I’ve driven past Asia Manoa for years but never ate there.

For whatever reason — and it’s probably because of its name and location — I always thought it was a trendy noodle shop. Maybe serving pho and ramen and the local favorite oxtail soup.

I didn’t think it was a typical Chinese restaurant!

So when the Old Guys wanted to eat there — it turned into our annual Christmas dinner — I was curious to see what the food was like. After asking around, some friends said this was their favorite Chinese restaurant. (It helps that there’s parking.) They loved the stuffed eggplant, the salt-and-pepper pork chops and the honey walnut shrimp (shown above).

So I recharged my camera battery and brought my appetite to Manoa. Here’s what dinner was like:

Mongolian beef

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We ordered a lot of dishes, starting with the house speciality Mongolian-style beef ($8) that was so good, I didn't want to share the plate.

Asia Manoa, 2801 E. Manoa Rd. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Phone: (808) 988-2828

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#TodaysGift

Dog Kimono from Inu Inu Hawaii

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Days left: 3

Dog kimono or yukata from Inu Inu Hawaii (www.inuinuhawaii.com)

Price: $30 online or at pet boutiques such as Calvin & Susie in Kilohana Square

The gist: Bored of the usual dog outfits? Or your pooch is quite the fashion diva? Get a kimono (or yukata) from Honolulu-based Inu Inu Hawaii, which specializes in unique Asian-inspired apparel for dogs. They come in all sizes — in fact, you can custom order ones for larger breeds — and patterns. Imagine your Rottweiler in one of these!

Best for: Dog owners, of course!