Tokyo Central — Local services in Oʻahu

I think maybe I could live here. TWO roasted sweet potatoes? For three dollars? From the moment I walked in and the rush of the air-conditioning swept me up in a sushi, sweets and potato-roasting scented breeze, I knew it was meant to be. There wasn't really anything I didn't want to try, all their sections are stocked beyond belief. There were cases of shiny custard cakes, steaming trays of teriyaki, fried rice and noodles, milk bread sandwiches, roots and radishes, my perfect potatoes, and endless ice creams. Soft serves and taiyakis, sweet corn and green tea, everything you could imagine and more. Also a very decent ceramic selection! Some fabulous bowls. So as you can tell I was already flying pretty high but when I got to the SUSHI SECTION? Nearly ascended. It was almost too much for me.

I couldn't believe the prices. New York (if you haven’t heard), isn't cheap, and Hawaii really isn't too different but there is a very fabulous affordable sushi scene here if you can tap into it and this is the cream of the crop. I wanted everything. I wanted it all. But I went with my gut, and this saucy eel beauty was pulling me towards it with a sort of mythical energy, I'd qualify it as a religious experience. Of course it was good. It was perfect. And so were the potatoes, and the cucumber, and my iced tea (AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE ICED TEA). It's deeply painful to now be several states and an ocean away from this place. I shall miss it terribly as I await my return.

(Also forgot to mention but these cheese chip things were fun and weird and...

I was standing in line to purchase about $40 worth of lunch, snacks and other goodies. The line was taking a bit longer than expected so I took a couple sips of my mango drink. The cashier and relief manager, Mr. Morimoto, proceeded to publicly castigate me when I finally reached the front of the line. As I’m standing there with my credit card in hand waiting to pay he begins to berate me insisting that it is illegal to consume any drink before it has been purchased. We all understand how capitalism works, Mr. Morimoto. However as a cashier in a grocery line with paying customers who are standing there with their credit cards in their hands waiting to pay you, do you really think that the best course of action was to tell them that they’re engaged in illegal activity for taking two sips of the drink they are in the process of purchasing? It was a very bizarre and extraordinarily offputting experience. I’ve never had such a terrible interaction at this grocery store before which is why I’m writing this review because it is so uncharacteristic of the place. I understand what his point is but I thought the way he decided to raise it was extraordinarily inappropriate, I had just finished two hours of paddling and was absolutely parched and I am quite frankly amazed that my decision to quench my thirst whilst paying for the drink in my hand was met with such absolute derision and displeasure from one of the staff members of this...

Customer service sucks beside a couple old timers at register and meat department who smile and say hello when their restocking outside. But Absolutely NO ONE ELSE GREETS YOU OR ACKNOWLEDGES YOU from the time you walk through the doors to walking around passing workers. The hot bar and deli area lady worker just said excuse me so she could put more hot foods down. No "hi. Can I help you with anything?" Or even just a "Hello or Hi" I've been there mornings when there's barely any customers and afternoons and evenings. Besides the endless snacks and pretty good sushi, customer...