Just good vibes
at Shinsho Tei
It had been a tough week -- first catching, then fighting off a cold, followed by engagements at the Waikiki Ho'olaule'a and the Hawaii Garlic Festival and "Home Grown" Products Show. Then, to top things off, a full evening of work at a class reunion (go Farrington Class of 1982!) on Saturday meant that, by Sunday night, I'd have been more than happy to just pop a Sam Adams October Fest and chill at home.
SHINSHO TEI
Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Location: 1613 Nuuanu Ave.
Phone: 528-1007
But the Barfly couldn't let Honolulu's drinking public down, so off I went in search of a place to kick back and grab a beer. A couple of Star-Bulletin newsroom folks and some readers had suggested a hole in the wall next to Hungry Lion in Nuuanu called Shinsho Tei. After years of late-night grinding next door, I had wondered a few times what might lurk behind this establishment's doors. Last weekend the Barfly found out.
Walk in around 7 or 8 p.m. on any given night and it'll be hard to find an open seat at Shinsho Tei. A half-dozen booths or so, along with eight bar stools, take up most of the space and karaoke is typically in full effect. A mix of traditional Hawaiian and easy-listening tracks make up most of the requests by regulars, although an impromptu dance floor broke out when C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" got cranked up.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Shinsho Tei patrons Amelia Lewis and Alvin, who didn't want his last name revealed, dance it up while enjoying the Nuuanu Avenue establishment's karaoke.
The food wasn't too bad either, especially when we got it for free. After our server laid down dishtowel coasters and brought our beers, she returned soon after with a plate of Portuguese sausage and string beans with dried shrimp. Not a bad spread for a couple of first-time visitors, and the French fries we followed up with were pretty good, too.
Once 10 p.m. rolled around, most of Shinsho Tei's customers had called it a night. Mel Galmiche, who's run the family-owned bar since taking over for an aunt over a decade ago, told me it was normal for things to start slowing down about that time. A lot of the regulars seem to be in their 30s and 40s and, during the week, typically visit after a hard day at work downtown.
You can't help but feel welcome at Shinsho Tei, a vibe Galmiche is proud of. "We don't ask people's names here," he said, even though it's obvious Galmiche doesn't have to since everyone seems to know each other here. Even the Barfly, on his first visit, managed to run into a high-school classmate for the first time since graduation. If you're looking for a simple, unpretentious place to knock a few back and sing some karaoke, Shinsho Tei is worth a try.
How much for a Bud Light?
$2.75 gets you a longneck here; imports run $3.75; and mixed drinks start at $4.50. Then again, there's no drink menu on display so who knows what kind of specials will be available when you visit?
Get things to do?
Karaoke is the main attraction here, with three televisions around the room used to provide lyrics. The requisite Megatouch Game Machine sits in a corner of the bar.
What about the grinds?
Try the string beans and dried shrimp ($6.50). The shrimp adds flavor to the dish, and it's spicy enough to keep you sipping your beer. Other dishes available include corned beef and cabbage ($6.50), pork chops ($10) and fried somen ($5). If you've got money to spend, try the dungeness crab ($15).
And the help?
No complaints here; service was friendly and attentive, not to mention we got free grinds shortly after walking in. The staff at Shinsho Tei took care of us like we'd been there numerous times before.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.
