New eats: Tanaka Saimin
From the boulevard to the highway
Picture 1 of 10
By Ed Morita
Nonstop
Many fans of the legendary Boulevard Saimin already know about the recent opening of Tanaka Saimin next to Party City on Nimitz Highway.
We’ve heard a lot of rumors swirling around about the relationship between the two restaurants. Let’s settle any confusion right here: Tanaka Saimin, which opened Oct. 10 and features saimin and other old-time homestyle local dishes almost identical to Boulevard Saimin, is the result of two sisters splitting up with their own businesses. One kept Boulevard and has changed its name to Dillingham Saimin, and the other got a space in the old Weyerhauser building — now being redeveloped by Ba-Le — and opened Tanaka.
As it is, most customers couldn’t care how Tanaka came about. When we visited for dinner on Day 9, a week night, the tables and waiting area were packed.
Tanaka Saimin
888 N. Nimitz Highway
808-524-2020
