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.

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.