In Restaurant Roundup, Em Chan shares some local restaurants' latest updates. Have a question for a restaurant you'd like Chan to look into? You can send her your inquiries at echan@gannett.com .
Holoholo Island Grill
Holoholo Island Grill is the newest Hawaiian food truck now open in Turner's food cart pod The Feed Lot.
The red food truck is run by George and Jackie Cadinha. The couple grew up in Hawaii and have lived in Oregon for a decade. George had wanted to have his own food truck for over 30 years, and he finally took a chance to open it after getting burnt out from work. The name "holo holo" means to travel, specifically, a trip (long or short) to free up your mind, which they hope their food and service will provide.
The couple loves showcasing their culture and sharing food with the community. George grew up learning how to cook under his Tutu, his grandmother, where three generations lived under one roof. He's one of the last in his family to have memorized the recipes and dishes as "we didn't write anything down," he said. He serves them up on the food truck now, often selling out before noon.
"We didn't realize we created a service for people who are from Hawaii and living here now," Jackie said. "We're so pleasantly surprised that people have found us who have wanted that taste from home."
George is at the truck full-time, while Jackie is there part-time as she still works another job. Jackie said the reception of the food truck has been great, especially their patience as "we're no spring chickens." She joked most folks often retire at their age, but they decided to start the business instead.
Getting the truck required a series of serendipitous acts, beginning in mid-April. George had decided to leave his role as an executive director of a nursing home. He decided it was time to pursue something he had always wanted to do, and they were perusing food cart pods and met the owner of The Feed Lot, Edie McNarie. She introduced the couple to JT's BBQ owner JT Sanders, who was selling his food truck . They bought the truck and his grill, and were able to open it right away, with valid permits.
Being able to open wouldn't have been possible without the support of friends and family emotionally and monetarily, Jackie said. They didn't have much money to start the business, but they said they received financial help from their community once they heard of the need.
The boom in popularity wasn't like anything the couple was expecting, George said. For him, the real gift is being able to enjoy people eating and the company they share during mealtimes. It is highly recommended to check online for what foods are available for the day and to go early since they sell out early. The couple are working to get a larger truck already because of selling out most days of the week, they said.
For more from the Hawaiian food truck, check out the website, holoholoislandgrill.com , and Facebook page.
Hours: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Address: 7575 Third St. SE, Turner
Precious Pizza
Precious Pizza is now open in The Reed, selling grandma-style squares, full pies and focaccia sandwiches. The former pop-up pizza project's hole-in-the-wall shop opened in mid-July.
Owner Alejandro Preciado said it's been exciting to finally be open in the spot. He said the reception from the community has been great but a learning curve as folks become more familiar with his pizza. Grandma-style pizza is square, with a thicker, fluffier dough. The edges are crisp, topped with fresh toppings and made with a hearty amount of extra virgin olive oil.
He had been trying to find a home for the pop-up for the last year, with a break for the birth of his daughter in the winter. He broke the news of being closer to getting a brick and mortar space in late March, but didn't get the original spot they had in mind. The space Precious Pizza operates now was secured in early May, and they spent the months after adding in the oven, counters and making it ready to serve pizza.
Focaccia sandwiches are a new addition to the menu and are in limited stock during the day. To have the best likelihood of getting slices, pies and sandwiches, stop by early in the day. To stay up to date on opening hours and more, check out the Instagram page, @necesitop3 .
Hours: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 5 - 8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 5 - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday
Address: 189 Liberty St. NE Suite 105
La Margarita Rest and Grill
La Margarita is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Aug. 4 with food and drink specials, live performances and merchandise giveaways.
Owners Xochitl and Javier Muñoz said they're grateful the restaurant has continued to be open to celebrate such a milestone. Xochitl is the daughter of the original owner, Pedro Rosales, and took over ownership of the Rest and Grill location in 2012 with Javier.
To celebrate the milestone, the couple have reserved the parking lot next to the restaurant and have a musical performance from 5 to 8 p.m. There will also be throwback pricing for certain drinks and dishes, plus a wheel of prizes folks can spin and win.
The owners said they're grateful for the continued support from the community, especially in the shaky times since the pandemic.
For more info on the restaurant and upcoming celebration, check out the Facebook page .
Hours: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 - 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 - 10 p.m. Friday; 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday
Address: 545 Ferry St. SE
Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on X @ catchuptoemily.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Restaurant Roundup: Hawaiian food truck, pizza shop, anniversary celebration
Most Popular
Comments / 0