Each week, Tommy-Maurice is going to a different restaurant in Asunción. This week, it will be in Ciudad del Este. We will look at an establishment located in Area 1, the Hokkai.
Before this trip in early October, I had never been to the Departamento de Alto Paraná. Ciudad del Este was new for me. With approximately 80 different nationalities represented in the city, it gives citizens the chance to display and help others discover local cuisine from around the world. Apart from downtown, Area 1 is another place to have good cuisine from around the world. There is a relatively new strip mall located in the area with some restaurants, but the main street of the sector also contains some establishments, such as the Hokkai.
Hokkai is located in Capitao Bar. It is a restaurant offering Japanese and Paraguayan food, which ranges from sushi to empanadas. You can also have food platters that you can share with people. My friend took food to share, sushi and platters, which contained beef, vegetables, and manioc. On my side, I took empanadas as I was present at the restaurant on the Paraguayan Day of Empanadas, celebrated on October 4th. Yes, it is not that much Japanese, but I did eat some of the food offered on the platter. My empanadas were served with manioc and a spicy sauce. I would not think of eating the spiciest sauce (so far) in Paraguay. Maybe in Mexico or a country like India or Bangladesh, but not Paraguay. It was delicious but way too spicy for me. I found my Waterloo. I took a jar of orange juice to go with my food. And yes, I drink it all by myself. As for the food itself, the empanadas were very tasty, and the dishes I ate from the platters were also savoury. Apart from the food, the experience was great. They ordered a lot of sushi at the table just beside ours, and the way the waiter brought the food was also incredible to see. The plate was very long and rectangular, with the food lined up on top and vapour coming out of it.
As for the price, I paid around 80K Guaraníes for the empanadas, the manioc, the super spicy sauce, and the jar of orange juice. The juice cost more than the food. It might look expensive, but remember you are also paying for the experience, no matter what you take to eat. It is a well-maintained establishment, with each employee ensuring that every corner of the place is cleaned. If we exclude the bar, which has its own restaurant, Hokkai has tables for everyone as it is very big.
The restaurant is located in Area 1 of Ciudad del Este, at the corner of Los Lapachos and Mariscal López. You enter by the Capitao Bar and go to the end to be in Hokkai. If you are taking a taxi, you must say that you are at the bar rather than the restaurant. They might not find you otherwise. If you are driving, you will probably reach it from Ruta PY 02, also the city’s most important street. You then go south on Mariscal López, and you will find the restaurant. As for hours, Hokkai and Capitao Bar do not have the same hours. Be sure you are looking at the good schedule.
Hokkai Opening Hours
Monday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Tuesday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Wednesday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Thursday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Friday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Saturday: 11:30 AM to midnight
Sunday: 11:30 AM to midnight
If you want to eat at a good restaurant in Ciudad del Este, Hokkai is the place for you!
Look next week for another article about a restaurant in Asunción!
