Scott T.
Yelp
Business operating during the pandemic, "thank you" Review #53
with all the Chipotle-style poke places popping up (some of which I also enjoy) there's lots of competition these days, but i really and truly love this tiny place.
i grew up on Oahu. for me, Yoshino's is more than a bowl of rice and fish, even more than comfort food -- for me it's coming home. when i was in junior high, my orthodontist, Arthur, had an office in a tall building by the Ala Moana shopping center. after getting my braces tweaked, i would sneak across the street to the Woolworth's. they had a counter that sold sushi cones (like giant handrolls stuffed with rice and fish). whenever i go to Yoshino's, which is a couple times a week, i'm right back there.
Tomio is so darling. i take anybody's criticism of his place personally -- probably too personally.
Yoshino's is a victim of their own success. i remember when Tomio worked there by himself (back when they still served gelato). i loved watching him meticulously build bowls one item at a time with chopsticks. it probably took five minutes to put together just one but i swear you could line up every bowl he made back then and couldn't tell them apart -- they were that carefully engineered.
now he's got a whole crew and given how much food they pump out over lunch, sometimes bowls are a bit scruffy and Tomio looks haggard and exhausted. but the quality of their food is very important to them and it shows. they buy premium ingredients and serve them fresh and not necessarily at my convenience or yours. i gave them five stars in a review once when i got there at 11:45 and they'd already sold out (vowing to come earlier the next lunch which i faithfully did) because i understand that.
it pains me to read reviews from Philistines whining about how Yoshino's had sold out when they got there or about how they're cash only. look, i get your disappointment if you show up and they're done for the day. i know it's inconvenient they don't take credit cards but deal. there's a Jack-in-the-Box around the corner and up the block. Jack take's plastic and, more importantly, they're open 24/7. maybe you're just not evolved enough for Yoshino's.
for my part, i treasure every visit, even the ones when i show up and they're done for the day, because i know next time, when i come a little earlier, how much i'm going to enjoy my poke bowl.