Photo: Julia de Oliveira
Have you ever experienced shopper’s fatigue? After aimless browsing, unending aisles start to blur together, and hunger doesn’t help. Don Quijote on Makaloa Street solved this problem long ago with food stalls outside the entrance. The newest is Inari Factory, which opened in January with all kinds of inari bombs in your choice of plain or yuzu deep-fried tofu shells.
There are 12 kinds in all, each freshly made with 2.5 ounces of rice and “Large topping!” according to Inari Factory’s English-Japanese website. In this article, I will rank all 12, from “I’m ordering seconds” to “not my personal fave,” with details about why.
SEE ALSO: Debu Brings Giant Kimbap Rolls and Inari Bombs to Ke‘eaumoku
No. 1: Ocean Salad, $2.99
Ocean salad is bound to be one of the blandest things on any menu. But no fear, vegetarians: This one is sublime. With sweet and acidic flavor notes from the yuzu-soaked tofu shell (I’m going to choose this for every inari) and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, it is crunchy, surprisingly complex and exceedingly refreshing.
Nos. 2 & 3 (tie): Miso Salmon and Shoyu Salmon, $3.99
I’m partial to salmon, so (surprise!) these inari bombs tie for second and third. A rarity I haven’t seen elsewhere, the miso salmon is mildly sweet with a sauce-to-fish ratio that lets the natural flavor and texture of my favorite fish take the spotlight. The shoyu salmon isn’t too salty, which it can be, so the seasoning is perfect for me. Fresh scallions add a good zing. This is a simple classic you won’t go wrong ordering.
Photo: Julia de Oliveira
No. 4: Beef Ginger, $3.99
My first beef inari ever turns out to be a delight. Strips of tender, paper-thin meat, sweet from the soy marinade, are balanced by a perfect amount of spice from the red ginger garnish.
No. 5: Miso ‘Ahi, $3.99
The topping on this overflows with one of my favorite ocean delicacies: tobiko. I’ve had many kinds of ‘ahi poke, but never with miso, and I find that Inari Factory’s sweet miso blend pairs very well without overpowering the fish. Generous amounts of tobiko in the mix provide a nice crunch.
No. 6: Spicy ‘Ahi, $3.99
Inari Factory isn’t overzealous with the mayonnaise, which some places can be, so the natural flavors of the ‘ahi shine through. Tobiko is always important (to me, anyway), so the generosity of it in the light mayo only heightens my appreciation. Order this with the yuzu tofu shell, as the sweet citrus balances the spicy sriracha.
Photo: Julia de Oliveira
No. 7: Garlic Shrimp, $3.99
This one falls lower on my ranking because of how delicious everything above is, so don’t let that deter you from giving garlic shrimp a try. The shrimp is cooked to a nice crisp, a healthy serving of minced garlic enhances the flavor and edamame gives this bomb a jolt of green. This is one of my favorites among the non-fish options.
No. 8: Spicy Salmon, $3.99
This item isn’t as spicy as I usually like it, though the sauce is delicious and in good proportion. While I appreciate the subtle sweet and smoky notes, the filling lacks the kick I usually associate with sriracha.
No. 9: Shoyu ‘Ahi, $3.99
Shoyu ‘ahi is a Hawai‘i classic, so my standards for what makes a good shoyu ‘ahi poke may be unreasonably high. Here, the shoyu is overpowering and the fish too salty. The addition of limu salad provides a satisfying crunch, but the natural saltiness of seaweed does not help the saltiness of this inari bomb.
No. 10: Unagi, $3.99
The sweet sauce on this decadent bomb is generous and the unagi itself so tender it’s almost like pudding. Even though the unagi slides off my rice more than twice thanks to a bed of shredded egg omelet that refuses to stay put, I enjoy this bomb and recommend it if you are a fan of unagi.
No. 11: Tobiko, $2.99
Though I love tobiko, an entire inari bomb dedicated to fish eggs is bordering on too much. The first bite is delicious, an explosion of flavor and texture. But the situation quickly deteriorates. By the last bite there are clumps of tobiko and shredded egg everywhere in my takeout box, and none left on the rice. I probably would not order this again.
No. 12: Imitation Crab, $2.99
I’m biased—I have a deep love for real crab, and the imitation, which pales in comparison, seems pointless to even order. The mayo in Inari Factory’s bomb is again restrained and makes the filling pleasantly creamy. If you love imitation crab, this may be for you. But it’s not for me.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 801 Kaheka St., (808) 973-4800, donquijotehawaii.com/inari-factory, @donquijotehi
