Posts Tagged ‘Lunch’

Billed as the western most brewery in the United States, the Waimea Brewing Company on the island of Kauai brings is your answer for a truly local craft beer. Having gone to the Kona Brew Fest for several years we had tried a few of the Waimea Brewing Companies beers but didn’t really think to stop in until we were on the island and inadvertently driving by.

And we’re glad we drove by and noticed it. We stopped on a trip in late fall 2009 (this review is coming a little late, so any updates let us know). The brewing company is stuck amongst cottages as part of the Waimea Plantation Cottages which is an amazing spread of well kept lawn and huge vacation cottages. The location looks as though it’s out of an old plantation house (hence the name) and the open air feel is evident throughout. We sat down to enjoy lunch on the back lanai overlooking the expanse of lawn.

We stopped in at about 2 pm, so I would imagine the lunch crowd (whatever crowd could possibly be on Kauai) was done and the servers were taking their lunch break. The service was good, although let’s face it, we were there to try some beers and it took a while to get our first drinks so we didn’t get to try as many as we want. A sampler would have been the better route to take.

We tried an IPA on the list which for the life of me I can’t remember what it was called. It was supposedly new, and although I can’t remember the name, the taste was delicious. After that we went for a Pale Ale, and didn’t have time for another. They definitely have some good beers.

On the food side, it’s your standard bar food. We had the nachos which were huge, they could have been our meal alone. After that we both had burgers which were good, nothing spectacular but did the trick.

All in all it was a good stop in. I believe the restaurant portion was new, so that could have explained the somewhat unspectacular menu and the so so service. But for a brewery on another island, you can’t go wrong. I would say definitely stop in for a few drinks!

Azure Restaurant, located in the Royal Hawaiian is their newest fine dining restaurant, which specializes in island seafood.  A little over a year ago the iconic Royal Hawaii received a $85 million renovation and redesign.  Part of this project included the creation of Azure.

Jon Matsubara is Azure’s head chef and behind a menu where fish and the freshest fruits de mer are featured.  Local fish like ahi, opah, onaga, uku, or moi are selected each morning at daybreak from the Hawaii fish auction.  Food here is a mixture of French and Hawaiian regional cuisines prepared with fresh and local ingredients.

I had the oppurtunity to dine at Azure recently with some friends.  The renovation and redesign of this space into Azure was breathtaking.  The decor was modern European with an island feel.  The restaurant was sophisticated with a hint of relaxation found in their comfy stylish pillows accompanying each seat.  The outdoor area beachfront was the place of envy where customers can rent private canopies and enjoy their food and cocktails in a more relaxed setting while still among style and luxury.

For our meal we ordered several appetizers such as the  Baby Back Ribs with a Kona coffee bbq sauce ($18),  the Grilled Coriander Prawns ($19), and the Azure Sashimi with Hawaiian yellowtail ahi ($21).  Accompanying the starters we ordered salads one in particular was the Hirabara Farms’ Baby Romaine Caesar Salad ($14), which was served with a heirloom tomato that was the size of a softball.  For my entree I ordered the Kona Shellfish Bowl with lobster, prawns, clams, scallops, abalone mushrooms, and konyaku noodles in a kaffir lime and chile broth ($47).  For dessert I ordered the Warm Cookie Pie a trio of warm cookies with Hawaiian chocolate ice cream ($9).  Our table also ordered a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay.

Kona Shellfish Bowl

Based on the food alone I was disappointed with the meal.  I was disappointed not because the food was bad but because the food was not exceptional.  Being the Royal Hawaiian and paying these high prices, I was expected to be “wow-ed” and was “okayed” by the food itself.  The starters were all tasty, but nothing left me wanting more.  The Azure Sashimi was so small that I only got about half a bite.  My Kona Shelfish Bowl was filled with a large portion of well cooked seafood, but it lacked taste and flavor.  The best part about this dish was the toasted bread spear that accompanied the plate.  My dessert was also in the same good not great ballpark.  I felt the service at Azure helped redeem the restaurant’s mediocre food.  Our servers were polite and professional and aimed to please our party.

I would return to Azure for the atmosphere and to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine at the bar, or even to lounge in the canopy area beachside.  For a celebratory dinner with excellent food I would rather go to Mariposa at Ala Moana, Hoku’s at The Kahala Hotel and Resort, or Orchids in The Halekulani Hotel.

Azure is open daily from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm and the dress code is smart casual.  The address of the Royal Hawaiian is 2259 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, HI  96815.  For more information or reservations please call (808) 923-7311.  To see photos and view the restaurant’s menu visit: http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/resort_dining_azure.

Here on Oahu, for a casual place to get fresh, fast, and delicious Mexican food with a Hawaiian flair visit Maui Tacos Mexican Surf Grill in Kailua Town on Kailua Road.  The original Maui Tacos opened in 1993 in Napili, Maui by Chef Mark Ellman.  Chef Ellman combined his love for Mexican food, surf, and island life resulting in Maui Tacos.  Maui Tacos motto is, “A vacation you can eat!”

This order at the counter style restaurant allows customers to dine in or take their food to-go.  Choose from BBQ pork burritos, crispy beef tacos, chicken mango salad, coconut flan, and much much more.  All entrees come with Spanish rice and choice of black, refried, or pinto beans and a handful of crispy tortilla chips.  The menu is large and the portions are generous.

One of the things that Maui Tacos is known for is their in-house salsa bar which includes 5 different freshly made salsas like “Hula Heat Salsa” and “Pineapple Passion Salsa” plus pico de gallo, fresh cilantro, onions, and jalapenos are also available as complimentary toppings.  With each meal you get to help yourself to unlimited salsa also available by the 1/2 pint or pint for purchase.

Maui Tacos food selection is for the healthy conscious consumer but does not skimp on flavor.  This eatery serves up healthier Mexican cuisine with fresh produce and proteins.  Maui Tacos also offers a “Healthy DinerFinder Menu,” vegetarian options, and even a gluten free menu.

What many may not know about Maui Tacos is how many current locations there are around the country and the world.  Besides Hawaii, store locations can be found in California, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina, Washington DC, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and locations are beginning to open now internationally.  Franchising is available all over the mainland and the world for those interested in spreading this island Mexican cuisine.

For restaurant locations, menus, nutritional information, and much more visit www.MauiTacos.com .

Hilo Bay Café is a little hidden treasure.  Located in the Wal-Mart shopping plaza, it is almost invisible somewhere between the Verizon and T-Mobile Wireless Stores. This restaurant is modern and chic in a really nice way. It feels as if you have stepped off the island for a moment into a trendy west coast restaurant/bar.

Except for the front view the parking lot, there are no other windows, yet the atmosphere is still fresh, pleasant and inviting.  Jazz was playing quietly in the background.  Our table was a few steps up in a little area separated from the room by half walls.  Looking down a bit at the rest of the room there appeared to be mostly couples, some clearly romantic, in various degrees of attire from casual to somewhat formal.

I have a friend who drives to Hilo from Hawi (2 hours) just for Hilo Bay’s spinach salad. Recipes are modern fused and upgraded favorites made with fresh organic ingredients.  I had a personal vegetarian potpie that had an amazingly delicate and delicious crust just right for dipping. My friend and I shared a yummy salad with homemade baguette bread.

The menu included homemade ravioli, stuffed with artichoke hearts, garlic and cheese. There were burgers with Gorgonzola cheese, grilled pork loin and seared, crusted Ahi tuna.  Lots of vegetarian choices and everything looked almost too beautiful to eat.  Of course we did eat it and it was as delicious as it looked.

I have since discovered that this one of those best kept secrets.  Everyone I have asked who has eaten there loves it and goes back regularly. Prices are extremely reasonable and much less than restaurants of this caliber command elsewhere.

They are open for lunch and dinner with easy parking right out front.

Hours: Daily 11am-9pm; Lunch 11am-2pm, Light Lunch 2pm-5pm, Dinner 5pm-9pm.

Hilo Bay Café ~ 315 Makaala Street ~ Hilo, HI 96720 ~ Phone: (808) 935-4939

On a recent trip to Kauai my wife and I stayed in Poipu and unlike our first trip to the Garden Isle, it was sunny all three days! After working up an appetite surfing just off of Poipu Beach (can’t remember the breaks name) we decided we needed to finally try this Puka Dog thing that we’ve heard about. There is one in Waikiki, inside the International Market Place, so I’m told, and I’ve seen pictures of their creations, but really needed to try one out.

So, after a quick shower, off we went to the Poipu Shopping Center to try out a Puka Dog. When we got there it was packed. A small little hole in the wall, they serve veggie or polish dogs in a very non-traditional way. Puka in Hawaiian means hole. And these hot dogs are literally pushed into a hole in small loaf of bread (the bun.) Top that off with some interesting fixings that aren’t what you’d normally find on

a hot dog (only mustard if you’re traditional) and you have yourself a puka dog.

The ordering process is pretty simple. You first choose polish or veggie, then choose what type of Garlic Lemon Secret Sauce you want, and finally you choose the type(s) of tropical or traditional relish that you want your puka dog bathing in. Hand them your $6.25, and you’re on your way to enjoying a uniquely Hawaii hot dog.

The Garlic Lemon Secret Sauce comes in original, spicy and hot. I went the spicy and although it was quite tasty it didn’t give it the spice I was looking for. Next time I’m going with the hot. Now the truly unique and interesting fixins come with the relish choices you have, the tropical ones. These come in mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, and star fruit. All of which don’t sound appetizing on a hot dog but I had to try them out. Besides, whats a puka dog without a taste of the islands? So I went with the mango and it did not disappoint!

The lemon garlic, mixed with the mango, and hot dog wrapped in a bun turned out to be a great treat. I’ll definitely be heading down into Waikiki to try it out.

Finally, I washed it all down with fresh squeezed lemonade. The girl at the counter was squeezing it right in front of us, mixing it up with sugar, water, and ice, and serving it up with a smile. It was delicious. And it fit in with my tropical relish flavored hot dog quite nicely.

The staff was fun, seeming to have a good time. The service was fast. The atmosphere was like a Jamba Juice made out of left over Hawaii Tiki attire and crowd kept on coming. It was a perfect lunch spot on our Kauai weekend getaway.

Downtown Honolulu is a delightful place full of underappreciated treasures such as the historic Dillingham Transportation Building, 735 Bishop Street.  Built in 1928 and completed & dedicated in 1929, it is an exquisite example of Italian Renaissance Revival slash Mediterranean architecture as imagined by San Diego architect Lincoln Rogers.  Though a mere four stories tall the building dominates the block at the foot of Bishop Street with majestic grace presenting a face of various colored tan & brown marble & brick.  A splendid use of space a gathering place the ground floor lobby is a congenial place inviting folks to sit a spell and catering to those who do so is the Honolulu Café.

The Honolulu Café advertises itself as a place “Where the World Comes Together In A Cup,” and validates that claim with an awesome array of Espresso Drinks, Smoothies, Tea and Coffee.  Among the Espresso offerings one can find Café Latte, Café Breve, Café Thai, and my favorite Caramel Macchiato.  Honolulu Café’s smoothie are a tropical explosion; Pina Colada, Fireball, Strawberry, Banana-Berry, Guava and Mango, all made to order, proving a cool smooth soothing escape from the cares of the day.

Hot Panini style sandwiches are Honolulu Café’s signature item.  Reuben on Rye, pastrami with Russian Dressing & sauerkraut & Swiss Cheese served with fresh herb potato salad, half for $7.85 or whole for $10.50, is a terrific take on a traditional favorite, while many sing the praises of the Chicken Havarti, marinated chicken served on Focaccia with Havarti Cheese & lettuce & tomato, with a fresh green salad on the side, $7.85 for a half or $10.50 for a whole sandwich.  Vegetarians rejoice with two choices, one item simply described as a Vegetarian Sandwich, a simple description for a delicious blend of marinated grilled eggplant, zucchini, fresh mozzarella, lettuce and tomato, $7.70 for a half sandwich or $10.25 for a whole sandwich.  For $10.25 one can choose a Fire Roasted Veggie Burger served on focaccia with lettuce & tomato, ranch dressing, a fresh green salad on the side.

On a hot day a cold sandwich is quite welcome a cool refreshing treat.  Ranging in price from $7.15 to $10.95, Honolulu Café has a selection of Ham & Swiss, Smoked Turkey Breast, Salami & Provolone, a Vegetarian Wrap and what is perhaps their most popular item, Fresh Tuna Salad on Naan.  All of the sandwiches are served with a side salad.

There are several Salads that are a meal unto themselves.  Citrus Chicken Salad is a delight, with marinated grilled chicken served on a bed of mesclun salad, Mandarin orange, fried chow-mein served with the Honolulu Café’s own citrus dressing; $7.95 or $9.95.  One can order a Caesar Salad with either Chicken or Salmon, or opt for several entirely vegetarian treats, Gorgonzola Salad, Caprese (Spinach) Salad, a Garden Salad, or a Veggie Salad with marinated grilled vegetables; ranging from $6.60 to $11.99.

Daily there is a Hot Entrée Special and each day there is a choice of two delicious soups.  Monday and Friday one can savor Clam Chowder, or Garden Vegetable Soup, on Tuesday Cream of Broccoli or Chicken Noodle, Wednesday is the day for Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Vegetable, Thursday one can savor the simple joy of Tomato & Basil or the more adventuresome Vegetable Muligatawni.  Pau Hana Friday plays host to the aforementioned Chowder as well as Provencal Roast Vegetables.    Other soups one can expect; Minestrone, Ham & Cabbage, Sweet Corn Chowder, Creamy Potato Leak, Cream of Asparagus, and Potage Au Pomme (Potato Soup).  All soups are made fresh daily.

Honolulu Café is a delightful place to dine, with high marbled ceilings, solid substantial chairs, a subdued elegant setting, inviting enticing the senses; one can dine inside or outside in the wonderful Pacific Guardian Courtyard.  Honolulu Café is open from 6;45 AM to 4 PM Monday to Friday, closed on Weekends.  They also serve breakfast items, delicious desserts & bakery items, soft drinks and fresh juice.  They are also excellent caterers ready to whip up a plate a delicacies for your next office shindig or private party.  One can call them via 808-533-1555 ext 6 or faxx via 533-1556, or email them with a catering request via Chefchae@honolulucafe.net.

Hawaii State Archives

Photo courtesy Honolulu Advertiser

Whether you are visiting Oahu or live and work here, there should always be time for a great lunch with a friend or two. Taking a break in the day and enjoying great bites in a fun, unique, elegant or casual environment does not just nourish your body, it refreshes all your senses and lifts the spirit.

Here are some of my current favorites that fit all moods and appetites:

Chez Sovan Express, Restaurant Row, Honolulu

This small Cambodian temple of great cuisine is rather hidden, but so worth to find it. In this self service, take out or eat in restaurant you’ll find an array of delicious and unique dishes, that surprise your taste buds, are plenty, healthy and also great for your budget. Chez Sovan’s signature dish is “Amok”, flaky white fish smothered in exotic seasonings and steamed in a banana leaf. Are you drooling yet?

The barbequed chicken or beef sticks are great and I can never get enough of the eggplant and tofu. Oh, did I mention the steak salad?

Gordon Biersch, Aloha Tower Market Place, Honolulu

One reason to have lunch at Gordon Biersch is the location. Anything tastes so much better when enjoyed with a view of the ocean and small or large ships passing by. Another reason is the large menu that features great sandwiches, a few amazing salads, local and international flavors and if there is still room, delightful desserts. All at a good price. Try the pecan crusted chicken on a pear and blue cheese salad or the seafood cobb salad. Break da mouth burgers come with the signature garlic fries and if you want it light and local, go for the seared ahi or the fresh poke. Plan a little more time for this one, as the service and the kitchen are usually not the speediest, but make up for it with being friendly and knowledgeable.

New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu

At the end of Waikiki, close to Diamond Head is a true oasis for an hour away from all the hustle and bustle. Come early! Lunch hours are from 11:45am to 2 pm and the tables fill up fast. At the Hau Tree Lanai you are pretty much sitting at the beach just inches away from the sand, but with little luxuries like real linen, amazing service and knowing that Robert Louis Stevenson used to relax under the same trees. The atmosphere is filled with a delightful nostalgia and 60s design in the bar. Try the grilled shrimp salad or one of their variations on Eggs Benedict!

Hot Dog On A Stick, Windward Mall, Kane’ohe

They are fried, fresh and fabulous. All of the few menu items undergo the same treatment. Dipped in batter and fried to perfection! Hot dogs, cheese sticks, large chunks of fish or chicken and, for the less carnivorous among us, the zucchini sticks. It’s all good and intensely comforting. Who does not love anything that is crisp on the outside, hot and tender inside and made right in front of your eyes? I cannot leave windward mall without at least getting one of their signature lemonades. Made with real lemons and you can even watch the colorfully clad staff every two hours preparing a new batch. It’s lemonade like grandma used to make it and worth a stop in Kane’ohe.

I’m going out to lunch now! To be continued …

Waikiki club crawlers returning to their dens at the start of a new day often stop to refuel at a favorite breakfast haunt, The Original Pancake House, 1221 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 103, Honolulu. Opening at 6AM, The Original Pancake House has served Honolulu residents breakfast for over thirty-five years, along with a limited lunch menu from 11AM, closing promptly at 2PM.

The ORIGINAL ‘Original Pancake House’ opened in 1953 in Portland Oregon and the key to continuing success has been simplicity & consistency. Comfort food breakfast style as defined by Middle America. All the usual breakfast staples are available; Portuguese Sausage, Sausage Patty (2), Canadian Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Ham, Bacon, Link Sausage, all of the aforementioned meats served with eggs and a choice of three pancakes or rice or hash browns or toast for $7.95 One can opt for Cream of Wheat or ‘Old Fashion Oatmeal’ though my Southern friends are appalled that there are no grits on the menu!

Befitting the name ‘Original Pancake House’ there are an enticing variety of pancake specialties ranging in price from $5.75 to $7.25: Buckwheat Pancakes are a favorite for the health conscious as are Wheat Germ Pancakes. Pancakes with a local touch; Banana or Macadamia Nut or Coconut Pancakes and Hawai’i’an Pancakes with bits of pineapple. Swedish Pancakes are served with lingonberry butter while Chocolate Chip Pancakes are topped with whipped cream.

For those in need of an International Fix there is French Toast ($5.95 to $7.25) and Belgium Waffles ($5.95 to $8.15) as well as an assortment of Crepes ($6.50 to $7.45) and again as a concession to local tastes one can find Guava as well as Mandarin Orange but I like to travel further afield settling for Danish Cherry, Yumm!

There are omelets aplenty ranging from $9.05 for Kalihi made Portuguese Sausage diced & mixed with green onions, other $9.05 choices include Asparagus, Broccoli, and Cheese (now you know your ABC s go back to sleep), I nearly forgot to mention a delightful Garden Special as well as Mushroom and a Potato Omelet. Nine & a quarter is the price for a delightful duo; Corned Beef is rather self explanatory, but R & D’s Favorite is described as “oven baked omelette filled with spinach, Italian herbs, and ground beef seasoned with garlic and onions, topped with our famous Spanish sauce. All Omelets are served with a choice of pancakes or rice or hash-browns or toast.

Located in the commercial heart of Honolulu The Original Pancake House serves sandwiches from 11AM To 2 PM for those who want Lunch. Ranging from $6.50 for Grilled Cheese to the $7.25 for several option including Pastrami on Rye and Tuna Royal, to $8.35 for a traditional Club House Sandwich, all available ala carte or served with soup or a salad and a dessert. One can also opt for local style plate either hamburger steak or Teriyaki Chicken or Beef for $7.95 plus rice, hot vegetables and dessert.

One can find a variety of beverages ranging from fruit juices to a variety of teas and naturally coffee as well as hot chocolate (great with those chocolate chip pancakes).

One cannot speak about The Original Pancake House without mentioning the décor, and no I am not being mean, just making an observation.  Stepping through the doors is a step back in time to the mid or even early 1960s. Think Ethan Allen meets Sears. Dark wood neo-Colonial chairs & tables, lots of red brick, wagon wheel chandeliers, even the uniforms on the quick efficient wait-staff harkens to an earlier era.

Honolulu’s Original Pancake House is located deep inside the building that sits on the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard & Pensacola Street, 1221 Kapiolani Blvd Suite 103, their phone # is 808-596-8213, no reservations needed though it is usually bustling, but the staff will usually find you a table, as stated they are open from 6 in the AM and close at 2 PM Daily.

http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/phm_egg2.html

Some of the simpler pleasures are the best.One of the most humble, unpretentious eateries serving delicious food for a modest price is Harbor Drive Inn at the entrance to Harbor Center in Aiea on the shores of historic Pearl Harbor (98-0025 Hekaha St #14, next door to Pearlridge Printers).

Harbor Drive Inn has the sort of plate lunches locals like, food that is consistently good & filling, and fuel for a hectic work day. Opening at 8 AM Monday through Sunday, they serve breakfast to 10:30 AM. Two large eggs with your choice of ham, or bacon, spam, link sausages or Portuguese (sausage), and your choice of rice, hash browns, or toast is a mere $4.25 — the same price as their ham, spam, or Portuguese omelets. The delicious shrimp omelet for $6.25 is delectable, as well as the variety of sandwiches ranging from grilled cheese for a $1.85 to $2.75 for variations of egg. There is also French Toast for $2.95 and several sides that ought to get your day off to a good start.

Lunch/Dinner items are available from 10:30 AM to 7 PM Monday to Saturday, but closes at 3 PM on Sundays. Over time the menu has expanded, offering an assortment of beef, chicken, pork, or seafood plates with mini plates in the $4.75 to $5.25 range, and regular plates ranging from $6.75 to $8.25.

Harbor Drive Inn has earned the loyalty of many stomachs with fare such as Mochiko Chicken, Garlic Chicken (my favorite), breaded Pork Chop (s), Fried Scallops, and Bar-B-Que Short Ribs and much more. The variety of combos provides a wonderful mixture on one plate.  The pile of garlic shrimp is guaranteed to keep vampires at a safe distance. Burgers and hot dogs are available for those on a budget, or merely in need of a modest repast. Side orders include chili fries, and naturally saimin — both plain and fancy.  The Teriyaki Steak Saimin is a favorite of many, as is their B-B-Q Chicken Saimin.

What the working class clearly enjoys in addition to the consistently good food is the daily special. Nearly everyone is able to scramble up a five spot and fifty cents, thus the daily special is a terrific deal. Monday is BBQ Chicken, Tuesday Teri Steak, Chicken Katsu on Wednesday, Hamburger Steak on Thursday, Friday it is Fried Shrimp, on Saturday a Chili Dog Plate, and on Sunday Lemon Chicken.

If you are planning an office party or a luau, then Harbor Drive Inn has a wide assortment of Party Platters ranging from $19.99 to $71.00, which include such favorites as Chicken Katsu, Garlic Chicken, Fried Mahi Mahi, and much more. They also offer Picnic and Family Packs as well as an uncooked Tailgate Pack for those eager to fire up their own grill.

So when you are in Aiea check out Harbor Drive Inn, or call them at #808-485-1940.

One of Honolulu’s neglected oft ignored treasures is the Fort Street Mall. Stretching from the waterfront at Ala Mona Boulevard to Beretania Street, it plays host to a variety of restaurants & shops ranging from nationally known Macy’s, which many locals remember as the site of Liberty House — itself an architectural gem — as well as Ross Dress for Less & Payless Shoe Store (where men can find size 14 & 16 dress & casual shoes!) to local favorites such as Local Fever and Fisher Hawai’i and many more.

However, if one needs an excuse to stop at the Fort Street Mall while changing buses, then that would be the Tiki Café at 82 S. Hotel Street. Andrew Lee, one of the owners of Tiki Café, greets you with an easy, ever-present smile when you step through the door of this tiny yet efficiently laid out café. An eclectic mix of tables and chairs decorate the walls in a soothing sky blue.  A pair of fish — each in their own tank — apparently get along well with customers but not with each other!

The downtown crowd raves about breakfast at the Tiki Café, especially their scones & muffins. Tiki offers a tempting array of scones — apricot, blueberry, chocolate chips, coconut butter, cranberry & raisins, guava jam, oatmeal raisin, peach slice, peanut butter, pineapple slice, pumpkin walnut, and strawberry jam — each a bargain at just $1.50. Muffins are similarly priced, and come in banana, blueberry or corn. Ask Andrew if they have Tiki’s special cream cheese blueberry scone, a terrific deal for $2; it is yumelicious!

Tiki has a variety of breakfast favorites including one you are not likely to find at any other café. A banana peanut butter sandwich for $3.25 is a great way to start the day. You can also grind on breakfast bagel or croissant sandwiches.  A healthy egg & cheese is $2.75, or rip your teeth into either bacon or ham with egg & cheese for $3.25. Breakfast burritos are a fave and a bargain for $3.25 — chock full of green pepper, hash browns, egg & cheese with your choice of bacon or ham or Portuguese sausage.

Every day there is a new lunch special or two, usually priced from $5.50 to $7.50. Daily there are a variety of sandwiches on white or wheat bread — either $4.25 or $5.00 depending upon the sandwich, but whatever you choose you will get a delicious side of lettuce, tomato, sprouts, and mayo plus chips.

But what truly sets Tiki ahead of the crowd are the salads. Fresh, crisp, tasty — a wondrous variety ranging from $3 to $5.50. On my most recent trip I ordered a whole Oriental Chicken Salad for $5.50, and it was awesome, a delicious mix of shredded chicken (perfectly cooked and then chilled), green lettuce, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, won ton strips (crisp & firm, not wimpy) served with a delicious homemade Oriental dressing aromatic of crushed peanuts.

Tiki Café resembles those Magical Boxes that seem so tiny and yet more & more wonders tumble from the box. The food is enough to rave about but they also offer beverages that are a equally delicious. Tiki has a variety of flavored iced teas for $2, and we are not merely talking about them popping a can they bought at neighboring Long’s Drugs. Not that I have anything against canned tea, but still what Tiki has to offer is much more or a treat. Not too sweet, nicely blended in a sealed cup, a variety of flavors, my favorite is peach as well as green apple, li-hing mui, peach, lychee, passion fruit, passion-orange, mango and more. Plus flavored milk tea such as honeydew, coconut, taro, and more, for only $2.50.

Then there are bubble drinks, that slightly silly but always tasty treat. Tiki has an incredible array of blended bubble slush flavors for $3.25; almond, lychee, peach, mango, strawberry, are but a few of the tempting tastes. As if that is not enough variety, Tiki also serves smoothies for $3.75

So trek on down to the Tiki Café, open Monday thru Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM.