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Saturday, July 21, 2018

PHO

PHO
LUNCH AT THE OFFICE

'Always enjoy a bowl of Vietnamese Pho at the office.  I get Rare Steak and Brisket from Bale and then top it with a lot of Sriracha Sauce.  Funny way I eat Pho, is that I only use about 1/4 of the noodles.

VIETNAMESE PHO
MIX IN A LOT OF SRIRACHA SAUCE

BASALT

BASALT
DUKE'S LANE
2255 KUHIO AVE
HONOLULU, HI. 96815
808-923-5689
HOURS:  Daily 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM

What I liked about Basalt at Duke's Lane in Waikiki was the design, atmosphere and service.  What I didn't like is the food.  Don't get me wrong, the food was not bad but just not satisfying.  Could of been what I ordered.  Seared Ahi and Farro ($18).  First I was surprised to see just two small pieces of Ahi on the plate.  Second I was disappointed that the Ahi was covered in Furakake which is a Japanese Seaweed.  Problem with putting Furakake on Ahi is that it is all you taste.  The Furakake overpowers the fish and I could not stomach it.  Tried to cut off the ends seared with Furakake but then just ended up letting my Daughter eat it.  My Daughter had the Chowder and Greens ($12) and did not seem too impressed.  She did not finish the Chowder.  The Loco Moco ($14) with Wagyu Beef and two perfectly cooked eggs was a hit with my Wife.  She liked it.

BASALT

BASALT IN DUKE'S LANE WAIKIKI
DUKE'S LANE IS SMALL SHOPPING AREA WITH GROCERY STORE, RESTAURANT AND COFFEE 
BASALT IN DUKE'S LANE
LARGE WRAP AROUND BAR IN CENTER OF RESTAURANT
OPEN KITCHEN
BASALT BREAKFAST MENU

BASALT LUNCH MENU

CHOWDER AND GREENS
AHI WITH FARRO
LOCO MOCO WITH WAGYU BEEF
EGGS ADD TEXTURE, COLOR AND FLAVOR TO THE DISH


Saturday, July 14, 2018

MAILE'S THAI BISTRO

MAILE'S THAI BISTRO
333 KEAHOLE STREET
HONOLULU, HI. 96825
808-394-2488
HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday/Sunday 11-9 / Friday and Saturday 11-10

Absolutely love Maile's Thai Bistro and the owner Maile.  My fave Thai Restaurant on the Island.  This visit included our family favorites.  Cold Tofu, Spring Rolls, Green Papaya Salad, Pad Thai Chicken and Seafood with Vegetables.  Loved everything once again!
Click link below to view previous post on Maile's Thai Bistro;

COLD TOFU
SPRING ROLLS
GREEN PAPAYA SALAD
SEAFOOD WITH VEGETABLES
PAD THAI CHICKEN

PINEAPPLES RESTAURANT

PINEAPPLES RESTAURANT
332 KEAWE STREET
HILO, HI. 96720
808-238-5324
HOURS:  Tuesday thru Thursday 11-9:30 / Friday and Saturday 11-10 / Closed Monday

Surprised to see a Huge line when we pulled up to Pineapples in Hilo.  It was 1:30 in the afternoon yet the lunch rush was still going on here.  Impressive for sleepy little Hilo.  We put our name in and waited.  After a few minutes tables opened up quickly and we were seated. Waitresses were smiling and gracious.  Menu also impressed me with a great selection of items and fresh fish.  I went for Poke with Avocado ($16.50).  The Poke and Avocado were super fresh.  Loved this but only complaint is the Poke did not have any onion in it.  I love a bit of onion in my Poke.  My Friend had the Wings ($12) and liked them.  My other Friend had some kind of Wrap with Fries and loved it.  This is a great little gem in Hilo.  Really want to get back and try more dishes!

PINEAPPLES RESTAURANT

PINEAPPLES RESTAURANT IN HILO
PINEAPPLES HAD A LINE OUT THE DOOR
REAL PINEAPPLES AT PINEAPPLES!
PINEAPPLES RESTAURANT MENU




POKE
WINGS 
WRAP

KOHALA BURGERS AND TACOS

KOHALA BURGERS AND TACOS
613665 AKONI PULE HWY
WAIMEA, HI. 96743
808-880-1923
HOURS:  Monday thru Thursday/Sunday 11-7:30
                 Friday 11-4 / Sunday 9-5:30

Loved Kohala Burgers and Tacos on the Big Island.  Great little spot that I cannot wait to go back to. The place is small when you walk in with a menu and paper specials taped to the walls.  Highly recommend you seek out the printed four page menu that more clearly shows the items and pricing.  The prices might seem high for most tourists, but the cost of doing business on the Big Island is high and you gotta make a profit to pay wages, taxes, utilities and food cost.  Spoken like a real restaurant owner.  On this visit I tried the Standard Cheeseburger ($8.99).  Served with Fries which were good.
I liked the Burger with Grass Fed Beef.  Good flavor and big.  I would prefer a $2.70 In n' Out Burger if I had a choice, but this is a good burger and probably the best on the Big Island.  Also tried the Fish Tacos which were at Market Price.  Don't know what we paid because my friend picked up the tab.  The Fish was excellent and they give you two large Tacos with a Pineapple Salsa.  I saw a lot of people ordering the Crunchy Tacos and really wanted to try them.  Going back to give those a try.
They looked delicious.  There is bench seating around the back of the restaurant inside a little store.  Really liked this place!

KOHALA BURGER AND TACOS

KOHALA BURGERS AND TACOS ON A DAY FILLED WITH VOG
INSIDE THE WHITE IRON DOOR ARE SOME GOOD BURGERS AND TACOS
SMALL SEATING AREA.  ORDER AT THE COUNTER
MENU ON THE WALL BUT RECOMMEND GETTING THE PRINTED MENU


KOHALA BURGERS AND TACOS MENU



FRESH FISH TACOS
TWO LARGE TACOS
STANDARD CHEESEBURGER WITH FRIES
SORRY FOR THE BLURRY PHOTO

SPROUT SANDWICH SHOP

SPROUT SANDWICH SHOP
1154 KOKO HEAD AVE
HONOLULU, HI. 96816
HOURS:  Daily 10-3

Not a huge fan of Sprout Sandwich Shop.  Just not my type of sandwiches and I find them a bit tasteless.  The fact that you have to pay extra to have "sprouts" put on your sandwich also does not fit well with me.  I do like the friendly staff though.  The cashier on this visit was all smiles and very friendly to all customers.  I ordered the Duke ($10.50).  Paid $2 extra for Avocado and $1 extra for Jalapeño so my sandwich was $13.50. The sandwich looked good but just lacked a lot of flavor.  The thick slices of Turkey were very bland.  My Daughter ordered the Sproutwich ($10.50) which is a Vegan Patty with a lot of Sprouts!  She said it was good but only ate half and ended up throwing the other half away.  Don't know...think I am just a normal sub sandwich kind of guy.  Sprout has a great following and I wish them only the best but I probably won't be back anytime soon.
Click link below for previous post on Sprout Sandwich Shop;

DUKE SANDWICH

SPROUT SANDWICH SHOP
SPROUT SANDWICH SHOP MENU

SPROUTWICH WITH VEGAN PATTY