In a previous article that I wrote about Hawaiian food (part 1), I described my experience with an eatery that was out in Kamakura. This time, I discovered a place much closer to where I live in Tokyo and absolutely filled with various eye-catching options on the cafe`s menu. I am actually pretty excited to share this place with you all because it has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat.

First, the backstory as to how I discovered this gem: My friend and I were meeting at Naka-Meguro station and planning to eat slow-roasted ribs for lunch (yes, there is a place in Tokyo that makes great ribs- but that is for another article later on). At that time, we had not tried the ribs place yet and decided to stop by to see if they had ribs for lunch because it was not stated on their online website. When we reached the place, the server there told us that ribs were only served at dinner time; disappointed, we then looked around the area near the Naka-Meguro river for some nice "hole in the wall" eatery.

One thing I did not know about Naka-Meguro before is that the area has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes, and many multicultural ones at that. We found some Thai, Mexican, Italian, American—just more than we bargained for. As we continued to walk around, keeping in mind the many cuisines we could sample, we came upon a cafe that was partially crowded. As we peeked inside the Aloha Table, two things caught my eye: the outdoor, patio-style decor of the whole place and the side window that serves malasadas (Portuguese-Hawaiian style fried dough dusted in powdered sugar, similar to a doughnut). The vibe of the place felt very laid-back and calm, a good place to meet up with friends and family. And the malasadas… I mean, how many places in Japan serve malasadas??

Even the impressive lunch menu won my friend and I over with its range of soups, make-it-yourself salads, and lunch entrees at affordable prices. Plus, the all-you-can-drink bar served white wine, in addition to the usual tea, juice, and water. All-you-can-drink white wine? Count me in!

Inside, I immediately ordered the salmon fillet sandwich, which came with soup, macaroni salad, and green salad. Inside the fillet sandwich were sprouts, sliced red onions, and two kinds of sauce/spread on a buttery roll. My friend chose to play it safe and order fried chicken (karaage) and rice, though I told her to "be adventurous" and try something else. In regards to my sandwich, I knew I had to come back and eat at this place again the moment I took the first bite. The bread was warm and chewy, absorbing all the juice and sauce surrounding the salmon fillet. The fillet itself had a delicate crunch feel on the outside, opposite of the soft salmon inside. To round out the meal, we shared a white chocolate-macadamia cake slice that was really an ice cream cake. The dessert sat on a plate of mango sauce, a delectable treat that was as good as the lunch meal itself.

Would I come back again? Yes times a million. Even as we were leaving the cafe, I kept glancing at the regular menu above to see what I would order on my next visit. Since then, I have already returned a couple times for lunch and am still excited to try new things. Other menu items include dessert pancakes, pho (yes, Vietnamese pho…maybe done Hawaiian style? I have not tried it yet!), and loco moco bowls.

More information on the Aloha Table website:

http://www.alohatable.com/shop/nakameguro

Eat Well,
T.W.