FUUD: Kaimuki Grill in Kaimuki
By Cat
Sometimes you just want to kick back with ESPN, fried rice and shoyu fried rice.
So instead of going to your friend's house — OK, garage — you can head to the newly open Kaimuki Grill, across from Victoria Inn on 12th Avenue.
Kaimuki Grill opened about a month ago and started serving lunch just last week.
Inside the sports bar, which seats several dozen.
One of my friends — who's been there twice already — described it as an upscale Side Street Inn.
The owners used to run University Flowers for 11 years before selling the flower shop and trying their hand at the restaurant business. The menu features such pupu classics as pork chops ($12.50) simmered with fried onions, spicy soybean saute ($5), teriyaki shortribs ($13) and fried saimin ($5.50).
Here's what we ate:
The fried rice ($8.50) is big enough to serve a family of four.
This dish has peas and — get this — lup cheong!
My favorite — shoyu-style hot dogs ($4).
These slices of kosher dogs are sauteed in teriyaki sauce and grilled with onions. So good I had to take some home for dinner!
The restaurant serves two popular styles of chicken: fried (shown here, $7.75) and garlic ($8.75).
This chicken was nicely fried — look at that golden skin! — and not too salty. My friend pretty much ate the entire basket himself; I could've used a dipping sauce, though.
One of the most popular dishes at Kaimuki Grill is the original garlic steak ($10), with garlic chips and a special dipping sauce.
You're supposed to dip each tender strip into the sauce and eat it with the garlic chips. Really good. I mean, it was unexpectedly good.
Kaimuki Grill now sells lunch bentos with garlic chicken, fried chicken, garden salads, pork chops and shoyu-style dogs starting at $2.50.
Check it out — but don't dress up. You won't be disappointed.
Kaimuki Grill, 12th Avenue across from Victoria Inn. Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 2-9:30 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Phone: 732-2292.
The Daily Dish
May 29th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Wow, it's right up the street from me. Looks good, I think I'll give it a try. My daughter loves fried rice.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Cat, food looks good. I'll have to try it. How is the TV situation there for watching sports?
May 29th, 2009 at 7:37 am
My mouth is watering. I sooo want the garlic steak. Ha, with a side of onion teri dogs. Yep, am a carnivorousvore. Ayy, it all looks soo good. Thanks Cat.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:42 am
I will definitely have to check this place out! I live just a few minutes away, and had no idea that it was there! It's where Momotaro Sushi was, right? Looks delicious!
May 29th, 2009 at 8:11 am
New York = work/career....Honolulu = ono grinds (plus other good kine stuff)...
work...grinds...work...grinds...hhhmmmmmm
I really wish I could fly home to Hawai'i every weekend, just to eat (and sponge). Catherine, you are KILLIN' me with the awesome fuud pics. Again, I almost wen lick da monitor haha
May 29th, 2009 at 8:17 am
On my list. Garlic Steak looks like a winner and I'm a damned fool for different kinds of fried rice. Wonder if they have crab fried rice?
May 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Cat,
Thanks for doing a blog on this place. I've been there at least 5 times (dine-in and take-out) and food has always been very good. Reasonable prices, friendly staff, nice atmosphere, and plenty of parking. My only complaint is that they aren't open late on the weekends. There aren't many nice places open late in East Honolulu. Thanks to your blog, I hope more people will try it and they can extend their hours.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Sheesh, I forget my granola bars (again) and now Cat tortures us with these food pics. It's not my territory, but I gotta hit Kaimuki more often.
Favorite meal: take olive oil, add a little garlic, throw in a bunch of onions, little sugar - not too much - shoyu, and some sliced up Redondo Hawaiian wiener dogs. Saute till small kine crunchy on outside.
Get a big bag of poi, a six pack of green bottles and then go straight to heaven.
And I agree w/Turk. That garlic steak looks killa. Wonder if those garlic chips are the same ones Wholesale Unlimited sells?
May 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am
@jknakas1: Yep, that's the one. I couldn't think of the name of the sushi place that Kaimuki Grill now occupies. So thanks for the brain nudge!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Shoyu Hot Dogs!!! One of my favorites; so simple to make but yet I never do. Thanks for the pics, I will have to give them a try.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Another great place in my neighborhood!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am
huu......fuud looks ono! that fried rice and steak is killin me man!
jknakas1 & Cat - iirc.....even before Momotaro Sushi......this space was occupied by a bar. i think After Five was the name.
i tend to remember bars. heh
May 29th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Hello Cat!
I didn't even know about this place, thanks for the review! I might go tonight.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I was constantly lamenting the closure of Momotarou (spelling?) but I'm over that now. I like the recent food trend: "Side Street Inn" Cuisine.
Note to the little Japanese waitress at the Victoria Inn accross the parking lot: No worry, I still goin' visit you once in awhile.
Anyone else here miss the broiled unagi at Momotarou? I couldn't believe how they served the whole fish (sans head) for such a low price.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:20 am
opso, another place to meet with the triad or just us. Yeah, just us. Thanks Cat.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am
The Dr. was early,the food was late.At least its Friday. i'd go there for a game.Seems laid back enough ,one could actually hear and see unobstructed. Those weiners would be my choice as well. An order for each quarter.Thanks for the tip. A much more useful tip than-"dont eat yellow snow." great pix.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I wish there were places like this near where I live (Salt Lake)
May 29th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
mmm... that's food that's right up my alley! looks like a good place to go with my family... we're always looking for good places to eat! thanks, cat!
May 29th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
They serve blondes there, dont they?
May 29th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Ive been to this place many times now and wow the food is delicious and price is reasonable. I cant wait to go back again.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Great place to eat dinner and have a few drinks! TVs all around, you can watch 3 games all one time. Garlic steak is the best and price can't be beat. No forget the karaoke that starting soon, I will surely be back for more.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
OMG...the food looks delicious. I have to try it soon. Do you know what is in the bentos and how much it costs?
May 31st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
alright got to try this place something new
June 1st, 2009 at 8:10 am
Went there on Friday...the food was so good!!!!! Had the fried rice, garlic steak, short ribs, fried noodles...Can't wait to go there again. Already told a co-worker about it. She's going tonight!!!! Thanks Cat.