I ♥ Country Café
Today's lunch was courtesy of a long time favorite, I ♥ Country Café.
Frequented by body builders, beach goers and everyone in between, this place was probably one of the first in Hawaii that concentrated on making healthy, home-style food. Many of the dishes served are low in salt, and when possible, little or no oil is used in the cooking. I've been coming here for many years and nothing about this place has really changed.
While lacking decor or ambiance might detract from a restaurant's appeal, I ♥ Country Café more than makes up for it with a huge expanse of a dining area. You'd be hard pressed to come here and find no tables available to sit down at...except of course during the lunch/dinner rush!
I ordered one of the house specials: the demi (half) furikake chicken breast plate lunch (US$6.50).
On a bed of brown rice, and Asian stir-fried veggies (shiitake mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, bean sprouts and carrots), sits a piece of boneless chicken breast that has first been coated with a seasoned egg batter, rolled in nori goma furikake (seaweed and sesame seed sprinkle) and then fried until golden brown. It's then topped with sauce that's both sweet and spicy. This has got to be one of my favorites!
I can go on and on about all of the great food served here, including the salads, wraps/sandwiches, plate lunches and vegetarian dishes. But the food more than speaks for itself. I guess that's what's kept me coming back for all these years!
I ♥ Country Café
451 Piikoi Street
Telephone: 808.596.8108
Wow! That demi furikake chicken sure looks delicious. I continue to be impressed by the variety of food to be had over there (read - I\'m getting sick of Korean food). :o)
Posted by: FatMan Seoul | July 12, 2004 at 06:11 PM
FatMan,
It's quite delicious, although, if they put too much sauce on it, it can taste a bit salty. You can make this very easily at home (I've done it before). First, season your chicken as normal (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.). Next, dip it in egg, then roll the chicken in furikaki that has been mixed with panko flakes. Fry and eat! =)
We actually have a lot of new places opening up all the time. In fact, I just read about a Brazilian restaurant that opened close to home so I'll be going there soon. I was in Brazil for 3 months back in '92 and loved the food!
Posted by: Reid | July 12, 2004 at 08:43 PM
My only Brazilian food experience is that of \"churrasco\", Brazilian barbeque on giant metal skewers. Not in Brazil though.
I hear that the Pampas-reared beef in that region is out of this world. Looking forward to your post on the new Brazilian place.
Posted by: FatMan Seoul | July 13, 2004 at 03:56 AM
Just FYI:
I [Love] Country Cafe *discontinued* their furukake Chicken! Today, I ordered their demi furukake Mahi--ono!
Posted by: MBS | December 18, 2004 at 07:11 PM
Hi MBS,
I kinda heard something like that. They also discontinued the furikake tofu, which I really liked as well. The furikake mahi is great as well.
Hope you're enjoying your trip here.
Posted by: Reid | December 18, 2004 at 11:23 PM
What are panko flakes?
Thank you. Peggy
Posted by: WannaBeHawaiian | May 09, 2006 at 04:34 PM
Panko is Japanese bread crumbs made from wheat.
Posted by: Clinton | May 09, 2006 at 06:28 PM
Hi WannaBeHawaiian,
Welcome to the blog.
Panko flakes are Japanese-style breadcrumbs. I find them extremely crisp and crunchy when well fried.
Hi Clinton,
Thanks for responding to that! =P It took me a while to get to.
Posted by: Reid | May 22, 2006 at 01:15 AM