Ethel's Grill
Hawaii is full of proverbial "hole-in-the-wall" places and Ethel's Grill is one of them. Ethel's has been doing business in the same spot for over 25 years. Located in a mostly industrial section of Kalihi, you'd probably miss it if you didn't know where to look.
When I arrive, I was lucky to find a table available. In fact, I timed my arrival for approximately 20 minutes ahead of the 2:00 pm closing. Why? If I had come earlier, I probably wouldn't have gotten a table without a wait. Ethel's is small and cramped and often jam-packed with people!
Hanging near the register, you'll find the sheets of paper that make up the handwritten menu as well as the paper signs that announce the daily specials.
Today, I have the mahi mahi (dorado/dolphinfish, US$6.00).
A huge piece of egg-dipped mahi mahi is fried and served with 2 scoops of white rice, a wedge of lemon and some tartar sauce. The fish is fresh and is fried with just the right amount of seasoning (not too salty) and just the right amount of egg.
The lunch is served with a bowl of miso soup.
It also comes with a bowl of tossed greens served with Ethel's homemade parsley dijon dressing. The dressing is creamy, tangy, spicy and full of herbs. An excellent original!
And a plate of tataki sashimi. Tataki sashimi is raw fish that is cooked on the outside and still raw on the inside (seared). This one's just slightly seared and served on a bed of radish sprouts and bean sprouts. A healthy serving a Ethel's "secret" tataki sauce, is then poured on top. The sauce seems to be a blend of shoyu (soy sauce) and sesame oil, and is full of sliced garlic. A perfect marriage of tastes and flavors.
Oh, and did I also mention that you get a drink (iced tea or fruit punch) too? Where else do you think you can get such great value? The food is fresh and cooked to order...and the portions...well, they're downright huge. That's what keeps me, and apparently many others, coming back for more.
Ethel's Grill
232 Kalihi Street
Telephone: 808.847.6467
ooh... cute dog! I like him (urm.. or her ; ))
Posted by: Renee | June 28, 2004 at 07:20 AM
Renee,
The dog was guarding a table of antiques or so it was called (raku pottery and the like). By the way, the dog was also for sale... =)
Posted by: Reid | June 29, 2004 at 12:33 AM
I know this comment is almost 2 years late, but the mahi plate is still $6.00 but doesn't come with the tataki anymore, if it did previously.
Posted by: John | June 16, 2006 at 12:21 AM
Hi John,
Better late than never right? When were you last there? The last time I was there, I was served tataki. Hmmm...I'll have to check. Maybe next weekend!
Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Reid | June 22, 2006 at 01:07 AM
Hi Reid,
I was just there the other day.. again :). On my second visit, I brought my digital camera to take some pics and the lady presented the tataki gratis. Maybe that's the trick to get it? :)
Posted by: John L. | July 08, 2006 at 04:42 AM