For this week’s Weekly Special, we’re showcasing Hokkaido, located in the Village of New Paltz. Just off Main St. and far along the path of Church St., Hokkaido sits across from Gunks Gaming Cafe in a fairly secluded area beyond the bustling activity of Main Street. Even though you may not see it at first glance, it has been around for at least a decade and is a staple of New Paltz’s cuisine. Hokkaido is a fairly small restaurant with a few different tables and a sushi bar where people can dine in. Depending on the night and time, it can be fairly busy or very busy.
Like many Japanese restaurants, Hokkaido sells a variety of different rolls, including specialty and signature rolls exclusive to the restaurant. The latter include the Shaggy Dog, which contains spicy crab, eel, avocado and cucumber, and the Shrimp Eggplant, which has eggplant with a miso glaze and shrimp tempura. They also have entrees from the kitchen such as noodle soups, teriyaki dishes, fried rice and more.
A special roll that is a staple in many Japanese restaurants is the spider roll, which has soft-shell crab, avocado and cucumber. When you bite into it, the softness of the rice, the slight saltiness of the nori and the soft coldness of the avocado are offset by the more crunchy crab and cucumber, but the combination of both textures makes for a delectable experience. Hokkaido has its own unique take on the roll that sets it apart from other variations of the dish, with the crab being more chewy rather than crunchy.
An appetizer that Hokkaido offers is their pork gyoza. Pan-fried to perfection, these meat-filled dumplings have a very savory taste and a soft texture when you bite into them. They also come with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce that compliments the savoriness of the dumplings very well.
The price range for dishes depends on what you want to eat. Individual rolls range from $4 to $14.95, and $13.95 to $16.95 for roll combos. Entrees range from $12.95 to $18.95. Nigiri sushi and sashimi range from $3.50 to $6 for individual pieces, and $16.95 to $25.95 for platters.
Hokkaido is located at 18 Church St. in New Paltz, N.Y. They are open six days a week. On Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday, their hours are 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday-Saturday their hours are 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. They are closed on Wednesdays. Hokkaido is available for dine-in and takeout.
For more information, call (845) 256-0621 or visit their website.
