'Ono Kine Grindz

Lox of Bagels

Lox of Bagels is in a mostly industrial area right off of Nimitz Highway.  I normally stop by here on Saturday mornings on my way to the office and grab myself a bag of bagel puffs (rounds of cinnamon raisin bagel dough filled with cream cheese) to go.  The bagels here are fresh and they are pretty good and so are the sandwiches.

(I still miss H & H Bagels.  I used to visit the shop on 80th and Broadway every week when I worked right up the street.)

Ham, egg and cheese on a whole wheat bagel (US$3.95).

Turkey on an everything bagel (US$5.25).

Lox of Bagels
111 Sand Island Access Road
Telephone: 808.845.2855

Kuru Kuru Sushi

I first discovered Kuru Kuru Sushi a couple of years back and was I glad to have found this place.  A worthy competitor to Genki Sushi, this conveyor belt sushi restaurant serves decent food at affordable prices.  The prices have increased a bit over the last year (the spicy tuna donburi increased from $5.00 to $7.50), but for the price, this place really can't be beat.  Try to stop by on a weekend evening, and you'll see just how popular this place is.

Ahi poke

Masago

Kalbi

Ingen

Spicy unagi

Coffee jello

Kuru Kuru Sushi
Pearl Kai Shopping Center
98-199 Kamehameha Highway
Telephone: 808.484.4596

Downtown @ the HiSAM

I have been here about 5 times over the last two or three months and I must say that I have not been disappointed.  For the most part, I usually get takeout from the ASAP! counter upfront, but eating in the dining area on a Saturday afternoon was a pleasant experience as well.  I wish they would allow dining outside so I could work on my tan at the same time.

The spacious dining area.

The ASAP! takeout counter.

Warm Medeiros chicken salad, potato, apple, pancetta, pecans, winter greens (US$12.50)

Seared ahi club sandwich with avocado, bacon & wasabi, Mao organic lettuces (US$10.50)

Churros y chocolate (US$6.00)

Olive oil cake with roasted fruit (US$6.00)

Downtown @ the HiSAM
250 South Hotel Street
Telephone: 808.586.0900

Yauatcha - London, UK

I am going to be writing about my visit to Yauatcha shortly, I just need a little more time to collect all my thoughts.  In total, I spent about £30 here (US$60 +) and I was sadly disappointed, not necessarily by the food, but by the overall experience.

Yauatcha
15 Broadwick Street
London, UK
Telephone: 0870.780.8265

Thank You Chef Kinch...

The kitchen at Manresa Restaurant, Los Gatos, CA.

...we had a wonderful time.  Your hard work in the kitchen, and the commitment to excellence by your staff, makes me wish I could visit more often.

Wagamama - London, UK

A lot of people recommended Wagamama so I was particularly interested in trying the food here.  I visited the location in Bloomsbury which was right around the corner from the British Museum.  Little did I know that this was the original location and that it opened in 1992.  The shop did brisk business and for some reason or another, I left the restaurant feeling a bit disappointed.  The food did not live up to the hype.

Duck gyoza (£4.95)

Tori kara age (£4.20)

Chicken tama rice (£6.95)

Wagamama ramen (£7.40)

Wagamama
4 Streatham Street (this visit)
various locations throughout London
London, UK
Telephone: 207.323.9223

Mochi Creams available now!

I am a little late in posting this, but mochi creams are available now at Shirokiya Ala Moana just opposite Saint Germain Bakery.  Twenty or so different flavors are available including black sesame, green soybean  and sweet potato.  I have tried many of the flavors already and the soft, chewy mochi have a silky mouthfeel because of the lightness of the cream filling.

Mochi creams were named as one of Food and Wine magazine's 100 tastes to try in '08.  So try some soon.  They are a bit pricey (US$1.65 each or a half dozen for US$9.00), but worth every penny. 

Tayyabs - London, UK

This was one of the more anticipated stops on my trip to London and I was not disappointed.  The food here was spicy and bursting with the complex flavors that one would expect from traditional Pakistani cuisine.  I wanted to go back once more before leaving London, but could not fit it into my itinerary. 

Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate Street
London, UK
Telephone: 020.7247.6400

Canteen - London, UK

After taking a walk around the shops at Spitalfields, it was time for lunch.  Even at shortly after noon, Canteen was already doing roaring business.

Beef, mushroom & stout pie with mash, greens & gravy (£9.50)

Duck, roast potatoes, greens, brocolli and apple sauce (£13.00).

Black currant jelly with ice cream and shortbread (£5.00).

Canteen
Spitalfields
2 Crispin Place
London, UK
Telephone: 0845.686.1122

The Golden Hind - London, UK

When I first started planning my trip to London, I thought about where I would go to satisfy my craving for "authentic" fish and chips.  Instead of searching the internet for recommendations, I decided to wait until I was in London to see what I could find.

The Golden Hind was recommended by someone I stopped on the street.  They proclaimed this the best in London and boy were they right.  The crunchy, golden brown fish was moist and expertly seasoned.  Drizzled with a little malt vinegar and a smear of tartar sauce, I could not have asked for anything better.  The crispy chips (fries) and a side of mushy peas rounded out the meal.  This was one of the most memorable dinners of the trip.

The Golden Hind
73 Marylebone Lane
London, UK
Telephone: 020.7486.3644