🚧 Budget Bites: Tsurutontan’s secret 50% off menu

Everyone’s looking to save money and get the most bang for their buck. This series will show you where you can save while still savoring a good meal.

The secret’s out — Tsurutontan Udon Noodle Brasserie, located in Royal Hawaiian Center, has an early and late-night secret menu. This secret menu gives diners 50% off on more than 35 dishes from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to last call (often 9 p.m.) every day.

The catch — you must ask for the secret menu (from the outside, it will look identical to the eatery’s regular menu).

Tsurutontan sign — Tsurutontan offers a 50% off secret menu, but customers must ask for it. Photo by Kelli Shiroma Braiotta (Aloha State Daily Staff)

When you get the secret menu, look for the dishes with an “SP” price — those are the ones that are 50% off. All the regular-priced menu items will still be available.

The blue crab California roll ($7, regular $18) is one of my favorite dishes to get since it includes real (not imitation) crab. It seems to taste even better at the discounted price.

The specialty sushi rolls are an especially good deal. The lava roll ($8.50, regular $17) is a customer favorite that includes shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado and imitation crab on top. Or, go for the sunfire roll ($9, regular $18), which is the same roll but with spicy tuna as the topping.

Discounted appetizers range from bacon Caesar salad ($6.50, regular $13) and shishito peppers ($4.50, regular $9) to chicken karaage ($6.50, regular $13), garlic shrimp ($7, regular $14) and tonkatsu pork cutlet ($5.50, regular $11). We’re told that the chicken karaage features a revised recipe, resulting in a juicier, more tender chicken.

mentai kamatama — Mentai kamatama ($12, regular $24). Photo by Kelli Shiroma Braiotta (Aloha State Daily Staff)

When it comes to select udon and donburi, the discount is a game changer. Popular udon options include the tan tan ($12, regular $24), cream mentaiko ($12, regular $24) and Mentai kamatama ($12, regular $24). The latter is a cold udon that’s especially refreshing on a humid summer day.

wagyu rice bowl — Sizzling wagyu rice ($24). Photo by Kelli Shiroma Braiotta (Aloha State Daily Staff)

While it’s not included in the selection of discounted dishes, we recommend trying the sizzling wagyu rice ($24) if you’re dining with a group, as it’s easy to share. This new dish features a hot stone bowl of American wagyu over rice that’s mixed tableside. We couldn’t get enough of its umami flavor.

Be sure to check out featured monthly specials during your visit. During June, enjoy discounted Sapporo draft beers ($3 instead of $8) and discounted glasses of red or white wines ($4 instead of $9).

The eatery’s monthly specials also includes specialty dishes like tori nanban ($14) and creamy Hiyashi tantan ($24).

Customers can also take advantage of a kamaʻāina/military discount when it comes to parking — you can get three hours of free parking with the purchase of $25 or more. Bring your receipt (and valid ID) to the guest services desk on the first floor of the shopping center to get parking validation. If it’s after 8 p.m., however, you can get parking validation directly from the restaurant.

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CONTACT
Tsurutontan Udon Noodle Brasserie
Royal Hawaiian Center
2233 Kalākaua Ave. B310, Honolulu
808-888-8559
tsurutontan.com
Instagram: @tsurutontan_hi
Secret 50% off menu available daily, 2-5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to last call

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.