Okazuya


Okazuya or okazu-ya are a Japanese-style delicatessen common in Hawaii. Unlike western delicatessens found in North America or Europe, an is an establishment that sells readymade Japanese-styled food. "Okazu" refers to a side dish to accompany rice, while "ya" refers to a retail establishment.
In Hawaii, an offers an array of, food items that are sold à la carte, often by the piece, which can be combined to create a meal. Many of the dishes may also be offered in the form of ready-to-go. It is often considered the precursor to the plate lunch.

History

The idea of the was a result of Japanese and Ryukyuans immigration in the late 1800s. Thousands came to Hawaii to work as contract laborers in the fruit and sugar plantations. While men labored in the plantation fields, women were doing household jobs such as cooking. Many of these women would eventually sell their cooked dishes to other plantation workers for additional income. These establishments were essential in the daily lives of immigrants, particularly for bachelors who did not have the resources or knowledge to cook for themselves. Although the local derive its name and recipes from Japan and Ryukyu Islands, they are still considered very much Hawaiian. Many of the that exists today were started by Ryukyuans who retired from plantation work in the 1940s.
Numerous are standalone take-out shops or attached to another family business like a neighborhood grocery store, but there are a few that have a dining area or have an adjoining restaurant. Older have typically remained a family business passed down from generation-to-generation. Consequently, the challenges of multigenerational establishments have forced several to close when family members choose other careers. Much of the work is done manually, requiring 18 hours a day. Each of the main Hawaiian Islands has an. Oahu had as many as forty-two in 2000, but that number has decreased to less than half by 2022. The oldest existing on Oahu is Sekiya's which was opened in 1935. One of the oldest in Hawaii was Nagasako Okazu-ya Deli in Lahaina, Maui, opened in the early 1900s before it was destroyed in the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.

Okazu dishes

Numerous proprietors and workers typically start very early in the morning to prepare the before opening the shop in order to target customers who purchase lunch before the start of the workday. As a result, several dishes are sold at room temperature, although a few have modernized with equipment such as food warmers. These dishes are often displayed to patrons on the window front or counter. Very few remain open past lunchtime. While many offer traditional and similar fare, ingredients and preparation of can vary greatly from one shop to another. "Fried chicken" at one shop may consist of battered boneless chicken thighs while another uses bone-in chicken wings.
As suggested by the name, are dishes that are enjoyed with rice. Thus, many are characteristically salty or salty-sweet, with partial use of and as ingredients. Several of these dishes were a result of fusion cuisine, adapted to the ingredients and tastes of the time. -style chow fun is simpler than Chinese chow fun and is a common substitution for . A "potato hash", sometimes containing small amounts of canned corned beef, are described as pan-fried potato croquettes without. The Okinawan dish is pork belly simmered in sweetened with sugar. This popular concept was applied to dishes like chicken and hot dogs which were widely available and affordable, now known today as " chicken" and " hot dog" respectively. often include SPAM, hot dogs, or fishcake.
In the present day, several have included in their offerings modern local-Japanese fusion dishes such as "chicken," " chicken," "garlic chicken," and non-Japanese foods such as Chinese stir-fries including chow mein, Filipino adobo, Korean kalbi, Hawaiian poke, and American steak.

Rice and noodles

  • - rice balls seasoned with salt, sometimes sprinkled with, wrapped with, or stuffed with an
  • [SPAM musubi|] - with meat such as SPAM, Goteborg sausage, or hot dog
  • Cone - using larger pockets
  • - or " roll," a rolled containing cucumber, parcooked carrots,,, and
  • Chow fun - flat wheat noodles stir-fried with vegetables
  • Fried - stir-fried noodles similar to
  • Long rice - starch noodles simmered with soy sauce

Vegetable side dishes

Fried items

  • - deep-fried battered shrimp, fish, or vegetables
  • Fried chicken - deep-fried chicken thighs style or in batter
  • Fish cake - deep-fried fish croquettes made from, sometimes stuffed with hard-boiled egg or hot dog
  • - or "hash balls," deep-fried potato croquettes in batter or

Simmered items

  • [Nimono|] - simmered mixed vegetables, sometimes with chicken or pork
  • - pork, chicken, or hot dog simmered in soy sauce and sugar

Grilled