Tae’s Teppanyaki

I remember when this restaurant was a lunch wagon in the parking lot of Daiei. This was well over 10 years ago. I’m so happy to see that they are still around and at a physical location with a good customer base. It’s been awhile since I’ve eaten here but the menu seems the same (aside from the specials) and the food is still quite good.
The restaurant has several tables to sit at or counter seating by the window. You order at the counter on the left as you enter. They accept both cash and credit here. The menu is simple but the food is good. It’s great that they stuck to what they know and what made them successful. They make your order once you order it so it’s nice and hot when you get your meal.
I ordered the Steak Roll with Garlic Chips. It come with 2 scoops of rice, salad, ponzu dipping sauce, garlic chips and finely shredded daikon wrapped in beef. Food comes out in a take out box for dine in and take out. The rubbish bin is outside right by the door. Portions are good and the plate if filling for $ 8.50.
*Parking — they have a small lot in back or you can find street parking. Another option is to park at one of the nearby grocery markets.

Steak + Teppanyaki (flat iron-​top grilling) + ROLL = JAPANESE STEAK ROLL
For years, we’d pass by this tiny little café not knowing what lay behind its tinted glass doors. Then, last year, I noticed a tasty review for steak (or pork) roll from a fellow Unilocaler (Kim M.) and I quickly bookmarked Tae’s Teppanyaki. My tastebuds and curiosity had been piqued so when we moved into the Ala Moana neighborhood and it was only going to be a matter of time before we’d make the effort to check out this place.
The café is located on the corner of Kalauokalani Way and Makaloa Street. There are a couple of parking spaces behind the café but there are a couple of other businesses in this building that share this lot. Your best bet would be to find street parking. Shhh, you might try using the nearby parking structure of Don Quijote or sneak into the parking lot of Palama Supermarket.
Upon entering, you’ll notice several four-​seat tabletops and a dining counter. This set up allows for dine-​in or waiting areas for those takeouts. The order/​pick up counter and kitchen will be to your immediate left. The menu is SIMPLE with only 5 items (NY Steak, beef steak or pork rolls, beef or pork sukiyaki) and 4 toppings (garlic chips, wasabi, chili sauces and salt & pepper). Cold, non-​alcoholic beverages are offered at $ 1.00 each. Simplicity is a KEY note to remember as I think this café is run by a husband and wife team who have turned their popular food truck business into this brick-​n-​mortar site.
I followed my lunch mates as we each ordered the beef steak roll with a side of garlic chips ($ 8.50). Picking up the containers of aromatic food made my wrists bend from its contents. Until I finally opened my container, I STILL DID NOT KNOW what this steak roll was, yet I knew my anticipation was about to be answered. The steak roll plate lunch is a thin slice of tender marinated beef that is grilled and rolled atop a bed of Benriner mandolin fine cut potato (resembling noodles) on top of fresh-​cut greens. It comes with a generous container of Ponzu (?) or at least a soy-​based sauce, 2 scoops of rice (choice of white or brown) and your choice of topping. The sizzling hot steak is pre-​cut through the potato layer and its heat continues to cook the potato shreds through even while they hand it to you.
At first glance, this dish reminded me of the Vietnamese dish, bùn thit nuong, a chilled rice vermicelli dish with grilled meat and fresh herbs. But, as I dug in, it became more like having hot off the grill steak and finely-​cut hash browns. Hmm, maybe it’s a too simplistic description. but, hey, it was delicious!
Is there a proper way to eat this behemoth plate lunch? Um, what IS proper? Each of us sprinkled the garlic chips over the freshly grilled steak. Some of us poured the Ponzu sauce over the steak to allow it to seep down through the layers of beef and potatoes right down to the fresh lettuce. While others used the sauce as a dip or poured a little over their rice. The dish was flavorful but, if you prefer spicy, there are bottles of Sriracha around to kick it up more.
If you’re looking for a quickly prepared and tasty lunch plate (sorry, there aren’t any vegetarian options) in the Ala Moana area, Tae’s Teppanyaki may be a good option for you.
#529

Buggah stay ono. Small kind sucks dat dey only stay open until 230, but no grumble. Jus poun um brah. Truss me braddah cuzzin. Da buggah go.

How did I miss this place? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the sign and the big windows on the corner. My dining partner was in the mood for some delicious teppanyaki, and I was willing to try. I’m so glad I did! Such a simple restaurant, it’s one big room with a cash register, small refrigerator of drinks, and many metal tables and stools for the casual eat-​in crowd. Service was somewhat slow, but not worth complaining about.
Their food options are simple. It’s basically beef or chicken rolls with plenty of vegetables and rice. You also have the choice of wasabi sauce, teriyaki, shoyu, hot sauce, and the best, garlic chips! I recommend putting them all on– you can’t have too much flavor! Portion sizes are ample for being under $ 10; you will not be hungry. This is a great place to come for good quality meat, cooked to perfection.
Parking is not plentiful, but some street parking and rear pickup lot is available (you may be better parking at Don Quijote).

Hangry, when you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both. Imagine feeling like this at the dead of night while everything is closed. Meanwhile you’re craving for that one particular spot you can’t get at the given moment. In result, you become hangry.
This is a cozy, simple atmosphere type of an establishment without much on their walls. Single bar stools line the walls for the solo’s and tables to fit parties of 4 on the side booths. If you’re looking to just hang out with your buddies over a nice relaxing meal, this is your place. I’ve lost sleep over something such as this incident. I long for that one particular dish I usually can’t get my hands on right away. So I lie there tossing and turning while in bed feeling so frustrated at myself as to why I’m craving this place. So, I rewind and replay that moment when I had my first experience with Tae’s garlic steak roll. Steak roll? It sounds so simple! Well, it looks simple! However, the dish itself is quite intriguing. I’ve re imagined my first glance at this steak roll after ordering it. I’ve deciphered as best as I could as to what’s included. I spy two rice pilafs (of course!), thinly sliced well seasoned steak around a layer of succulent veggies (I can’t make out this string of veggie/​potatoes? as to what looks like noodles) and on a bed of greens. Toppings of choice are garlic chips, wasabi, chili sauce and salt & pepper. I highly suggest getting the garlic chips with your steak! I can replay the crunch of the garlic chips over and over and over as I chew on my tasty steak and rice. What I loved the most is my guilt free feeling after eating everything on my plate.
I put this craving to an end the following day. I’ve decided that my companion should be introduced to this place and it will be our dinner. There’s no buts or ifs or any excuses to not having it. It tasted just as wonderful on my third visit. There was a pretty long gap between my last visit here and I can’t help but notice they now accept credit cards. You know what else? The prices are under $ 10. At times they do run out of certain items as well. You can also call in your order and quickly do a pick up at their window and leisurely enjoy this meal at the comfort of your own home.

Great take out place for lunch. Unique garlic chips and thin sliced steak roll sandwiching shredded potato are things I haven’t seen elsewhere and they go great with the soy sauce and white rice.
Lately though I’ve thought maybe the portion size of the meat is getting a little smaller on a plate of already thin sliced meat. That said, I’m still a fan so far and you still get full off the meal.

Alright, this is my first time here. I’ve heard many good reviews about this place so I thought I’d give it a try.
I’ll admit my first impression when walking into the place was very…‘Meh.’ The place was clean but there wasn’t really anything that caught my eye. Oh well, that’s not what’s important now is it?
The service seemed a little slow, but maybe they had a lot of phone orders so again I’ll give the benefit of the doubt.
While I waited for my food there were a lot of people lining up, so this place must be good.
I ordered the steak roll. Seemed like a must try dish here on Unilocal.So, just life all the other reviews, it’s may not seem like much but once you finish it you’ll kanak attack. Seriously. I took a nap after eating it… regardless it still tasted pretty good. I’ll be back to try their Steak Sukiyaki bowl.
Xoxo
Boom Kanani!

Tae’s Teppanyaki — simple, fast, and good. That’s really all you need to know about the place.
The menu has a handful of items, but the star of the show is really the steak roll (or pork roll). #thatsaucedoe
What is it? Thinly sliced and cooked steak rolled up around some shredded potato, on a bed of chopped lettuce, served with a mouth-​watering, tangy soy-​based sauce.
And you have the option to add sriracha (chili sauce), wasabi, and garlic chips FOR FREE. Yes, the toppings are free. I like to add garlic chips and wasabi or garlic chips and sriracha. #lovethatspice
Parking is iffy — street or risk parking across at Palama Supermarket. What I do is park in Palama, run over to Tae’s to place my order, then run back over to Palama while I wait for my food. The smart thing to do would really be to call in my order ahead of time, pull up in front of Tae’s, put on my hazards, and pay & pick up my order. I always tell myself, «I’ll do it next time,» but next time I always forget. #oops

We probably pick this up for dinner at least once per week. Yes, I am addicted. Their beef sukiyaki is just plain delicious! It’s comfort food at its best.
You know something magical about it: no matter how long I wait to eat the plate after I’ve picked it up, the over-​easy egg’s yolk is always still perfectly runny. How the hell do they do that?
If I don’t have time to cook, I’m hungry and don’t know what I want to eat, I’m anywhere in the vicinity (which I always am anyway, the gym is a block away), whatever the reason, I can always find one to have this for dinner.
I do wish they were open later, they close at 7-​ish (sometimes I’ve come about 15 minutes before and they’re closed, sometimes a little after and they’re still open… not quite sure what the deal is). This would be my only complaint. Otherwise, cheap and delicious BEEF SUKIYAKI — I can’t really vouch for anything else.

I’m sorry, I think it’s me. A couple guys I know love this place. The pics in the review even now, make me salivate. But this was one of the most anti-​climactic meals I’ve had in a while. Enough so, that I feel the need to review it… kinda.
Conveniently located across from Palama Market, there’s street parking — more so closer toward Don Quijote. Be prepared to hunt, and walk a block or two.
I got the Garlic Steak and couldn’t wait. It looked just like the pictures and smelled delicious. That’s where it ended. I found it to be not as tasty as I had hoped. It tasted like meat wrapped around shredded daikon (?). Kind of boring. Took a bite with the garlic chips; no help. Last hope, ponzu sauce — and nope. Ponzu sauce makes cardboard delicious, yet it failed to get me on the Garlic Steak bandwagon.
Sorry, I’m just not a fan.

This no frills teppanyaki place is not your typical teppanyaki restaurant. If you’re expecting the Benihana or Tanaka of Tokyo presentation, you’ve come to the wrong place. But, if you’re looking for cheap (okay, relatively cheap, it’s not the dollar menu at the American fast food places) and tasty food, you have found your haven.
Their menu is relatively small; I believe it consists of about 5 main entrees — the beef roll, pork roll, beef sukiyaki, pork sukiyaki, and a chicken entrée (a rookie maneuver; I didn’t take a picture of the menu. However, if you look at fellow Unilocalers’ pictures, you’ll find the menu). I’ve only had the beef items and they’re delicious!
The beef roll is essentially thinly sliced pieces of beef that act as a wrap around potatoes that have been thinly shredded to be like thin noodles. This is on a bed of cut up pieces of lettuce. The beef roll comes with two scoops of white rice, ponzu sauce, and toppings of your choice. I don’t know all the toppings, but I always get wasabi and garlic chips (I need the crunch of the garlic chips and the heat from the wasabi). The ponzu sauce gives the potato a great punch of flavor. I also use it as a dressing for the lettuce. It is a very filling plate.
The beef sukiyaki is another tasty entrée. The beef sukiyaki includes thinly sliced beef that is cooked with onions in a light, not-​too-​sweet teriyaki sauce. It is served on a bed of cut up lettuce leaves and comes with an egg (I think it’s normally served over easy, but i don’t like a runny yolk, so I get the egg over hard). The plate, like the beef roll, is served with two scoops of rice, ponzu sauce, and toppings (if you want toppings). It doesn’t look like it, but it’s a filling plate.
I believe both plates are about $ 8 — $ 9. If I had to choose one, I would choose the beef sukiyaki. I love the sweet sauce and the onions that the beef is cooked with. Plus, the egg is a nice addition.
Whatever entrée you choose, you can’t go wrong. Plus, $ 9 for a filling dinner? Sounds like a great meal to me.

Love their steak rolls here! It’s thinly cut steak and they top it with Garlic chips and ponzu sauce over shredded daikon and comes with white rice. Parking here can be quite difficult because it’s in an area that is quite busy. The prices here are very reasonable and the plates are so Ono as well as filling. I wanna try they wasabi sauce next time! They also make your order right off the grill and they are pretty quick!

BEEF ROLL! So good! The beef roll was very well marinated. I do wish there was a bigger portion size of meat. But everything was so good!

Started off as a food truck @ Don Quiote, but for years now they have been located across the street as a small restaurant.
The original Steak Roll is the way to go, but also try the Sukiyaki on your next time around.
If you like wasabi, I suggest getting it on the side. It’s a creamy wasabi that u can add along w/​the garlic chips.
It’s affordable ($ 8) and a unique twist to a steak plate. It’s thin deli sliced roast, stuffed w/​shredded potato & cooked like an omelet (or crêpe) w/​ponzu on a bed of lettuce.
A must try!

Once upon a time, Tae’s was a food truck parked in Daiei. At that time their popular steak roll plates were $ 5.75. Now they have a footprint across the street from the Palama Supermarket.
Parking is available behind the restaurant; tandem parked up to four cars. Your other option is street parking. When their parking stalls are full, I usually park at Palama Supermarket. Of course I would go in there and buy something to go with my meal, which normally is strawberry juice ;-).
The steak rolls (shredded daikon wrapped in steak) with two scoops of rice and salad. It comes with pnozu dipping sauce. I usually get it topped off with garlic chips and wasabi drizzle. Very onolicious!!!
Oh…almost forgot to mention the cashier is very courteous. Keep the steaks rolling!

Wow! I can’t believe a simple business like this keeps running. Their choices on the menu is sweet and very simple, can’t go wrong with any. But I there Steak Rolls are what everyone, including myself only go for. Sukiyaki is delish to especially with all the roasted garlic and ponzu sauce.
Nothing special about the drinks and really simple atmosphere. Just come in and go, perfect for people that work nearby.

Interesting concept. Beautifully executed. I’m surprised it’s dead in here, but it is in an odd location. Every previous review breaks down the simple (but delicious) menu. I told the guy/​cook/​cashier it was my first time, how does it work, and he kinda just pointed to the picture and the wall above his head and said just pick one from each. That easy though! Everything is just soooo yummy! Forget Atkinsons and blazing steaks, this is my new steak go to!
Only suggestion is to step the drink game up. All they had tonight was water and diet coke…

Unilocal 365 Challenge x 2 #292/​365
Unilocal 100 Review Challenge #37/​100
Shoot me… I’ve been here twice and I have not reviewed it until now. When my older sister raved about this place and their steak rolls, all I pictured was an Asian place throwing beef in between two slices of bread and calling it a «steak roll». I was wrong!
The menu item name, Steak Roll is so misleading and probably I should just let everyone who never bothered to eat here believe it is just slices of beef thrown in between two slices of bread BUT I cannot do that out of the «kindness» of my heart. I have to be good-​mannered and generous to share that if you have not eaten here YET… then you’re missing out.
–You’re missing out on the sliced steaks wrapping around finely shredded potatoes…
–You’re missing out on the ponzu sauce that you drizzle over that mouthwatering sliced steaks WRAPPED AROUND FINELY SHREDDED POTATOES…
–You’re missing out on the garlic chips that you can sprinkle over that mouthwatering sliced steaks WRAPPED AROUND FINELY SHREDDED POTATOES…
My stomach is grumbling as I write this review…
There are few other items listed on their menu as well as a display of fried chicken (that will just go well with hot rice and soy sauce!), which are reasonably priced.
The location is right around the corner from Hawaii Convention Center and across the street from Don Quijotes. Parking is on the street or across at that parking structure by Don Quijotes.
My mind is scheming on what do I need in town this weekend to detour to Tae’s Teppanyaki?
However, when I really think of it… I don’t need no other justification except to just drive to Tae’s Teppanyaki because this menu item… this mouthwatering sliced steaks WRAPPED AROUND FINELY SHREDDED POTATOES… is definitely worth the drive.

This place used to exist as a food truck in the Don Qujote parking lot. I remember coming here for lunch with my mom. We’d always stop by here after making our round at Beauty Touch (back then, this used to be the only Korean memorabilia store). But one day, it just disappeared and I never knew what happened to it.
Fast-​forward to 2014 and I rediscovered this place after trying to find a nearby place to eat (thank you Unilocal!). I ordered the steak roll and the pork roll with garlic chips. Back in the day, garlic chips used to be free but now you have to pay extra for toppings like garlic chips, wasabi sauce, etc. Luckily, the ponzu sauce is free and included in the meal. Each plate lunch consists of 2 scoops of rice and your steak/​pork roll on top a bed of lettuce. As I took my first bite, nostalgia hit me hard! I was so happy that it tasted as good as it did 10 years ago! Both, taste really good however, If I had to choose, I like the pork better. The pork has a stronger salt & pepper taste than the steak roll.
The things that suck about this place is their limited hours and lack of parking. But, their food definitely combats all those flaws.

Tae’s teppanyaki is it relatively fast and convenient lunch spot. There is a very limited parking lot right behind the restaurant that holds 4 cars tandem parked. Actually, I don’t know how this place gets its name. They have a very delicious steak roll which is thin slices of meat wrapped around what I thought were noodles but were actually shredded daikon.
The best part is the seasoning. Order extra baked garlic slices and wasabi sauce for free. It’s a pretty generous serving of food but its not that cheap. Including a can of soda its over $ 9. There is an ample seating area inside the restaurant made for eating and running because the seats are not that comfortable but definitely spacious.