reconnect

got to reconnect with Audrey & Michael on this trip

We’ve kept in touch but it had been 19 years! since we last met up

So glad we were able to see each other again.

also reconnected with the International Marketplace.

The last time we visited this shopping area was when it first was renovated 9 years ago!

was kind of bummed that Target is a part of it though...

It was 9 years since the Ka Makana Ali'i shopping mall opened and was also the last time I had been here...

Family friend D & Aunty took me to Koa Pancake House there, the fried rice with egg and portuguese sausage was so delicious

And it was nice catching up with them

Afterwards we ran some errands at City Mill

was cool to see different Hawaiian plants in their garden area

And Uncle gave me a koa iPad stand that he made and D gave me an ornament...

It was so nice to reconnect this trip

Thanks for today!

lady elaine

Met up with friend Mineko at Manoa Marketplace to try Lady Elaine

Apparently this restaurant is inspired by Mister Roger's neighborhood, so some of the foods and drinks have names from the show

So happy I was able to see this street art too.

We shared this Romaine Salad : anchovy vinaigrette, parmigiano and herbed breadcrumbs

I tried their Prince Friday : lilikoi, basil-honey, lemon, soda...super refreshing

Their food has Mediterranean flavors 

I tried their turmeric chicken wrap : lemon vinaigrette, olives, garlic aioli

super flavorful and the pita/wrap was so soft!

the shawarma fries were super flavorful & delicious too! 

Mineko had their 1-4-3 burger : this had a harrissa tomato jam, parsley yogurt and shawarma fries

It was nice catching up with Mineko

Thanks for today Mineko and thank you for the omiyage!

Lady Elaine

2756 Woodlawn Drive

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:00-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

et al

Met up with friend Leonard 

Since we didn't know where to eat at, Leonard suggested we go to Et Al, Foodland's restaurant

Leonard had their burger : Honolulu Meat Co. beef patty, La Tour sesame bun, fontina, Maui onion bacon jam, gochujang aioli, fries 

He enjoyed this but wished they hadn't over cooked this

I had their Greens & Grains Bowl : MA'O sassy mix, forbidden rice, crispy fried egg, roasted Lualualei veg, carrot-ginger purée 

This was delicious but the forbidden rice was a little hard in spots

It was nice catching up with Leonard 

Thanks for today Leonard!

Et Al

Kahala Mkt

Honolulu, Hawaii

Open daily: 7:30-22:00

the local general store

Had an errand in Downtown and wasn't going to meet up with a friend until later in the day, so after my errand I got back on the bus and then got off in Kaimuki

Wanted to see this street art

And checked out The Local General Store to have a little something until I met up with my friend

I tried their everything twist: creamed leeks, herbs & cheddar schmear topped with everything seasoning (their menu says it is a “croissant - style with a bagel soul”) and their housemade mango ice tea (mostly mango puree!) love!

I'm glad they have seats inside, it was so blazing!

will definitely check them out again whenever I am nearby

The Local General Store

3458 Waialae Avenue

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Hours: Bakery: 8:00-17:00, Butcher: 9:00-17:00

le’s banh mi & ry’s poke

Before meeting up with Jenny and Chan, Jenny asked me what was on my “to try” list

So we tried Le’s Saigon Special and Ry’s Poke

The Saigon Special is delicious. (Pickled daikon and carrot, pate, mayo, steamed pork roll, charsiu, headcheese, cucumber, jalapeno and cilantro) 

this also had super crispy pork rinds inside but were a little too hard for my teeth! ha!

Ry’s poke.

Their main shop is on the North Shore and they have some shops in California.

If I'm not mistaken, they just opened this one in Honolulu.

We tried all their Honolulu exclusive pokes & their Tsunami Nachos

(tsunami style poke, crab salad, cucumber namasu, furikake, tobiko, drizzled with unagi sauce, chili mayo, with housemade wonton chips fried in beef tallow)

The chips are super crispy!

The pokes are unique delicious combinations of flavors

(top) tropic thunda (yuzu kosho, mayo, citrusc, onion, green onion, pear, chili crisp, fried shallots), (top right)shiso chimichurri (shiso, garlic, gochugaru, ogo, green onion, onion), (bottom right) shoyu (ry’s signature blend shoyu, onion, green onion, toasted sesame oil), (bottom left) foodxjitsu (ginger, green onion, cilantro, onion, garlic, shoyu blend, chili flake, ikura)

Everything was so ono!

They also bought all sorts of pastries from Paris Baguette, but I was too full

Thanks Chan for letting us eat at your condo’s terrace area.

so much omiyage AND Jenny was so nice to drive me back to Pearl City!

Thanks for today Jenny & Chan! always nice catching up with you two.

Le's Banh Mi

808 Sheridan Street

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Mondays

Hours: 7:00-16:00

Ry's Poke Shack

1232 Waimanu Street

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:30-17:00

13 years

so many things have happened in those 13 years

good things, bad things

missing you especially today, Mom

Love you.

da burger wing hub

Went to Da Burger Wing Hub with V in Wahiawa

They are in the same strip mall as Shige’s so parking can be challenging 

We were lucky to get a stall

Their onion rings seem popular because everyone was ordering them

The coating is super crispy

V had their Juicy Lucy : 8 ounce wagyu, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, homemade jalapeno cheese sauce, avocado, chili aioli

And I tried their BBQ burger : 8 ounce wagyu, BBQ pork (pulled pork), peppered bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onions (huge onion ring!) BBQ sauce, pepper jack cheese

Huge burgers! cooked to order

I’m glad we got to try them. V said she wants to try other sandwiches too!

Thanks for today V! was nice spending some time with you 

And thank you for sharing your sister’s avocado, so ono

Da Burger Wing Hub

93 N Kam Highway

Wahiawa, Honolulu

Hours: 10:00-20:00 Mondays-Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 10:00-21:00, Saturdays 9:00-21:00, Sundays 9:00-19:00