Talk about a triple-threat! Sekiya's Restaurant & Delicatessen, Shige's Saimin Stand, and Shiro's Saimin Haven are three of O'ahu's classic restaurants. What do all three of these restaurants have in common? Saimin! Not to mention that all three have been around from since before I can remember. In fact, one of my first memories as a child was eating at Sekiya's and looking at their little koi pond. Since I'm starting to reminisce I might as well start with Sekiya's.
Sekiya's Restaurant & Delicatessen
Located along Kaimuki Avenue (across from Kaimuki High school), Sekiya's has been a favorite of mine since my childhood. What most stands out in my mind is their soft drinks. Strange? Not as strange as you may think. Sekiya's is one of the few locations left on O'ahu that I can find green river (lemon lime). Not to mention the way that they crush their ice just makes fruit punches so much more enjoyable. Try it! Trust me.
Aside from their soft drinks Sekiya's is noted famously for their saimin. Sekiya's saimin comes with the usual fare but what makes this saimin so special is their broth. Their broth complements their noodles perfectly and leaves a nice mouth feel when slurped down. Delicious!
Not only is Sekiya's a restaurant but also a delicatessen. After you've had your meal you can take your food to go! Choices include musubi's, fried noodles, bbq meat, shoyu chicken, hot dogs, tempuras and so much more. It's basically a make your own bento style of eating. Sadly these types of classic local delicatessens are starting to die out and not many can be found these days.
Shige's Saimin Stand
On the other end of Wahiawa stands my personal favorite saimin stand, Shige's Saimin Stand. It has become a tradition of my fishing buddies and I to stop off at Shige's on the way to the North Shore for lunch. "There's something in the saimin", is what one of my fishing friends likes to say about Shige's saimin. I believe what my friend is thinking of is something very rare that I like to call perfection. The perfect mix of dashi, the perfect ratio of flour and water forming the perfect noodles, the whole process is almost magical. What could be better than the perfect saimin? How about a home-made cheeseburger to boot! That is what I like to call our "North Shore Classic" a large saimin and a cheese burger deluxe. Classic.
Shiro's Saimin Haven
Our next local classic is located out in Aiea just minutes away from Pearl Ridge. Of course we are talking about the famed Shiro's Saimin Haven! Shiro's is famous for taking their saimin recipe and adding in all kinds of crazy ingredients. Their sit-down menu boasts an amazing amount of saimin combinations that take up two pages! Aside from their saimin choices, Shiro's also serves classic diner fare and some local favorites. Their fried saimin which is also available in their take out operation located outside the restaurant is very popular as it their homemade burgers. Overall, Shiro's has a little of everything for a reasonably low price. What more could you want in these tough economic times?
Reviews:
Sekiya's Restaurant & Delicatessen
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2
Food Quality: 2
Monetary Value: 3.5
Quality vs Quantity: tie
Overall: 2.5
http://www.sekiyasrestaurant.com/index.html
Sunday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday-Saturday: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
2746 Kaimuki Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
808-732-1656
Shige's Saimin Stand
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.75
Food Quality: 2.75
Monetary Value: 3.25
Quality vs Quantity: quantity
Overall: 2.9
Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 10 PM
Friday-Saturday: 10 AM - 12 AM
Sunday: Closed
70 Kukui Street
Wahiawa, HI 96786
808-621-3621
Shiro's Saimin Haven
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.75
Food Quality: 2.5
Monetary Value: 3.5
Quality vs Quantity: tie
Overall: 2.9
Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 10 PM
Friday-Saturday: 10 AM - 12 AM
Sunday: Closed
98-021 Kamehameha Highway
Aiea, HI 96701
808-488-8824
March 7, 2009
Therapy Sports Grill
Looking for a home base for March Madness or just a great brew? Therapy Sports Grill is the place to be! Located in Koko Marina Center Therapy Sports Grill is a shining jewel in today's restaurant scene. Aside from having a wide selection of on-tap beer and made-to-order drink specialties, Therapy Sports Grill really shines through its eclectic menu.
Usually when someone is trying to put together a menu they stick with one or two types of cuisines. For example an Asian themed menu with a local Californian twist or a bar featuring traditional Japanese bar food. In Therapy's case, they took this standard and threw it out the window.
Therapy's menu consists of traditional bar food, local favorites, sushi and so much more. However, what you have to keep in mind is that like most bars, food is a premium and can therefore be costly. This is common for most restaurants and especially for bars (making money off of drinks rather than food). But enough about the ins and outs of restaurant finances, lets talk food.
Sushi. Before I continue let me just say just between myself and a friend we spent $120 on this review. I'll just let you guess how much of that went into sushi. Therapy's nigiri sushi menu is quite expensive and their sashimi menu directly reflects the sushi menu as well. My suggestion is to go with the sushi moriawase large ($50.00) for two people or small ($30.00) for one person. This platter (we ordered the large) contains a variety of nigiri (two pieces each) as well as a mound of lobster salad and spicy tuna. The quality of sushi was disappointing for $50.00 (not to say that it was bad but just disappointing). I'd place the quality a little above genki sushi. Aside from the nigiri menu Therapy also features a large hand roll menu with many creative and new combinations that are worth taking a look. Aside from sushi and sashimi Therapy also offers a few selections of house-made poke.
The salads and burgers at Therapy didn't stand out much in my mind so I didn't order any of them. However the pupu's and plates section really caught my attention. We ordered hamachi kama (which took about 45 minutes to cook but was worth the wait and was served with the traditional sauces and sides), wasabi chicken (sort of like mochiko chicken with wasabi aioli. very tasty) and mushrooms with brie (a classic). Let me also mention that their garlic chicken, furikake chicken, buffalo chicken and dynamite chicken are basically the same as the wasabi chicken but with different sauces. Other dishes that caught my eye were their black bean fried rice (sounds interesting), fried pickles (love them), and their fried mac and cheese (another classic). And to top it all off, Therapy also serves a variety of donburi including maguro & natto don and spicy tuna don.
Did I mention beer? Therapy prides itself in serving not only foreign and domestic but local as well. Their cocktail menu is also filled with a variety of classic drinks. No wonder it's called Therapy Sports Grill! The mix of sports, great eclectic food and drinks combined with a relaxed atmosphere really is therapy for the mind, body, and soul all in the heart of Hawai'i Kai.
Therapy Sports Grill
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.75
Food Quality: 2.75
Monetary Value: 2
Quality vs Quantity: tie
Overall: 2.5
Open Daily
11 AM - 2 AM (Happy Hour: 2 PM - 6 PM [ Ain't it great when happy hour is hours long?])
7192 Kalanianaole Highway (Koko Marina Center)
Honolulu, HI 96825
808-394-8200
Note: The day that we went in to review Therapy they didn't accept credit cards. However I am assured that they do accept credit cards.
Usually when someone is trying to put together a menu they stick with one or two types of cuisines. For example an Asian themed menu with a local Californian twist or a bar featuring traditional Japanese bar food. In Therapy's case, they took this standard and threw it out the window.
Therapy's menu consists of traditional bar food, local favorites, sushi and so much more. However, what you have to keep in mind is that like most bars, food is a premium and can therefore be costly. This is common for most restaurants and especially for bars (making money off of drinks rather than food). But enough about the ins and outs of restaurant finances, lets talk food.
Sushi. Before I continue let me just say just between myself and a friend we spent $120 on this review. I'll just let you guess how much of that went into sushi. Therapy's nigiri sushi menu is quite expensive and their sashimi menu directly reflects the sushi menu as well. My suggestion is to go with the sushi moriawase large ($50.00) for two people or small ($30.00) for one person. This platter (we ordered the large) contains a variety of nigiri (two pieces each) as well as a mound of lobster salad and spicy tuna. The quality of sushi was disappointing for $50.00 (not to say that it was bad but just disappointing). I'd place the quality a little above genki sushi. Aside from the nigiri menu Therapy also features a large hand roll menu with many creative and new combinations that are worth taking a look. Aside from sushi and sashimi Therapy also offers a few selections of house-made poke.
The salads and burgers at Therapy didn't stand out much in my mind so I didn't order any of them. However the pupu's and plates section really caught my attention. We ordered hamachi kama (which took about 45 minutes to cook but was worth the wait and was served with the traditional sauces and sides), wasabi chicken (sort of like mochiko chicken with wasabi aioli. very tasty) and mushrooms with brie (a classic). Let me also mention that their garlic chicken, furikake chicken, buffalo chicken and dynamite chicken are basically the same as the wasabi chicken but with different sauces. Other dishes that caught my eye were their black bean fried rice (sounds interesting), fried pickles (love them), and their fried mac and cheese (another classic). And to top it all off, Therapy also serves a variety of donburi including maguro & natto don and spicy tuna don.
Did I mention beer? Therapy prides itself in serving not only foreign and domestic but local as well. Their cocktail menu is also filled with a variety of classic drinks. No wonder it's called Therapy Sports Grill! The mix of sports, great eclectic food and drinks combined with a relaxed atmosphere really is therapy for the mind, body, and soul all in the heart of Hawai'i Kai.
Therapy Sports Grill
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.75
Food Quality: 2.75
Monetary Value: 2
Quality vs Quantity: tie
Overall: 2.5
Open Daily
11 AM - 2 AM (Happy Hour: 2 PM - 6 PM [ Ain't it great when happy hour is hours long?])
7192 Kalanianaole Highway (Koko Marina Center)
Honolulu, HI 96825
808-394-8200
Note: The day that we went in to review Therapy they didn't accept credit cards. However I am assured that they do accept credit cards.
Sushi King
You know that you're a sucker for sushi when you go to a restaurant to eat a cheap and filling late night special for $10 and end up buying a $30 platter of sushi. Yes that's me. Sushi King is a casual late night haunt for me and my friends. Located along South King Street just a block away from Aki no No lies Sushi King in all its glory.
The menu was so diverse that I needed two visits to review this restaurant. The menu (at least in the way that I look at it) is sectioned off in a few categories. First you have the classic combination dinners with all of your favorites such as tempura, katsu, butterfish and the like. I suggest you skip this section and go for the good stuff (the sushi).
The next section that I would like to highlight on the menu is the sushi and sashimi section. The nigiri and to-order sushi menu is a bit pricey (in my opinion) for the quality of fish served. My suggestion (and I really do push this when I eat here with others) is to get the sushi omakase ($30.00). For $30 the chef will present you with a rather large platter of sushi. This platter varies as the chef chooses what he sees is fit for you to eat. By ordering the sushi omakase option you get a wider variety than you would get from ordering $30 worth of nigiri sushi. My platter contained 6 pieces of tekka-maki, 2 piece maguro, 2 piece egg nigiri, 1 piece mirugai, 1 piece halibut, 1 piece ama-ebi, and to top it all off -- 1 piece toro, uni, and ikura! What a steal for $30.00!
The next section isn't as grand as the sushi section but it's just as good -- the grilled section. Sushi King has it's own traditional Japanese grill sitting in the back corner of the restaurant. During my first review of Sushi King I was fortunate to sit in the corner and view the display box of all of the delectable ready-to-grill products. Included in the display were the traditional beef tataki, chicken yakitori, and sanma among other protein options. However what stood out in my mind was that they offered offal. If you remember back to my yakiniku spotlight I talked about how offal was the traditional grilled meat during Japanese occupied Korea in WWII. Sushi King offers cow tripe, cow tongue, chicken liver and much more! Although the portions aren't that great everything was cooked perfectly and is a great way to introduce yourself to offal. It is because of these grilled meats that I had to come back for a second review of the restaurant.
The last section worthy of praise is Sushi King's late night specials. Starting from 10:00 PM you can order off of their late night specials. For $9.95 you can order a variety of combination platters. Each platter includes Sushi King's amazing miso soup (lots of fillers!), rice, salad, and six pieces of either california maki, spicy tuna maki (sells out fast), or three pieces of inari sushi. My favorite late night platter would be the ika tempura platter (very tender!). In addition to the combination platters, Sushi King also offers a late night chirashi special. For $13.95 you get the miso soup and a platter of chirashi sushi (fish cuts vary from what I hear as I haven't tried this yet).
So if you're looking for good cheap eats, late-night Sushi King is your restaurant. Besides, you just can't beat that omakase sushi platter. Although I hate to admit it, there's just a point in time where if you offer such a wide variety of sushi for such a low price I will sacrifice the quality of what I eat. What else can I say? Sushi King 2700 South King Street! Late night satisfaction.
Sushi King
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 4
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: Both!
Overall: 3.6
2700 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
808-947-2836
Hours
Mon: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 2 AM
Tue: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 10 PM
Wed-Sat: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 2 AM
Sun: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 12 AM
The menu was so diverse that I needed two visits to review this restaurant. The menu (at least in the way that I look at it) is sectioned off in a few categories. First you have the classic combination dinners with all of your favorites such as tempura, katsu, butterfish and the like. I suggest you skip this section and go for the good stuff (the sushi).
The next section that I would like to highlight on the menu is the sushi and sashimi section. The nigiri and to-order sushi menu is a bit pricey (in my opinion) for the quality of fish served. My suggestion (and I really do push this when I eat here with others) is to get the sushi omakase ($30.00). For $30 the chef will present you with a rather large platter of sushi. This platter varies as the chef chooses what he sees is fit for you to eat. By ordering the sushi omakase option you get a wider variety than you would get from ordering $30 worth of nigiri sushi. My platter contained 6 pieces of tekka-maki, 2 piece maguro, 2 piece egg nigiri, 1 piece mirugai, 1 piece halibut, 1 piece ama-ebi, and to top it all off -- 1 piece toro, uni, and ikura! What a steal for $30.00!
The next section isn't as grand as the sushi section but it's just as good -- the grilled section. Sushi King has it's own traditional Japanese grill sitting in the back corner of the restaurant. During my first review of Sushi King I was fortunate to sit in the corner and view the display box of all of the delectable ready-to-grill products. Included in the display were the traditional beef tataki, chicken yakitori, and sanma among other protein options. However what stood out in my mind was that they offered offal. If you remember back to my yakiniku spotlight I talked about how offal was the traditional grilled meat during Japanese occupied Korea in WWII. Sushi King offers cow tripe, cow tongue, chicken liver and much more! Although the portions aren't that great everything was cooked perfectly and is a great way to introduce yourself to offal. It is because of these grilled meats that I had to come back for a second review of the restaurant.
The last section worthy of praise is Sushi King's late night specials. Starting from 10:00 PM you can order off of their late night specials. For $9.95 you can order a variety of combination platters. Each platter includes Sushi King's amazing miso soup (lots of fillers!), rice, salad, and six pieces of either california maki, spicy tuna maki (sells out fast), or three pieces of inari sushi. My favorite late night platter would be the ika tempura platter (very tender!). In addition to the combination platters, Sushi King also offers a late night chirashi special. For $13.95 you get the miso soup and a platter of chirashi sushi (fish cuts vary from what I hear as I haven't tried this yet).
So if you're looking for good cheap eats, late-night Sushi King is your restaurant. Besides, you just can't beat that omakase sushi platter. Although I hate to admit it, there's just a point in time where if you offer such a wide variety of sushi for such a low price I will sacrifice the quality of what I eat. What else can I say? Sushi King 2700 South King Street! Late night satisfaction.
Sushi King
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2.5
Food Quality: 4
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: Both!
Overall: 3.6
2700 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
808-947-2836
Hours
Mon: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 2 AM
Tue: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 10 PM
Wed-Sat: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 2 AM
Sun: 11:30 AM - 2 PM // 5:30 PM - 12 AM
March 6, 2009
Burger Dilemma
Today we will be reviewing four burger establishments: Teddy's Bigger Burgers, Burgers on the Edge, The Counter, and W&M BBQ Burgers.
I've decided that I will give a brief description of each then summarize it all into a nice little review. To end it off I'll be doing the usual 5 point review for each establishment. Let the best burger win!
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Located in the crowded, tourist packed Koko Marina Shopping Center, Teddy's Bigger Burgers is a hot spot with locals heading to and from Sandy's and tourists traversing Hama'uma Bay and the cliffs of Hawai'i Kai's Makapu'u Lighthouse. Teddy's prides itself on it's signature beef patties that are always cooked to order medium-rare and their variety of classic milkshakes. At Teddy's there are a few things to think about when ordering a burger: what size do you want (5 oz, 7 oz, or 9 oz), what do you want on it (Teddy's offers a variety of toppings of a price) and should I get a shake (yes. definitely.)? Your best bet is to go with a combo if you are indecisive however I usually end up buying a 7 oz spud burger and a shake.
Burgers on the Edge
Located in the bustling Safeway compound along Kapahulu Avenue stands Burgers on the Edge. The masterminds behind Burgers on the Edge have taken the fast food slogan of "Have it your way" and have uped the ante. At Burgers on the Edge you can not only get different burger sizes but different burger qualities (yes, Kobe beef patties sold here!). Not only can you order your burger with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes but with mushrooms, bell peppers, an endless assortment of cheeses, oh and did I mention fois gras?! So what does frois gras on a kobe beef taste like? Well I couldn't tell you because I didn't get mine with frois gras ( :D ). I did however get my burger customized to my liking and yes, I was suckered into the kobe beef patty. How does this succulent $18 burger compare to the rest? You'll just have to keep reading!
P.S. Truffle Fries Rule!
The Counter
Kahala Mall's newest addition is cooking up a storm. The Counter has many elements similar to Burgers on the Edge such as customized burgers and a wide array of toppings with hundreds of burger combinations possible. So what makes The Counter different from Burgers on the Edge? Well first off the burgers are cheaper and there is a lot more to choose from and...oh yeah! They also cook their burgers medium-rare like Teddy's unlike a certain $18 burger -- oops. Sorry to drop a bombshell but aren't you glad you kept reading? That's right, Burgers on the Edge turned my precious Kobe burger into sawdust. On the other hand did I mention The Counter also serves classic shakes and the ever popular sweet potato fries? What more could you want? I know.. how about a teri-burger?
W&M BBQ Burgers
Situated along busy Waialae Avenue stands W&M BBQ Burgers. W&M BBQ Burgers can sometimes be hard to spot as the only indication is a small wooden sign that is hard to see when you are speeding along. To make things easier, you can find W&M BBQ Burgers across from Catch of the Day and the right of City Mill. However that doesn't help the parking situation at all. There are, about 10 parking spots total at W&M and they fill up the minute the place opens at 10 AM. Now you wont be getting any ultra-mega-deluxe-your-way-or-the-highway-burger here. Your choices are mayo, ketchup, tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese or no cheese. The Royal Burger is the deluxe version of this delicious burger, however, I suggest going with a cheese burger with mayo. That's it. In fact, order two you'll thank me. Don't let the prices sway your opinion though, for $3.50 a pop these are definitely worth it. By the way, they're closed on Monday's so don't bother checking!
The Lowdown
My favorite pick (as you can probably tell) is W&M BBQ Burgers. The taste is just out-of-this-world amazing although the sizes, and prices could use some work. Although Teddy's makes an, amazing, shake, The Counter serves better tasting burgers as well as decent shakes (however Teddy's is still cheaper!). As for Burgers on the Edge, well...fois gras burger. You want unique go to Burgers on the Edge (especially for the truffle fries).
Ratings
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2
Food Quality: 2.5
Monetary Value: 3.25
Quality vs Quantity: Quantity
Overall: 2.5
Burgers on the Edge
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 3.5
Food Quality: 2*
Monetary Value: 1.75
Quality vs Quantity: Tie
Overall: 2.4
*Kobe Burger Cooked Well Done
The Counter
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 3
Food Quality: 3
Monetary Value: 3.25
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.0
W&M BBQ Burgers
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2
Food Quality: 2.5
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: -TASTE-
Overall: 3
I've decided that I will give a brief description of each then summarize it all into a nice little review. To end it off I'll be doing the usual 5 point review for each establishment. Let the best burger win!
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Located in the crowded, tourist packed Koko Marina Shopping Center, Teddy's Bigger Burgers is a hot spot with locals heading to and from Sandy's and tourists traversing Hama'uma Bay and the cliffs of Hawai'i Kai's Makapu'u Lighthouse. Teddy's prides itself on it's signature beef patties that are always cooked to order medium-rare and their variety of classic milkshakes. At Teddy's there are a few things to think about when ordering a burger: what size do you want (5 oz, 7 oz, or 9 oz), what do you want on it (Teddy's offers a variety of toppings of a price) and should I get a shake (yes. definitely.)? Your best bet is to go with a combo if you are indecisive however I usually end up buying a 7 oz spud burger and a shake.
Burgers on the Edge
Located in the bustling Safeway compound along Kapahulu Avenue stands Burgers on the Edge. The masterminds behind Burgers on the Edge have taken the fast food slogan of "Have it your way" and have uped the ante. At Burgers on the Edge you can not only get different burger sizes but different burger qualities (yes, Kobe beef patties sold here!). Not only can you order your burger with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes but with mushrooms, bell peppers, an endless assortment of cheeses, oh and did I mention fois gras?! So what does frois gras on a kobe beef taste like? Well I couldn't tell you because I didn't get mine with frois gras ( :D ). I did however get my burger customized to my liking and yes, I was suckered into the kobe beef patty. How does this succulent $18 burger compare to the rest? You'll just have to keep reading!
P.S. Truffle Fries Rule!
The Counter
Kahala Mall's newest addition is cooking up a storm. The Counter has many elements similar to Burgers on the Edge such as customized burgers and a wide array of toppings with hundreds of burger combinations possible. So what makes The Counter different from Burgers on the Edge? Well first off the burgers are cheaper and there is a lot more to choose from and...oh yeah! They also cook their burgers medium-rare like Teddy's unlike a certain $18 burger -- oops. Sorry to drop a bombshell but aren't you glad you kept reading? That's right, Burgers on the Edge turned my precious Kobe burger into sawdust. On the other hand did I mention The Counter also serves classic shakes and the ever popular sweet potato fries? What more could you want? I know.. how about a teri-burger?
W&M BBQ Burgers
Situated along busy Waialae Avenue stands W&M BBQ Burgers. W&M BBQ Burgers can sometimes be hard to spot as the only indication is a small wooden sign that is hard to see when you are speeding along. To make things easier, you can find W&M BBQ Burgers across from Catch of the Day and the right of City Mill. However that doesn't help the parking situation at all. There are, about 10 parking spots total at W&M and they fill up the minute the place opens at 10 AM. Now you wont be getting any ultra-mega-deluxe-your-way-or-the-highway-burger here. Your choices are mayo, ketchup, tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese or no cheese. The Royal Burger is the deluxe version of this delicious burger, however, I suggest going with a cheese burger with mayo. That's it. In fact, order two you'll thank me. Don't let the prices sway your opinion though, for $3.50 a pop these are definitely worth it. By the way, they're closed on Monday's so don't bother checking!
The Lowdown
My favorite pick (as you can probably tell) is W&M BBQ Burgers. The taste is just out-of-this-world amazing although the sizes, and prices could use some work. Although Teddy's makes an, amazing, shake, The Counter serves better tasting burgers as well as decent shakes (however Teddy's is still cheaper!). As for Burgers on the Edge, well...fois gras burger. You want unique go to Burgers on the Edge (especially for the truffle fries).
Ratings
Teddy's Bigger Burgers
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2
Food Quality: 2.5
Monetary Value: 3.25
Quality vs Quantity: Quantity
Overall: 2.5
Burgers on the Edge
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 3.5
Food Quality: 2*
Monetary Value: 1.75
Quality vs Quantity: Tie
Overall: 2.4
*Kobe Burger Cooked Well Done
The Counter
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 3
Food Quality: 3
Monetary Value: 3.25
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.0
W&M BBQ Burgers
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 2
Food Quality: 2.5
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: -TASTE-
Overall: 3
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Recently I've been reviewing a lot of the higher-end food establishments here in Honolulu. I promise I'll start getting back to the basics (especially in these slow economic times) after this post. But what can I say? It's Ruth's Chris Steakhouse! One of O'ahu's premier steakhouses. How can I not be excited?
Pulling up to Restaurant Row, I could hardly contain my excitement. I knew exactly what I was going to have -- the thick juicy cowboy ribeye, shoestring and potatoes lyonnaise and to top off the experience a Disorono amaretto freeze. I could hardly wait. Parking is usually easy to find as the parking complex at Restaurant Row is spacious, however, on Friday nights it can get a bit congested due to the dollar theatre and night club.
We had reservations (I was eating out with the family) as Ruth's Chris is a very popular choice at dinner times. As we entered Ruth's Chris the only thought going through my mind is, "Why is it so dark?". I understand the meaning of ambiance and have been to other high class steakhouses such as Hy's but the lack of lighting was slightly ridiculous. They say that the pupils of your eyes become dilated and it is some how attractive -- who cares! I can't read the menu without squinting. Our waitress was very professional and well mannered (a plus as I can be very picky about how waiters act).
I'll fast forward to the food as the bread wasn't worth writing home for. The steaks are said to be seared at an extreme temperature to seal in flavor as well as dry aged to perfection. What they didn't tell you is that they like to serve the steak without FLAVOR. Don't get me wrong, the steak was of amazing quality and was cooked to perfection but it lacked flavor. That's right folks...salt. I've recently conversed with other foodies and an industry burn-out about Ruth's Chris's steaks. We all agree -- the steaks need salt. There's no hiding the truth. The potatoes on the other hand were perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The Disarono amaretto freeze was (sadly) the highlight of my meal (I definitely will be making these at home). It is in essence a Disarono milkshake. Simple and delicious.
I'm not sure if I'm approaching the whole under-seasoned steak thing correctly as some may say that it doesn't need salt and that the natural flavor of the meat should be enjoyed without additives but I still stand with the notion that the steak needs salt.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 5
Food Quality: 2.25*
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.9
226 Lewers Street
Waikiki, Hawaii 96815
808-440-7910
Open Daily 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
*I would have rated this a 4.5 but the steaks just need salt. period. I'll stop mentioning it now. I'm done. I'm over it.
Pulling up to Restaurant Row, I could hardly contain my excitement. I knew exactly what I was going to have -- the thick juicy cowboy ribeye, shoestring and potatoes lyonnaise and to top off the experience a Disorono amaretto freeze. I could hardly wait. Parking is usually easy to find as the parking complex at Restaurant Row is spacious, however, on Friday nights it can get a bit congested due to the dollar theatre and night club.
We had reservations (I was eating out with the family) as Ruth's Chris is a very popular choice at dinner times. As we entered Ruth's Chris the only thought going through my mind is, "Why is it so dark?". I understand the meaning of ambiance and have been to other high class steakhouses such as Hy's but the lack of lighting was slightly ridiculous. They say that the pupils of your eyes become dilated and it is some how attractive -- who cares! I can't read the menu without squinting. Our waitress was very professional and well mannered (a plus as I can be very picky about how waiters act).
I'll fast forward to the food as the bread wasn't worth writing home for. The steaks are said to be seared at an extreme temperature to seal in flavor as well as dry aged to perfection. What they didn't tell you is that they like to serve the steak without FLAVOR. Don't get me wrong, the steak was of amazing quality and was cooked to perfection but it lacked flavor. That's right folks...salt. I've recently conversed with other foodies and an industry burn-out about Ruth's Chris's steaks. We all agree -- the steaks need salt. There's no hiding the truth. The potatoes on the other hand were perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The Disarono amaretto freeze was (sadly) the highlight of my meal (I definitely will be making these at home). It is in essence a Disarono milkshake. Simple and delicious.
I'm not sure if I'm approaching the whole under-seasoned steak thing correctly as some may say that it doesn't need salt and that the natural flavor of the meat should be enjoyed without additives but I still stand with the notion that the steak needs salt.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Rating System: 1-2.5-5 (poor-average-excellent)
Service: 5
Food Quality: 2.25*
Monetary Value: 4.5
Quality vs Quantity: Quality
Overall: 3.9
226 Lewers Street
Waikiki, Hawaii 96815
808-440-7910
Open Daily 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
*I would have rated this a 4.5 but the steaks just need salt. period. I'll stop mentioning it now. I'm done. I'm over it.
We're Back! And Hungry!
I've been caught up in school work the past month and have thus neglected 808FoodScene.net. But now I'm back and I have a lot of tasty reviews to write up. Within the next few days I'll be posting up all of February's reviews (glad I took notes!). Enjoy!
List of Reviews:
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Burger Dilemma
Sekiya's, Shige's, and Shrio's
Southshore Grill
Sushi King
Therapy Sportsgrill
List of Reviews:
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Burger Dilemma
Sekiya's, Shige's, and Shrio's
Southshore Grill
Sushi King
Therapy Sportsgrill
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