He'eia Pier

I’d read such great things about Heeia Pier and General Store on Non-stop Honolulu as well as on the Ono Kine Grindz food blog, so I had very high expectations for this place. It had been advertised as a high-end, gourmet plate lunch. Oh, and I’d also tried Mark Noguchi’s cooking at Paepae o He'eia’s 10th anniversary fundraiser (the Heeia fishpond), so I know the guy can cook. I was looking forward to a lot of local produce and proteins, local fish, Kuahiwi beef, etc. I was on the windward side for a community meeting on a Saturday morning, and figured since I was already there, I might as well drive over to He'eia.

It’s a great location -- at the end of the Heeia pier. It was actually buzzing with activity - fishing boats (?) and a lot of tour groups going snorkeling / scuba diving / sailing / etc. I had no idea how busy it is over there! So it makes perfect sense to have a casual lunch spot - capturing all of the tourists.

But I must’ve picked an off day, because the menu (other than the burger plate) was very average and not advertised as anything local. I ended up going with a teri beef plate and the fried rice plate (both to take home to share with my parents.) We all agreed that the best thing about the plates was the salad dressing (sesame) on the green salad was the highlight of the meal. Will have to go back again and look for some of the o’io, ahi or aku on the menu...I've seen such unique looking items on other blogs that I'll have to give it another try.

Driving out to the pier...gorge!

Walking up to the "shack"

 Outside ordering

Teri beef plate with local greens

 Fried rice plate

  Update: 4/23/2012

 

Latest lunch here (some new dishes! although it's still hit or miss what is on the menu when you go)

 

Fried ono sandwich

Pork belly katsu with honey mustard & bbq sauce

Hamburger steak with ulu - kalo mac salad

Grilled chicken with ulu - kalo mac salad

hello kaneohe bay

 

 

 

46-499 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaneohe, HI 96744

(808) 235-2192

www.heeiapier.com/

Sweet Home Waimanalo

I don't really know how to describe Sweet Home Waimanalo. It's a tiny cafe on the side of Kalanianiole Highway as you're driving through Waimanalo. The first time I heard about them, I heard about fish tacos. Then, the second time I heard about them, I heard they had a "roof garden" -- a garden growing on top of their roof. Now that I've eaten there, whenever someone asks me where I've been eating recently, I tell them:

Go to Sweet Home Waimanalo. Tomorrow. And get the beef stew with a side of cornbread.

From the outside:

Cute picnic tables!

Fish tacos with bok choy slaw...ok but would not order again.

 Now THIS is why you go there. Brisket beef stew with kalo (instead of potatoes) and "hapa" rice (mix of white and brown). It was small. I was still hungry. Which is why you get a side order of cornbread.

Brisket plate with cornbread, purple sweet potato salad, and nalo greens. I tried this the 2nd time I went, because I loved the brisket in the beef stew so much. I'd stick with the beef stew, but the cornbread with life changing (if you like a very sweet and buttery cornbread).

41-1025 Kalanianaole Hwy
Waimanalo, HI 96795

(808) 259-5737

www.sweethomewaimanalo.com 

Yelp

Eat the Street

Boo...I missed last Friday's "Eat the Street" which was their 1st birthday lu'au, featuring all kine ono Hawaiian inspired dishes.

From their website:

From Braddahs Wagons “Trio Poke Bowl , and Pipikaula Carpaccio”, to Cooking Fresh 4 you and their “Kalua Pork Enchilada”, there is guaranteed to be something to take your taste buds on journey across the islands.

 But here are some pics from recent Eat the Street and Nonstop Kaka'ako events.

 Deep fried musubi? Sign me up...it kills me to drive past this truck every morning on Ward. I love their slogan: "Everything tastes better fried!"

 Here's the menu; musubi run $4 to $6

 

 And here it is. This was the special at Nonstop Kaka'ako: 2 fried wings, half a fried musubi topped with spicy poke. $9.

 Next to them was "Local Stop" 

You might've heard about their FAMOUS "Kamehameha Burger"...a malasada "bun", a beef patty, a slice of cheese....and get this, kalua pig on top. It sounds less than delicious, but actually works. They also use a stiffer dough for the malasada (they had to experiment a bit) to get a malasada that can stand up and hold all that filling.

Local Stop from the outside

Recycling friendly

Packed crowds at Eat the Street

Baja Style Tacos

All Kine ice cream truck...I was too full last time to try this but am dying to try one of their ice cream sandwiches on a waffle with a mac nut topping.

 

Ooh, and I also want to try "Street Frites" which according to Nonstop Honolulu, "come with a creamy lomi dip and crunchy, deep-fried porky kalua" (pic from Nonstop)

Update: I went to the "chocolate festival" themed Eat the Street on 2/25 at the new location on Ala Moana between Auahi and Ward Ave.

On my list to try were Street Frites: a cone of freshly made french fries, with your choice of 2 gourmet dipping sauces ($5).

 Here's the sauces to choose from: i went with bacon jam and a spicy pineapple guava jam, but was also tempted by the kimchee aioli, the vanilla milkshake, and the shoyu sugar cream sauce.

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 Then I was psyched to see The Falafel King Truck here today. I'd heard about them when they were at the International Marketplace, but never made it to Waikiki to try it. I also heard that they launched a truck that is primarily parked on King before University, but it was never there when I drove past. I was reminded that I had to try it when I read Biting Commentary's vegan food reviews. Finally I got to try it today.

 There was a short line, but totally worth waiting for. Below is my falafel pita: the softest pita you've ever had, filled with falafel, cabbage, tahini sauce (and the squirt of yummy chili sauce that I added.) They really should stick a few french fries in there too - I would be back every week. They make some incredible pita chips as well that they serve with their hummus plate - next on my list to try there :)