What’s Cooking: Kam Bowl restaurant dishes up oxtail soup, prime rib in new location

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A local culinary staple opened a new location in Pearl City serving its famous oxtail soup and some new specials.

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Liko Higa and Ryder Yoshida, along with supervisor Kaui’ilikea Kahanaoi, from Kam Bowl Restaurant joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the transition from Kalihi and showcase their signature oxtail soup, mango guava barbecue, and slow-roasted prime rib.

“We are newly opened in the Times Waimalu Shopping Center. We’ve been open for about six weeks now, so it’s an exciting venture for us.” Kahanaoi said.

The expansion also highlights a personal milestone for Yoshida, the restaurant’s lead chef who boasts 30 years of culinary experience. Yoshida officially transitioned from employee to business partner and co-owner.

“It’s been my dream for a while. I’ve been cooking for a long time—30 years,” said Yoshida, who overcame personal challenges to get where he is today.

Higa recalled asking Yoshida about his goals during his initial hiring interview, noting that his dream was always restaurant ownership.

“With his dedication and hard work, his dream has come true,” Higa said, adding that Yoshida’s value in the kitchen made the partnership an easy decision.

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Higa still co-owns the original Kam Bowl at the Kamehameha Shopping Center, which was rebranded as Ali’i Diner in July.

Iconic favorites and new dishes

Higa, who is originally from Okinawa, explained that Kam Bowl’s oxtail soup recipe draws from a unique blend of traditions passed down by the restaurant’s original owner.

“It’s not just your average oxtail soup,” Higa said. “It’s like Chinese, but we blend it into more like healthy herbs and vegetables, and then the spices added to the Okinawan taste.”

Kahanaoi noted that the labor-intensive dish remains a restaurant favorite because “it represents time, patience, and family.”

In response to strong customer demand, the restaurant added prime rib to its lineup. Yoshida said the beef is marinated overnight and slow cooked for three hours. The prime rib is available every Thursday at the Kalihi location, and is being served at the new Waimalu location at 98-1264 Kaahumanu St.

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For menu updates and hours, visit their Facebook page.