Coming in Hot (Pot): Luxe Beef at Onkee and Mikiya

Onkee Korean Grill House

Noodles Hot Pot

$32 per person, minimum two orders

On Onkee’s new lunch menu, Noodles Hot Pot catches my eye. A departure from the grilled meats the restaurant is known for, it features prime rib-eye, a vegetable medley and kalguksu, or knife-cut noodles. The meal also comes with the day’s assortment of banchan. It’s hosted by the restaurant, as is the one below at Mikiya, a coincidence of timing that raises our curiosity about how Honolulu’s two newer high-end hot pots compare.

It’s a good spread. Banchan starts with bowls of tangy, chilled mul kim chee. Two more kim chee dishes arrive—one freshly made, the won bok leaves firm and sweet; and the other sour, aged kim chee. The anchovy broth for the hot pot is clear and golden and savory and light, perfect for highlighting our ingredients’ full flavors. Raw garlic and pepper are on the side.

With a few swishes in the boiling broth, long strips of rib-eye emerge tender and juicy. And the vegetables and mushrooms—cabbage, bok choy, green onions, enoki mushrooms and fresh shiitake—mysteriously take on a buttery flavor after cooking in the butter-free soup. Perhaps this is a result of following the rich rib-eye?

We save the kalguksu for last. The knife-cut noodles are thick, chewy and perfect for slurping up the broth.

I’d eat more if I had room, but after a filling lunch of rib-eye, veggies and sides, the leftover noodles and veggie-filled broth become a whole other meal. This may not be an AYCE hot pot, but it fills you up and then some.

You can walk off some of your rich lunch by parking for free in any Ward lot. The closest are at Whole Foods Market and Consolidated Theatres, both on the next block. If you’re here for dinner, Onkee has valet parking in the same building for $6.

1000 Auahi St. Unit 220, onkeehi.com, @onkeehawaii

SEE ALSO: Onkee Korean Grill House Is a New High Mark of Modern Korean Barbecue in Honolulu

Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House

This national shabu shabu chain specializes in wagyu cuts, making for a luxurious all-you-can-eat hot pot. Offerings span four tiers that range from $48 with American wagyu to $98 with Japanese A5. We order the Gold Wagyu Set ($78), the second-highest tier.

In addition to the set menus are unlimited side dishes that you can order or grab at the self-serve bar, including wagyu curry and rice. It’s too much for even two people to try everything, so we go for the choices with the highest-grade wagyu. All of this needs to be eaten in 90 minutes or less, Mikiya’s time limit for AYCE.

The experience is similar to other AYCE hot pot places: You order your broths (up to two at a time) and ingredients, and if you want to try other broths, you can swap out the pot during the meal. We get the two most popular, the sukiyaki and house broths. Tip: Choose sukiyaki broth only if you love sukiyaki because that flavor permeates everything in the pot. The house broth is lighter and better for tasting the natural flavors of ingredients.

Wagyu needs only a few seconds in the boiling broth for the buttery strips to melt on your tongue. You don’t even need sauce. While the few pieces on the platter might not look like a lot, each is so full of flavor that I’m more than satisfied. And with the wagyu specialty dishes and seafood, there’s more than enough food. The quality of the ingredients means it’s not hard to eat up your money’s worth, even if you’re a pretty small eater.

Mikiya’s weekday lunch specials include an Australian wagyu set for $32 per person—plates of chuck rib-eye, brisket, shoulder and vegetables—and another with wagyu and seafood for $39. Though the set items are limited, appetizers, drinks and desserts are AYCE.

Park in the building’s garage for validation. You’ll need to scan the QR code in the parking lot, fill out your info and start the timer before you head to the restaurant. At the end of your visit, ask for the validation code to enter on the payment screen.

1221 Kapiolani Blvd. #104, mikiyashabu.com, @mikiyahonolulu