Where Are They Now? ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace Eateries, Part 2

Updates on Fancy Fresh, Honolulu Bistro, Nana Ai Katsu, Niu Soft Serve, Ocean Taste and more.

September 19, 2022

Mari Taketa,

Part 2 of our update on who’s reopened since ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace, the gutsy experiment that turned out to be a small business incubator-slash-lifeline for dozens of tiny eateries and retailers, turns up these eight. Five months after the marketplace closed for good, other former tenants are still looking for permanent homes. We’ll keep you posted.

Fancy Fresh Food Shop

Photo: Thomas Obungen

The wildly colorful counter near the makai-‘Ewa corner of the former OHM is now a wildly colorful shop on Beretania Street next to Dew Drop Inn. Jessica Li’s Fancy Fresh Food Shop is packed with fruit and vegetable smoothies (customize a blend or choose from a menu), fruit teas, crack seed and fresh fruit for sale. It’s worth finding street parking along Beretania or Pensacola streets.

1092 S. Beretania St., (808) 450-9958, @fancyfreshfoodshop

Ganesh Dosa

Photo: Maria Burke

Honolulu’s only dosa specialty shop left OHM to set up shop next to Cinnamon’s Restaurant in Kailua in the summer of 2021. If townies need extra incentive to head over the Pali, the slightly expanded menu includes cheese dosas, a DIY option and this dessert Nutella dosa, all vegetarian and gluten-free.

315 Uluniu St., (808) 762-7517, @ganeshdosa

Honolulu Bistro

OHM’s famous home of rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches opened a brick-and-mortar spot in Ala Moana Center next to Jollibee with a full menu of sandwiches, juices and coffee drinks.

1450 Ala Moana Blvd., @honolulubistro

Nana Ai Katsu

Photo: Thomas Obungen

One of the earliest OHM counters to develop a cult following, Nana Ai Katsu graduated to a brick-and-mortar shop in Kaimukī last December. Now you can find, in addition to the original seven-layer kurobuta pork tonkatsu bento and later OHM add-ons like Spam katsu musubi, everything from takoyaki katsu and the meatless ramen katsu okonomiyaki to a double shrimp katsu patty sandwich layered with special sauce and cheese. Nana Ai’s website and Instagram list daily and weekly specials. Still takeout only.

3585 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 772-0146, nanaaikatsu.com, @nana_ai_katsu

Niu Soft Serve

Niu in June found a new home for its dairy-free, vegan soft serve in the former India Bazaar Madras Curry spot at Mō‘ili‘ili’s Old Stadium Square. You’ll find assorted flavors of the creamy, coconut-base soft serve (niu is coconut in Hawaiian) in cones, cups, sundaes including the Hot Kulolo, and vegan malted milkshakes; pup cups are free with a purchase.

2320 S. King St., (808) 436-3739, niusoftserve.com, @niusoftserve

Ocean Taste

Photo: Mari Taketa

The fresh sashimi and poke that topped rice bowls and nachos at a central OHM counter has set up shop in the former Gazen Izakaya near Market City Shopping Center. Ocean Taste shares the completely revamped space with Yoas (see below), with dine-in counter seating and a small parking lot in front.

2840 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 636-0877, @oceantastehawaii

Tess Kitchen Cafe

The eclectic stall with everything from Filipino staples like adobo and pancit to oxtail soup, lobster bisque and crepes reopened in Chinatown in August just above Nimitz Highway. Tess Kitchen Cafe’s even more eclectic menu focuses on breakfast and lunch plates, with specials announced on Instagram.

942 Maunakea St., (808) 376-8300, @tesskitchencafe

Yoas Hawai‘i

Inside the old Gazen Izakaya space toward the Diamond Head end of Kapi‘olani Boulevard, you can find the same Yoas dairy-free sorbet you saw at OHM, prepacked in pints, along with an eclectic selection of phone and iPod cases, air plants, aquarium plants—and a new hot-foods counter called Yoas Bad Weather Bar. Beef bowls, stews and cheeseburgers make appearances on a rotating menu; shave ice is always available.

2840 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 670-5533,