Grace's Inn

Years ago, I used to visit Grace's quite often, now it's become one of my old stand-bys.  For me, it was one of those places that I knew served decent food, but never was compelled to go out of my way to visit.  Well, a couple of days ago, I found myself at Market City Shopping Center.  Not wanting to eat at either Gina's or Sumo Ramen, I decided to visit Grace's.

When I got there, it wasn't busy at all -- in fact, only one table in the place was occupied.  Right after I had placed my order and sat down at a table in front of the counter, the place started to fill up.

I ordered the mochiko chicken plate (US$6.25).

Each plate comes with two scoops rice, a bit of chow fun (which is hiding under all the chicken) and your choice of two salads -- tossed, macaroni, Asian cole slaw and kim chee (I think).

The mochiko chicken was deep-fried, extra-crispy and super crunchy.  The pieces were slightly larger than bite-sized and very flavorful. Despite being deep-fried, the chicken was still moist inside, and surprisingly, not greasy or oily.  The chow fun, on the other hand, was a bit dry and lacking in flavor.

Here's a picture of the salads I chose -- macaroni on the left and Asian cole slaw on the right.

The macaroni in this salad were still quite firm.  The salad was made by mixing the macaroni with mayonaisse and pickle relish for a slightly different taste.  The macaroni salad was good because there wasn't too much mayonaisse mixed into it.  I only wish that the macaroni had been cooked longer so that it would have a bit less "bite".

The Asian cole slaw, on the other hand, was very tasty.  It was bits of cabbage and carrots combined with a spicy vinegar-sesame dressing.  It was topped with a few strips of won ton pi and it was great.  The textures and flavor combination made this a winner.

Every now and then, when I'm in the area, I'll stop by Grace's.  It's not one of my favorite places, nor is it a place that I'd drive out of my way to visit.  But the food is decent and somewhat of a good value.

Grace's Inn
Market City Shopping Center
2919 Kapiolani Boulevard
Telephone:  (808)732-0041

Comments

[Moira]

Oooh, Reid- I cannot WAIT to read your review!

[KirkK]

Reid - Now I'm really homesick. Mixed plate chicken katsu sweet sour pork, and a long nap after!!! BTW, have you reviewed Sekiya's??

[MrsT]

I love the chicken.. :)

[MBS]

Lol. Grace's. Can't much more local than that. I feel the same way about Grace's, Reid...it's ok and a good stand-by when you don't want to go somewhere else...

Looks like you're hitting the restaurants in Market City. Convenient! =) Is the little hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant still there? It's located next to the Arcade. Have you ever tried it?

Sekiya's--if you're referring to Sekiya's on King St, they've been gone for a while, right? There's a new Japanese restaurant there. =(

[KirkK]

Are you thinking about Suehiro - I know they're long gone, sigh.....Suehiro, King's Bakery, and King Tsin were my stand-by's when I worked on Young St - all long gone. At least McCully Chop Suey, Bert's, and Ebisu's are still there, right?
Sekiya's is the Okazuya/Restaurant across from Kaimuki HS, next to the parking lot where Grace's is located.

[Moira]

I am jonesing so bad for some plate lunch now! I think I might just have to make some this summer, put on my Iz, and sit in the backyard and pretend.

[Clinton]

How long has Grace's been at that location? I know Sekiya's has been there ever since Noah built his ark. Sekiya's is on the Harding Avenue side across Kaimuki High but where is Grace's? There used to be a Drive In across Kapiolani (mauka) next to the river a long long time ago. That's where I'm picturing where it is???

Sekiya's is one of my local favorites next to Big City Diner and Kim Chee II in Kaimuki. My choice is the char siu fried saimin which I heard was their specialty. One great thing is that they stay open late in the evenings when you have that certain craving for an after dinner snack.

[KirkK]

Clinton - I'm believe you're thinking of Bea's drive in? This Grace's (the other one is on Beretania if it's still there - across my favorite watering hole 8 FatFat8), for a while - I left the Islands in '97 and it was there - it's down the hill on the back side (okole) of what used to be the old Foodland. Kim Chee II???!!! please stop this I'm dying..............

[Colette]

Clinton,

The Grace's at Market City is downstairs, on the Kaimuki High School side of Market City (kinda by Sekiya's). There's a laundromat, Ben Franklin, and Formaggio down there.

Reid,

Ho boy, you brought back some memories! I remember when Grace's used to be downstairs of what used to be Player's on Alakea. Mini chicken katsu w/ kim chee was my plate of choice, and a side of extra-crispy french fries. Mmmmm... I think I'll pop by the Beretania one tonight!

- Colette

[MBS]

KirkK:

Oops! You're right. My mistake. Suehiro is gone. Sekiya's is still around.

Talk of Gracie's, Suehiro, and Sekiya's reminds me of Sei's--which is now the Weinstein building--across from Kuhio school on S. King St. I used to go there all the time! Miss their fried saimin and peanut butter shakes.

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

I think I was writing it when you posted. As soon as I was done, I saw your comment. =(

Hi Kirk,

I haven't done Sekiya's yet. It's coming soon. I'm trying to do all the Kapahulu/Kaimuku posts at about the same time. I'll definitely have to do Kim Chee II for my friend Clinton first. He's been waiting long enough. I'm sure he's waiting for Sekiya's too.

Hi MrsT,

I love the chicken too. It's one of the only things that I'll eat here.

Hi MBS,

I think you're referring to Duk Lee (I think). I've been there a few times, but not lately. That one is on the list too. I think I'm going to do a "Coming Soon" list on my sidebar, and see how many of them I actually get to. I think the list has 50 entries or so right now. =(

BTW...Sekiya's is downstairs facing Kaimuki Intermediate and is very much alive and well. Perhaps you're thinking of Suehiro?

Hi Kirk,

Yes. I think that's what MBS was talking about. McCully Chop Suey, Bert's (!!!!!) and Ebisu are still around as far as I can remember. I'm going to be covering Bert's soon too...heh! That should really get the readers going huh? They'd be surprised at what a hole-in-the-wall that place is!

Hi Moira,

You don't have to pretend. You can always come back and visit us you know! =)

Hi Clinton,

Grace's has been there for quite sometime now. It's downstairs at Market City facing Kaimuki Intermdiate. The place across the street was Bea's, and I think it's now called Kay's. It was sold about 2 years ago.

BTW...don't worry, Sekiya's and Kim Chee II will be posted soon OK? Sorry for the delay!

Hi Kirk,

Definitely Bea's which is now Kay's, or something like that...I can't remember already. *sigh* Sign of getting old. The other Grace's is still next to Times, near 8 Fat Fat 8.

Hi Colette,

Thanks for dropping by!

That must have been a long time ago. I didn't know that Grace's was downstairs from Players (which is now gone, BTW) and I've been working in downtown for the last 9 years!

Hi MBS,

OK...you need to stop. I'm going to start showing my true age here pretty soon. LOL! hehe.

[Jo Rutherford]

oh man, peanut butter shakes? Sorry, the only place you guys are talking about that I know of is McCully Chop Suey. Still there, still great!

When I was a kid (about 19 or 20) I worked a stint at a place called "Rupp's Dairy King" in Bakersfield. I would make Banana/Peanut Butter shakes. ::sigh:: For some reason, I can't get 'em like that anymore.

[Colette]

Reid,

It wasn't _that_ long ago! Caveat: I used to go there with my folks when I was in Intermediate School. (Are you doing the math? ;) )

- Colette

[Reid]

Hi Jo,

Maybe you can make them at home! =P

Hi Colette,

Nah..I'm not adding up the years. =)

[Jo Rutherford]

I WISH! I can't replicate the ice cream for love nor money. The owner used a powder that we mixed with water. It made a soft serve that was slightly "icey". The flavor was also sort of off, but not in an unpleasant way. Hence, I can never duplicate the banana/peanut butter shakes just the way they were and just the way they were has been age glorified in my brain to the point of "why bother". ::sigh:: Not to worry though, I now eat peanut butter/banana sandwhichs. ::grin:: You'll have to ask Mike what happened when he (not knowing what it was) asked me for a bite on one occasion. It's a great story!

[Reid]

Hi Jo,

I can just imagine what Mike thought. =)

Maybe the restaurant used iced milk to make that shakes. I think it was quite a popular thing back in the day. Peanut butter and banana shake does sound good thought right? Maybe they just used powdered peanuts? Have you tried that? You'd probably just have to use some peanuts and run them through a coffee grinder until they were fine and powdered. What do you think?

[Jo Rutherford]

::laughing:: Yep, it was ice milk rather than ice cream. Real peanut butter though. I was in charge of the "ice cream side" of the restaurant. I LOVED my ice cream machine! I don't think the boss man realized how well I took care of that thing just because I did love it. Regardless, the ice cream mix wasn't worth a darn for anything BUT the milk shakes. Since employees were allowed to eat all the ice cream we wanted and since our salaries didn't cover "real food", I ate a LOT of that ice cream. The bananas covered the fruit/veggie food group and the peanut butter covered everything else! HA! Sometimes I wonder how I ever survived those years.

[RONW]

Chow Fun (rice noodles) is an expensive item to foundation, architectually speaking, a main entree.....especially under an entree that's part of a plate lunch. Also, have you ever visited the antecedent "Grace Lunchwagon" when it was a mobile landmark parked just across from the University campus during the lunch hours?

[Reid]

Hi Jo,

Well at least you got to eat it all for free. =) Oh don't we all just yearn to be young again!

Hi RONW,

Long time no hear! No I've never visited the Grace's wagon when it was near UH. I think that may have been before my time. LOL!

[Hoprjo andtony]

Hi; we ate at grace's many many years ago but we can still remember the wonderful taste! we had a "little" bit of everything. chicken katsu, stew, beef somthing,all kinds of vegetables and super fruit,.and dessart

[Melody]

It's been 11 years since I've had any chicken katsu and none compares. It is still branded in my mind from the time I was a little kid. My brother and I tagged along with my dad to go shopping, and we'd jaunt on over and get lunch. This was an almost weekly religion for us.
Talking about those times is so bittersweet for us.
We all have yet to come back to the Islands, but I guarantee when the time comes and I can bring my husband with me, he will experience this taste of MY home the moment we get there. (And I'll brag to my family... LOL!)
Thanks for staying true.