Columbus
Don S
I tried the Fried Saimin with BBQ Chicken at another eatery location
The next stop in my trying new eateries took me to Waipio. I went to the north shore for some rest and relaxation. The weekend was the start of my one-week vacation. I last drove to the north shore of Oahu several years ago and wanted to take the time to take in the sites. There were many people at the North Shore. I wanted to avoid standing in long lines at some restaurants, so I settled on the Loco Moco Drive-In at Waipio Shopping Center.
How important is Customer Service when dining at a Restaurant
The next stop at an eatery, I tried Sumo Ramen & Curry at the Kamehameha Shopping Center on North School Street. On my way home from work, I stopped at a restaurant I had never tried. The parking lot to the shopping center was full, but I found parking near the restaurant. As luck would have it, there was no one in the restaurant. I sat and knew what I wanted. I visited Hokkaido Ramen on my previous venture of finding a restaurant I had never tried before. I ordered the Char siu Ramen, the same item I tried at Hokkaido Ramen. The service was quick.
The Rainbow Drive-In is a can't miss for comfort foods
The next stop of eateries is Rainbow Drive-In. I've been to Rainbow Drive-In many times. Many items are on the menu, but my favorite is the boneless chicken with gravy. On my way home from work, I stopped to get the boneless chicken gravy again. I knew the eatery had been around for many years, but I didn't know much about the company's history. According to their website, the late founder Seiju Ifuku learned his cooking skills in the Army serving during WWII. He and his wife, Ayako Ifuku, started Kalakaua Drive-In and later took a chance and opened Rainbow Drive-In in 1961. The Kapahulu Rainbow Drive-In is in the same place as it began in 1961. They now have three more restaurants in Kalihi, Pearlridge, and Ewa Beach.
The Ramen at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka was a five-star rating
I wanted to eat at a restaurant I'd never tried and find a place in Honolulu. As with many searches online, I Googled Ramen Saimin in Honolulu. One of the first restaurants on the list was Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. I didn't know what part it was on Kaheka street, so I walked in both directions. After careful review, the pictures looked close to the Don Quijote store on Kaheka. Sure enough, the restaurant is in between many of the eateries surrounding the Don Quijote store. No one was in the restaurant when I went there at about 2:15 pm on a Saturday. I had probably just missed the lunch crowd. It was good for me because I didn't want to wait to get seated. My intent was to try their Ramen and write an article about my experience there.
Serving Comfort Foods Since 1966
I recently discovered a great bargain with the large Saimin at Zippy's. I've ordered many items on the menu but never tried the large Saimin. The won ton min was always my go-to item. But with half the cost and more noodles with the large Saimin, the better food to choose from is the large Saimin. For $5.95, you get more noodles, and the taste is the same. The only ingredient missing is the won ton in the Saimin. For a takeout meal, the large Saimin is a good deal. It's tasty and one of the cheaper food on the menu.
Many of the food trucks on the island of Oahu serve comfort foods
Lunch wagons or food trucks are hidden treasures on the islands. I can recall eating at many different food truck locations in downtown and at the University of Hawaii area location. It's been over twenty years since I ate at the local lunch wagons in town. Some are still in business, but many are new.
Shiro's Saimin Haven is another place for comfort foods on the islands
My next stop at eateries on O'ahu is Shiro's Saimin Haven. I went there on a Sunday morning, thinking the place would be slow and easy to get a table. I was wrong. There were a lot of people at the start of the business. I settled on buying takeout and eating somewhere else. Today I had Chinese roast pork saimin. It was just as I remembered their food the many times I visited the place for many years. The price increased, but the food and service quality was just how I remembered it.
For delicious burgers, visit the Honolulu Burger Company today
I wanted to try a restaurant serving a cheeseburger that I had never tried before. A few places make great burgers, but I've never tried burgers at the Honolulu Burger Company. I run a particular route every time I run every week. However, I never noticed the Honolulu Burger Company when I ran my route. I was searching for a place I wanted to try, but I had never tried. When I looked at their website, I wanted to find the history and ownership behind the company, but I couldn't find it on their website. I still wanted to taste their cheeseburger with garlic fries.
The oxtail soup at Kapiolani Coffee Shop is at the top of all comfort foods
When talking about comfort foods, Kapiolani Coffee Shop is there with the rest of the many eateries on the islands. The original Kapiolani Coffee Shop owner started the restaurant at the old Aloha Motors site on Kapiolani Blvd (now Hawaii Convention Center). Wataru Teruya, a World War II veteran of the 442nd, perfected the now-famous oxtail soup. He started his business in 1949 and moved to the Aloha Motors site during the 1960s. Through the years, the location of Kapiolani Coffee Shop has moved from the original site to the Kam Bowl inside a bowling alley in Kalihi to the current location in the Waimalu Shopping Center.
Liliha Bakery is one of Hawaii's many eateries that many who live and visit the islands enjoy
Liliha Bakery is a bakery and coffee shop with many food items on the menu. Desserts are one part of the menu, but the dine-in coffee shop consists of many more local favorites. The bakery and coffee shop opened in 1950. Through the years, the company expanded to other locations. In 2014, their second location started on Nimitz Hwy. The third location began in the Ala Moana Shopping Center in 2019. And their fourth location started in 2021 at the International Marketplace in Waikiki. The last at its current location opened in 2022 at the Pearl Highlands Center in Pearl City.
The Malasada, by Leonard's Bakery, is traced back to 1882
Everyone who has visited Hawaii has probably heard of Leonard's Malasadas; it's a fried doughnut without a hole. Leonard, the bakery named after him, is the grandson of Asenio and Amalia DoRego of Portugal. Leonard's grandparents moved to Hawaii in June 1882 to work the sugar cane fields. They brought the malasada recipe, made famous by Leonard's Bakery, which started in 1952.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, comfort food served in over 200 locations
Comfort food on the islands is in good supply. One of the places I enjoy eating is L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. There are many other eateries, but L&L is my go-to eatery. The story and origins of the company and how it started are well known on the islands. The founders Eddie Flores and Johnson Kam, took their restaurant national by introducing a blend of Asian and American foods. The franchise now has over 200 L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurants across the Mainland U.S.
Don S
211+
Posts
8M+
Views
I write about politics, restaurants, businesses in Hawaii, comfort foods, and anything that affects Hawaii. I also write about anything I find interesting.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.