Posted On February 6, 2007
jasonsperber






This place is the only joint in town where you can get ono local grindz--in non-pidgin, that mean delicious Hawaiian "local" food.
In Hawaii, "local food" doesn't mean fussy upscale...
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes |
No
This place is the only joint in town where you can get ono local grindz--in non-pidgin, that mean delicious Hawaiian "local" food.
In Hawaii, "local food" doesn't mean fussy upscale Asian-fusion or mainland-fantasy-tiki-bar: it's filling, downhome stir-fried, stewed, and grilled meats and fish dishes derived from all the different ethnic groups that worked the old plantations (from Japanese and Korean to Filipino and Portugeuse to Chinese and Native Hawaiian and more), served with two scoops of steamed white rice and a scoop of mayo-rich macaroni salad. As they say in the islands, you don't eat until you're full, you eat until you're tired.
Now Bakersfield has its own taste of "local kine grindz." Ignore the run-of-the-mill Chinese-take-out steam table (probably there only because they weren't sure folks would come just for the Hawaiian food), and go for heaping plates of chicken katsu (breaded fried cutlets), Korean-ish grilled beef and short ribs, and teriyaki chicken.
If you really want to go local, try a spam musubi--think spam sushi--or the heart-attack-on-a-plate called "loco moco"--a hamburger patty and a fried egg on top of rice, all drenched in brown gravy.
To be honest, I've had better, in places with sizable island-transplant communities (LA's South Bay, for example), but this is Bakersfield, and I'm pretty happy with what Honolulu Hawaiian BBQ has to offer (unlike other places that call themselves "Hawaiian" but are merely Panda Express knock-offs doing mall Chinese food).
So take a chance, and go try something different!
Report factual error/inappropriate comment
1 of 1 found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes |
No