Side Street Inn, Honolulu, HI

Side Street Inn
1225 Hopaka
Honolulu, O'ahu, HI 96814
808-591-0253
http://www.sidestreetinn.com/
Open daily, 2pm-2am.
It's on a small side street not far from the Ala Moana Center.
Very little side street parking available. There's a pay parking structure across the street - park in the upper levels. Valet available in the evenings.

Visited: August 2010, Dinnner, Dine-in

Side Street Inn is a large casual bar that serves great food. There are a ton of TVs around, and all in all, it seems like folks are having a good time. Chef/owner Colin Nishida has created a great menu of local flavors with a few high end touches thrown in here and there. Side Street Inn is supposed to be a favorite of locals and chefs alike, and I can see why.

Everything is served small plate or pupu style. Yes, everything is served to share, like a pupu or appetizer, however there is nothing small plate about it. The portions are very large. We wish we knew how large before we set to ordering.

We had the 12 ounce New York Steak (market price) which came on a sizzling black plate atop onions and mushrooms. The steak itself was rather plain, but very tender and tasty on its own. The mushrooms were heavenly! They continued to sizzle away in some type of non-visible buttery garlicky goodness, so it was quite a surprise to get so much flavor bursting forth.

We tried one of the specials, a combo of pork buns. Chinese BBQ Pork / Cha Siu and Chinese Roast Pork served with steamed white buns. Except for the mustard drizzled over the cha siu, these were delicious. The buns were a tender texture, however we could have used more buns. The roast pork with its crisp skin and touch of plum sauce was the perfect analog for Peking duck.

We had their Side Street Works Fried Rice ($15.00) which was loaded with quite the assortment of pork - cha siu, lop cheng, bacon, Portuguese sausage, and possibly more. It was a very good fried rice, however, with so many goodies, it soon became hard to distinguish all of the yummies. I think I would have preferred a simpler bacon fried rice, or a cha siu fried rice, for example, to really be able to savor it properly.

And lastly we had the Fried Saimin which was also a very large portion. It had a great flavor and was loaded with egg, kamaboko, Portuguese sausage and spamelope.

All in all, we enjoyed our meal, we just ordered waaay too much food. Their Pan Fried Island Pork Chops and Baby Back Ribs are also supposed to be delicious - so we'll try those next time.

Hukilau Cafe, Laie, Oahu, HI

Hukilau Cafe
55-662 Wahinipe'e St
La'ie, O'ahu, HI 96762
808-293-8616
Located north of the Polynesian Cultural Center, to the west of Route 83 Kamehameha Hwy.
There is a small sign when going northbound that shows you where to turn.
Street parking.
Cash only. Breakfast and lunch only.

Visited: August 2010, Lunch, Dine-in

We were looking forward to a great plate lunch, and we were not disappointed! Be sure to go early to beat the lunch crowd, and to ensure finding parking in this residential neighborhood.

We ordered our favorites, starting with the Loco Moco - ground beef patties covered with very tasty scrambled eggs over lots of rice, then smothered in a rich brown gravy. This was a very good loco moco, which means that the gravy was good - the gravy is always the kicker.

Then we had the Hukilau Combo - teri beef, fried mahi mahi and tempura shrimp, of course served with two scoops of rice and usually a scoop of macaroni salad. But not being fan of mac, I ordered all rice. First note was that it wasn't tempura shrimp but rather panko coated fried shrimp. No matter - they were fresh (crisp and hot) and tasty. The mahi mahi was also panko crusted, and served hot and crisp. Side sauces included were cocktail and tartar, but they didn't really need them. I was a little concerned that there wasn't a side of teri sauce to go with the beef, but amazingly, it didn't need it. The many slices of thin teri beef were very flavorful - they must have a great marinade, that there was no need for any additional sauce. This is a good entree to try several things, and large enough to share.



Which is why we also ordered the Beef Stew Bowl instead of the plate lunch. The stew had that great Hawaiian stew look - a hint of red from the tomato, however it wasn't strong in the tomato flavor. But the stew didn't need it. The gravy was thick and rich, and the meat was plentiful and tender as were the carrots and potatoes. It comes served over rice.



We also ordered a side of fries (they just looked so good, and were tasty) and one soda. They have self service water near the counter. I don't have all of the individual prices, but our total (before tip) was $28 - a great great deal considering not only how much food we got, but how great it tasted. And everyone was super friendly and very welcoming.

Most folks visit and write about the giant Hukilau Burger which is a hamburger patty topped with teri beef, fried egg, grilled onions, cheese, and lettuce and tomato. We did see someone order it at the next table over, and it looked ridiculous. Perhaps another time.

Shakas Hawaiian Flavors, Monterey Park, CA

Shakas Hawaiian Flavors
2300 Garfield Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754
323-888-2695
http://www.shakas.com/
Casual; order at the counter.
Located just north of the 60 freeway.
Parking in the strip mall and on the side street.
Second location: 101 Main St, #C, Alhambra, CA 91801

Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out


Shakas is a nice casual Hawaiian fast food place. We tried just a few things, but were quite satisfied, and will definitely be back to try more menu items.

We had the Kalua Pork Tacos - two crispy tacos FILLED with kalua pig and topped with raw cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo. The kalua was smoky and rich, however, I figured out that kalua tacos are not for me. While tasty, they were waaay too rich for my blood.

We got a side order of the Mochiko Chicken. Boneless chicken pieces that have been marinated in a sweet soy sauce, and then lightly coated and deep fried. These were delicious little morsels. They identify the Mochiko Chicken as a house specialty, and they're right.

We also got an order of Spam Musubi ($1.95) which was very fresh and flavorful. I love it when there's just a little sauce on the rice, and this how they do it. It was larger than I expected - maybe 4 inches long.

They have all the other traditional Hawaiian grindz (Loco Moco, Kalbi, Katsu, Huli Huli Chicken, etc.) so we'll be back to try.

Aloha Food Factory, Alhambra, CA

Aloha Food Factory
2990 W. Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91803
626-308-0215
Located 2 blocks east of the end of the 710 freeway.
Plenty of parking in their own lot.
Casual. And Hawaiian style, they're closed on Mondays and holidays.

Visited: May 2010, Lunch, Take-out


We wanted to get a good feel for this restaurant, so we ordered several items. The kitchen is rather small, and it took a while for our order to be completed. In the meantime, the lovely lady of the house gave us each a sample Macadamia Nut Pancake. The little pancake was tasty itself, but it was really the topping and little crunchy bits of mac nut on top that were amazing. I'm not sure what the topping is - it's not syrup, or sweetened condensed milk, but it was more like a creme anglaise. Very tasty.

We ordered the Loco Moco ($7.25) which was a very large portion of rice, hamburger patty, scrambled eggs, and gravy. While fine, it was overall rather plain. Which is what we found to be the case with all of the items we ordered. Good, but plain - not highly seasoned.

For the Aloha Plate ($10.99), we chose Kalua Pig and Cha Shu (which we had heard raves about). The Plate came with steamed rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The Kalua was light on both smoke and flavor. And the Cha Shu was tasty roasted bbq pork, but definitely not cha shu. If we had been served it without a name, we would have assigned it the title of cha shu.

And lastly, we got the Kalbi Plate ($9.75) that came with rice, veggies, and Mac-Potato Salad. The ribs were tender and had a nice char, but also very plain. As if they needed to marinate longer, or have a sauce applied during or after cooking.

A friendly little hole in the wall that also serves shave ice, but not sure that we'd be back for the things we've already tried.

Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto, Gardena, CA

Cherrystone's Grill & Grotto
15501 S. Vermont Ave
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8200
http://www.cherrystones.org/
Casual nice; sit down dining.
Plenty of lot and street parking out front.

Visited: May 2010, Dinner, Dine-in


This is an interesting restaurant with your traditional fare that you would find in a restaurant called 'grotto' such as prime rib, meatloaf, and fish and chips. But it's also a Hawaiian restaurant, so you get things like katsu, kalbi and bento boxes. It's such an unassuming restaurant with great food and friendly service.

We had the special thin sliced Prime Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($14.50) - so very tender, and the gravy was dark brown and heavenly. It came with a serving of seasonal veggies, and started with a nice little dinner green salad.

We also tried the steamed Chilean Seabass with Chinese Black Bean Sauce ($18.50). This was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well despite its thickness. The fish came with steamed rice and vegetables. It also came with a starter salad, and we chose the somen salad that came with greens in a very nice soy vinaigrette. I could have eaten a whole meal of that salad alone.

And we got the Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($13.00) that came with somen salad, mac salad, broccoli medley salad, steamed rice, and fruit. While tasty and interesting, the other entrees seemed more exciting.

On special were their Sesame Wings which is usually only available on the catering menu. These were lovely soy-sesame marinated wings then deep fried to a golden brown. Tasty and very meaty.

Our neighbors at the table next to us had the braised shortribs with gravy and the panko crusted pork chops. Both looked super tasty, and gave us inspiration of what to try on our next visit.

Rascals Teriyaki Grill, Torrance, CA

Rascals Teriyaki Grill
5111 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503
310-542-0022
http://www.rascalsteriyaki.com/
Free parking in lot, however can be very crowded during meal times.
Additional locations in Gardena and Long Beach.
Closed Sundays.
Casual/fast foodish. Order and pick up at the counter.

Visited: Numerous times; Usually take-out
Most recently: June 2010

Rascals is a teri grill with a decidedy Hawaiian bent. They do a brisk business, and everything is super fresh.

Our favorites are the Chinese Chicken Salads ($5.15, $6.75) with shredded chicken breast, cucumbers, green onion, and the cruchies are rice noodles and almond slivers. The dressing is tangy with a hint of sesame. Party trays of this salad are very popular for parties, but we think you actually get more 'stuff' if you order the individual salads.

And the Teri Burgers ($3.95) on a soft bun with lettuce, tomatoes, soft onions, pickles, and mayo. The burger also comes with extra teri sauce, which we find we need.

Also very good is the Teri Beef (Bowl $5.75, Plate $6.95, Deluxe With Salad $8.10). The Teri Chicken isn't bad, but we prefer the Beef.

The Curry Bowl (Chix $5.35, Beef $5.75, Veg $5.15) is also pretty tasty as is the Chili and Rice ($3.95).

Because they're usually so crowded during meal times, we often call ahead and Rascals has a separate pick up line for called in orders.

Bruddah's Hawaiian, Gardena, CA

Bruddah's Hawaiian
1033 W. Gardena Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247
310-323-9112
Located between Normandie and Vermont. Usually enough street parking; can be very crowded on weekend mornings.
Casual, Hawaiian-style.

Visited: Breakfast and Lunch, Dine-in
Most recently: October 2009


Bruddah's is a real Hawaiian hole in the wall. Everything is local style including the laid back clientele. Anything with a sauce or gravy is going to be outstanding. They have the best gravy maker anywhere. Some particular favorites include:

The Beef Shortribs Stew ($8.95) is part of the Daily Specials menu and only appears on Weds, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. The meat is super tender, as are the vegetables, and the rich tomatoey-beef gravy is heavenly with the rice. Also comes with Macaroni Salad.

Really, it's about the gravy. The Roast Pork with Gravy (Plate $7.95, Side $5.60) is a heavenly portion of tender roast pork smothered in their spectacular pork gravy served with rice and Mac.

The Loco Moco ($7.95) from the Breakfast Menu (which is served all day) is a mass of two hamburger patties served with two eggs over a mound of rice covered in an amazing brown gravy (with mushrooms). The best Loco Moco on the mainland. They also have a Spam Loco Moco ($6.95).

The Kalua Pork with Cabbage (Plate $7.95, Side $5.60) is also tasty.

While their food is always good, we're just as not as big a fan of their teriyaki dishes.

Harry's Cafe, Gardena, CA

Harry's Cafe
1721 W. Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247
310-324-4231
While small, there's usually plenty of free parking in the lot out front or on the street.
Casual. Order and pick up at the counter. Small dining room.

Visited: many times over the years
Most recently: July 2009


This is the old Harry's Aloha Chop Suey that's been 'modernized.' Fortunately, many of the old Harry's recipes are still being produced so that makes for very happy campers.

The combo plate lunches are the way to go to get a treat of many things, or you can get one of the Special Plates that are pre-arranged for you. Either way, it's a winner.

Harry's Mixed Plate ($8.95) is a tasty sampling of Harry's Fried Chicken (the traditional version with the bone), char siu, spareribs, fried wonton, mac, and steamed rice.

LOVE ME some spareribs. I often just get a side serving of the Spareribs (Sm $3.95, Med $5.95, Large $8.95). The medium is plenty to be stuffed for a meal. These spareribs are cut short and cooked in a sweet (and maybe a little sour) gravy. The meat just melts away. I recommend getting some steamed rice to soak up all the gravy.

Then there's the Aloha Mixed Plate ($9.95) of Island fried chicken (boneless), fried wonton, kalbi, spam musubi, mac, and steamed rice. Also an excellent plate lunch choice.

You can also order Harry's Fried Chicken or Island Fried Chicken by itself: Small ($5.95) 5 pieces or Large ($10.95) 10 pieces.

Spam Musubi is also available on the side for $2.50. Eight pieces of Fried Wonton for $3.95 - very tasty filling.

We were so happy to see that all of the old favorites are still here. I have family members from Orange County that make special detours to Harry's to pick up some Fried Chicken any time they are coming home from LAX.

Ono Ono Hawaiian BBQ, Tustin, CA

Ono Ono Hawaiian BBQ
17582 E. 17th Street, Tustin, CA 92780, 714-505-0750
http://onoonohawaiianbbq.com/
In a strip mall with plenty of free parking.
Casual/fast foodish. Order at the counter; your food brought to you.

[Note: This is not the same as the Ono Hawaiian BBQ restaurant chain.]

Visited: February 2009, Lunch, Dine-in


The food was hot, fresh, and fast. What a treat! It was definitely Ono Ono (ono means delicious in Hawaiian)!

It's a combination of fast food and sit down dining. You order at the counter, but they bring you your food, and you're served on real plates with plasticware. It sounds odd, but it works. The staff and decor were all very nice.

All of the entrees come with choice of 2 sides: white rice, brown rice, long rice noodles, Asian coleslaw, grilled veggie, potato mac, or green salad. Keep in mind that if you want rice, you have to order it as one of your sides. This threw me for a minor loop when ordering.

You can also get free soup if you eat in. I had the miso soup with tofu. Very tasty. They also had a second more traditional looking veggie soup in a reddish broth.

For appetizers we got:

Spam Musubi ($2.75) which was sliced into 4 nice slices. The rice was seasoned and tender, and the Spam was nicely fried. Overall more flavor than I've had at other restaurants.

12 pcs Fried Dumplings ($5.99). I guess I was expecting pan fried gyoza, but these were actually deep fried. They came with a soy dipping sauce. Not bad, they needed the sauce; but I wouldn't order them again.

The 3 item combos are a great way to sample their offerings, and they are sold at a great price. You get plenty of food, and may even be able to share a plate. We had:

Mix Plate ($8.95): BBQ chicken (like teri chicken), kalua pork, panko fried mahi mahi (served with tartar sauce) with sides of grilled veggie and long rice. The mahi mahi was outstanding as was the long rice. The chicken and pork were also very good, but the other items outshone them. The veggies were plain, and that suited the meal very well.

Ono Plate ($8.95): chicken katsu, BBQ spicy pork, beef kalbi with sides of white rice and potato mac. The pork was just like Korean-style spicy pork - yum! Great flavor and very tender. The kalbi was also very nice - hot and fresh with a nice char. The katsu was just fine; the others were just that much better. The potato mac was plain but tasty. It had little bits of carrots for color and texture.

There are plenty more things on the menu to try, and I'm looking forward to my next visit.