Go Hawai'i: More Tips From
Two Japanee Bruddahs

Kyle Tatsumoto and Keith Kamisugi
Nichi Bei Times
July 13, 2002

The return of pea soup fog and bone-chilling winds to San Francisco can only mean one thing. Summer's here. An' dat means, time fo' go Hawai'i!

If you goin' Hawai'i dis summer, we get some mo' "insider" tips fo' you, in particular, some of da mos' ono places fo' eat. In Honolulu, there's no better concentration of quintessential local foods than on Kapahulu Avenue, near the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Sometimes referred to as da "kama'aina restaurant row," you goin' find some of da bes' local grinds in that one-mile stretch of Kapahulu Avenue, between Harding Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard.

Rainbow Drive-In
Two scoops rice, one scoop macaroni salad and an entrée. No gastronomical tour of Hawai'i would be complete without at least one plate lunch. And, if you only have one, it may as well be at Rainbow Drive-In, the ultimate plate lunch place, located at the corner of Kana'ina Avenue and Kapahulu Avenue.

You will find an eclectic mix of surfers, blue and white collar workers and tourists alike in the long lines but don't be put off, the service is lightning fast. Rainbow's, operated by the Ifuku family since 1961, is best known for their chili, BBQ meat and boneless chicken plates. Japanee Bruddah Kyle's favorite is the pork cutlet, gravy over everything. Japanee Bruddah Keith likes the shoyu chicken plate. But everyting is ono, so if you no can decide, no huhu, jus' get da mixed plate. An' make sure you wash 'em down wit one large fruit punch.

Ono Hawaiian Foods
If you're looking for authentic Hawaiian food, forget about the Waikiki hotel buffets and commercial luaus, go directly to Ono Hawaiian Foods (726 Kapahulu Avenue). Dey get da real kine Hawaiian grinds, da bes' you goin' find (unless you stay go one real family kine baby luau in Waimanalo). It's a small, plain storefront, but very easy to find. Just look for the long line outside the door. Ono's has a long list of loyal customers, including Muhammad Ali, Don Ho, Senator Daniel Inouye, Lily Tomlin and Barry Sanders.

Try their kalua pork, lau lau and lomi salmon. Nevah mind, jus' order da combination plate - get everyting inside. Get 'em wit poi, not rice. An' ey, no put da kine sugar inside your poi. Only stay open until 7:30 p.m., so go early.

Leonard's Bakery
Like the debate between people who like light, creamy cheesecake versus those who prefer the dense, heavy style, there are two schools of thought regarding malasadas, the sugary, deep fried balls of dough of Portuguese origin. Some prefer the light, airy type, while others go for the doughy, heavy style.

For those of you, like the Two Japanee Bruddahs, who prefer the light style, Leonard's Bakery (933 Kapahulu Avenue) sets the standard against which all others are judged. Whether you prefer light or heavy, the key to malasadas is to eat them piping "burn da mout" hot, right out of the fryer. Eating a half-hour old malasada is like eating a one-week old mochi.

Leonard's has started to experiment with various fillings in their malasadas, but if you've never had a malasada before, start with the plain original. While you're there, pick up a loaf of their famous pao doce, Portuguese sweet bread, as well.

By da way, no need go all da way to Leonard's fo' ono malasadas. Simply cross the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Farmer's Market on Thursday evenings in downtown San Rafael's Fourth Street. Operating under the name, Oso Ono Malasadas, Big Island girl, Eleanor Lau, husband Clifford, and their partners serve up hot malasadas that rival those of Leonard's. Check 'em out. Oh, so ono!

KC Drive-Inn
Speaking of ono, just a few doors up from Leonard's Bakery, in the shadow of the freeway, sits another venerable classic, KC Drive-Inn (1029 Kapahulu Avenue). KC offers the standard menu of plate lunches, saimin and burgers, but that's not why locals go there. KC Drive-In is known for their "world famous" Waffle Dogs and Ono Ono Shakes.

Way mo' betta den one corn dog, the KC Waffle Dog is one hot dog, inside one crunchy waffle. The Ono Ono Shake is available in a variety of flavors, but is basically a milk shake blended with peanut butter. Start with the basic chocolate Ono Ono Shake, which tastes like a cold, liquefied Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. A Waffle Dog, french fries and an Ono Ono Shake, and you'll be exclaiming "ono ono!"

Kay den, running out of room. Get planny mo' ono places dat we nevah even mention - Hee Hing, Sam Choy's Diamond Head, Helen's Chinese Food, Irifune Restaurant, Genki Sushi and Waiola Shave Ice, but gotta save 'em fo' another column.

See you in Hawai'i.

Kyle Tatsumoto and Keith Kamisugi, two local boys from the Islands spreading da aloha in the Bay Area, are da Two Japanee Bruddahs.

 

A menu from KC Drive Inn
during the 1960s

Graphic from the Rusty
Thomas Menu Collection
of Kapi`olani Community
College