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| - Koji has Chinese food (we didn't take a chance on the sushi) on par with the better restaurants in Chinatown in Honolulu and far superior to the Chinese restaurants on Maui.
My parents (who are from Maui) and I (from Oahu) ordered the gai lan, aka Chinese broccoli, my favorite Chinese vegetable; the spicy eggplant, one of my "must have" dishes at any Chinese restaurant; the Mongolian beef, a concession to my less than adventurous parents; and half a crispy deep fried chicken, again a "safe" choice for my parents' taste. All dishes were scrumptious, though perhaps unnecessarily laced with MSG (?). The gai lan was cooked expertly, to the point of being al dente, if I can use that term to refer to a vegetable rather than a pasta. (As an aside, note that gai lan is NOT the same vegetable as choi sum, as some would think. Just check on line or verify this with your friendly neighborhood Chinese restaurant.) The spicy eggplant, Szechuan-style, had just the right amount of "heat." The Mongolian beef was surprisingly tender. And the chicken was top notch -- the skin was crispy but not oily, and the meat was succulent and not dry.
The waiter was most attentive and informative. He also tolerated some playful ribbing from my father, all in good humor and spirit.
The price was very reasonable, as with most Chinese restaurants. I agree with some other reviewers that the ambiance needs improvement. Overall, however, this is an excellent Chinese restaurant in a most unexpected location -- tucked in the corner of the Orleans casino.
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