In Case You Need Some Comfort: Your Top 5 Oxtail Soup on O‘ahu
Thunderous downpours and a bitter election are finally over—here's a classic to help reset your soul.
Editor’s Note: After Tuesday’s thunderous downpours and nail-biter elections, we could all use some soul-soothing. That’s what you’ll find in these five bowls—readers’ top picks from our January 2022 poll asking for their favorite version of a local classic.
Oxtail soup, not surprisingly, is subjective. Do you like a clean, classic broth or a deeper one rich with spices and mushrooms? Leafy greens twined through the oxtails or no veggies at all? Don’t even get us started on peanuts. Or are you forever smitten with the version you grew up with?
With several restaurants around the island laying claim to the tastiest oxtail soup, we put the vote to you, our readers. More than 1,200 of you weighed in, many writing in your favorites. Props to all who voted for your own recipe or your dad’s or brother-in-law’s and to those eateries that led the write-in voting: Guieb Cafe, Rokaru Shabu Shabu, Tanaka Saimin and MW Restaurant.
Among the top vote-getters, voting was very close among Nos. 2 to 5, but you left absolutely no doubt about your No. 1 choice. Here are O‘ahu’s favorite oxtail soups.
No. 5: Espresso Bar at Neiman Marcus
Photo: Sean Morris
This may seem like a surprise pick, with 5.8% of votes cast, but the oxtail soup at Neiman Marcus Ala Moana’s Espresso Bar has had a following for years. The off-menu item is a Thursday special at this lunch café and often sells out by noon, so best to get there early. Remember, Thursdays only!
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 951-3445, stores.neimanmarcus.com
No. 4: Zippy’s
Photo: Mari Taketa
Because sometimes you need oxtail soup at midnight. Because you need it everywhere. Because the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, and because there’s peanuts. The oxtail soup at this favorite local chain got 6.8% of reader votes.
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
No. 3: Asahi Grill Ward
Photo: Mari Taketa
Another famous old-school classic, this purist version with clear, collagen-rich, sticky-lip broth and nothing else in the bowl save big, tender oxtails with cilantro and green onion got 8.2% of the vote. Not to be confused with Asahi Grill Ke‘eaumoku, now known as Asahi Grill Kaimukī after its move to Wai‘alae Avenue.
515 Ward Ave., (808) 593-2800
No. 2: Kapi‘olani Coffee Shop
Photo: Lee Tonouchi
It’s in Waimalu now, but Kapi‘olani Coffee Shop traces its roots back to the old Aloha Motors site, aka where the Hawai‘i Convention Center is now on Kapi‘olani Boulevard, in the 1960s. With a classic broth, this bowl from the self-proclaimed “Home of the Famous Oxtail Soup” drew 8.4% of reader votes.
98-020 Kamehameha Hwy, (808) 488-7708
SEE ALSO: Battle of Two Legendary Oxtail Soups
No. 1: The Alley at ‘Aiea Bowl
Photo: Martha Cheng
OMG, O‘ahu! Seriously, 32% of all votes cast? We knew the oxtail soup at this bowling alley restaurant had buzz, but the Alley’s bowl dominated this poll. New-school touches include house-made ponzu sauce for dipping. Next time you go for the tasty chicken and a slice of lemon, pumpkin or strawberry crunch, don’t sleep on the oxtail soup.
99-115 Aiea Heights Dr., (808) 488-6854, aieabowl.com/restaurant, @aieabowl
SEE ALSO:
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Ramen Shops on O‘ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Saimin Spots on O‘ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Okazuya on O’ahu
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Classic Loco Mocos
- You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Poke Shops
