its garlic chicken. Other popular items include the fried saimin bento, breakfast deluxe combo and Mitsu-Ken bento, which comes with three pieces of garlic chicken, teri beef, Spam, hot dog, egg omelet, and rice with furikake and ginger.

Nuuanu Okazuya

This okazuya expanded in 2018 to include a larger kitchen and spacious dining area. Nuuanu Okazuya is open seven days a week. Keep an eye out for its signature ~ shcakes, furikake chicken katsu, andagi and Sunday specials.

Sakana Express

When you’re craving Okinawan eats, this okazuya has a good selection. Sakana is known for its ahi tofu patties and fried chicken, but Oki-style items include shoyu pork, goya, tofu and nasubi chanpuru (Okinawan stir-fry), and more.