foodie tuesday

Yesterday for lunch, I met up with Deb of Kahakai Kitchen. Since I was craving Mexican food, I asked her to meet me at Zaratez (which is also called Tacos Zarate).

When I was on Twitter, I used to follow the owner, when he had a food truck, but never got around to trying his food then.

Fast forward, he opened a shop on King Street about a year or so ago.

This shop has two counters to sit at and eat, but most customers buy "to-go".

Deb and I shared the #8 Güero burrito (your choice of meat (I chose chicken), guacamole, onion, beans, rice, cilantro) and their two tacos (Deb chose pork) this comes with beans and rice.

We also had Mexican sodas (I had lime while Deb had pineapple).

The salsas, red or green, are hot, hot, hot! Red is chipotle & árbol and Green is serrano & jalapeno...we decided they need a "mild" for wimps like us...*cough*

I really liked the freshly fried chips too.

The food was good, nicely seasoned.

After lunch, since Deb has some time, she took me to Lucy's Lab Creamery.

Their flavors are different from "the usual" ice cream shops...I tried Buttery Popcorn and Fruit Loop Vodka.

The buttery popcorn was just like eating popcorn, as Deb said, "without getting kernels stuck in your teeth". The addition of arare or kakimochi as we call it in Hawaii, made it more of a local favorite combo.

The Fruit Loop Vodka, I'm glad wasn't boozy. I liked the fruit loop topping too.

The Ward area has changed drastically over the past year or so. Many new high-rises as well as new shopping areas.

I'm glad Deb showed me around and took the time out to meet up. It was fun catching up with her and she also gave me a ton of snacks (the new Lays flavors, Trader Joe's speculoos chocolate, Trader Joe's freeze-dried strawberries & Lindt bar) and some things to read (books and a magazine).

Dinner was with friend, D.

We met at Big City Diner and both had sandwiches.

I had their Paniolo Burger...a burger topped with cheese, bacon, their guava BBQ sauce and lots of fried onion rings...so good!

D had their Patty Melt.

It was great catching up with D as well and he was nice to share some mangoes that he had.

Major foodie day, but also lots of talking and lots of laughter...thanks Deb and D!

Tacos Zarate (UPDATE: 8/2016, moved to Kahala)
1273 S. King Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Phone: 808.348.0715
Closed Sundays
Hours: 11:00-16:00 (Mondays & Saturdays), 11:00-20:00 (Tuesdays-Fridays)

Lucy's Lab Creamery (MOVED to South Shore Market (Ward Centre))
435 Kamakee Street
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hours: Mondays-Thursdays 11:30-21:30, Fridays 11:30-22:30, Saturdays 10:30-22:30, Sundays 10:30-21:30

Big City Diner
Pearlridge
Aiea, Hawaii
Phone: 808.487.8188
Hours: 7:00-22:00 (Mondays-Thursdays & Sundays), 7:00-24:00 (Fridays & Saturdays)