HONOLULU — For the first time in 24 years of business, Honolulu’s Taiyo Ramen can’t offer its popular kim chee.
KHON-TV reports that Taiyo Ramen is one of several Hawaii restaurants dealing with produce shortages caused by recent storms.
Taiyo Ramen’s Sun Lee says California is too hot to grow much won bok, which means the vegetable isn’t easily available in Hawaii. Restaurant owners say the price of kim chee has doubled.
Taiyo Ramen is serving a temporary substitute dish of daikon, onions and jalapeno in shoyu and vinegar.
According to KHON-TV, Hawaii storms have also flooded local farms and reduced the supply of produce.
Keone Gaspar of Atkinson Grill says the restaurant has been unable to purchase local greens recently, so they’ve been importing some from the U.S. mainland.