Hawaii Hidden in Charlottesville

Riki Tanabe, Hawaiian born and raised, brings one end of the country to the other through his brainchild, Mōchikō Hawaiian BBQ & Deli. It is tucked in a nook of 5th Street Station called The Yard, and I might have just glanced over it if I did not look hard enough.

The restaurant itself is not big. Indoor seating is limited to two tables, so be prepared to sit outside at the many picnic tables or have your food made to take home. If you do sit outside, the waiter will gladly bring your food out when it is ready

I started my meal with a Spam musubi ($3.50). A grilled slice of Spam (canned meat) is glazed with a sticky and sweet teriyaki sauce, and it rests on a rectangular shaped block of rice with black and white sesame seeds mixed in. Musubi means “to tie” in Japanese, and that is exactly how I would describe the nori (seaweed) that literally holds this dish together. The strong taste of saltiness and sweetness from the Spam pairs well with the rice and sesame seeds which grounds the flavor, making it less overbearing. The slight crispness of the Spam and crunch of the sesame seeds gives some  texture to the rice. To tie it all together, the nori gives an umami flavor to the dish. This is definitely a great snack, especially if you are on the go.

Next, I ordered the katsu curry and rice ($9) as my main dish. The katsu is a boneless and breaded fried chicken breast. It is served with Japanese-style curry and accompanied by white rice. To keep it crispy, the curry is served separate from the katsu which is fried to perfection, while retaining its juiciness. The curry is not spicy, like how you would expect an Indian curry would be, but it is a delicious mix of umami flavors while being sweet and savory. It is thick and brown, much like how gravy looks. With the bed of rice, this dish can really fill you up with its generous proportion.

Lastly, for dessert, I had the lilikoi shortbread ($2.50). Lilikoi is a type of yellow passion fruit which grows in Hawaii. There are two layers to this dessert: the top layer is a thin layer of lilikoi that is made into a tangy but also sweet custard. The bottom layer is a classic and thick shortbread. It is slightly sweet, with buttery layers. The moist top complements the dry texture of the shortbread nicely. This dessert is served cold and it was the perfect way for me to end my meal.

Overall, spending around $19 plus tip for a delicious three-course meal is a great deal. The only thing I would complain about is the heavy usage of single-use packaging. Although it is convenient for the restaurant and the patrons who would like to take their food elsewhere, it would be better for people dining in to use reusable plates and silverware to be more environmentally friendly. Generally, Mōchikō is a pocket-friendly restaurant that serves delicious and convenient Hawaiian food to Charlottesville.

The restaurant is currently open everyday except for Monday. Visit Mōchikō’s website for more information on their opening hours, location, menu, story and more!