Just about every time I have breakfast with the Old Guys, the conversation gravitates toward food.
And specifically, the food they miss eating because their favorite restaurants have all closed down.
They reminisce a lot about Chunky’s Drive-In on King and Isenberg streets, Burgerland on Kapahulu and Jolly Roger on Dillingham. They talk longingly about teri fried chicken and hamburgers with some kind of “special sauce.”
Even my mom waxes nostalgic about her favorite eateries that aren’t around anymore, namely the Kanda lunch wagon at Kewalo Basin, KC Drive Inn, Krung Thai in downtown, Dutch Girl Bakery in Liliha, Chinese Kitchen in Nuuanu, Restaurant Suzuku in Kaimuki, Wisteria and Woolworth’s. (It had the best roast beef and turkey sandwiches, she said.)
The list of now-closed restaurants in Hawaii is long — and, sadly, growing. King’s Bakery, Columbia Inn, Elliot’s Chuckwagon, Masu’s Massive Plate Lunch, 9th Avenue Bakery, Pearl City Tavern, Kenny’s Burger House — these are just a few places that many of us miss.
But more than miss the restaurant, most of us miss the actual food.
I miss the big, fluffy glazed donuts from Kimuraya Bakery, the French onion soup from The Bistro at Century Center, the bulgogi and noodles from Korean Hibiscus BBQ in Aina Haina, and just about everything at the Swiss Inn in Niu Valley.
It’s sad — no, devastating — to me to think that I’ll never have these dishes again. Ever. It’s so depressing!
Got a restaurant you miss? And what dish do you miss the most? Let’s all share in the misery!
30 Comments
kc drive inn’s chocolate ono ono shake w/peanut butter
Krung Thai is the place I miss the most. Don’t know what happened to the place but eating on the ‘back porch’ was terrific. The food was excellent and the price was right. I did not have a favorite dish really, seemed like everything was about the same. This is layman’s terms for I am getting old and don’t remember.
But frankly since I haven’t been home in 2.5 years I am missing ALL OF THEM.
I miss Paramount Grill in Hilo on Haili St. old time diner. great fried rice.
I miss Kilauea Kitchen, Russell Siu’s low budget eatery in Hilo that lasted only a couple of years.
I miss the manapua wagon that parked across the street from school in 7th and 8th grade. not sure if the manapua was really that great or if I was just a hungry teenager who would have eaten anything, but i could slam two manapua and one black bean bun in between classes.
I miss Torii’s. the original pop up lunch place off of Keeaumoku. run out of someone’s garage, they had two items a day and five menu options: regular or large of each item or combo. was always super ono and super cheap.
also, wasn’t it “Masu’s”, not “Masa’s”?
forgot one: the ice shave at Goodie Corner in Temple Valley Shopping Center, next to Times. best on the island. not too fine/soft and not too hard/chunky.
I miss most of those restaurants but what I miss most is my grandfather’s malasadas; made the old fashion Filipino way from scratch. I can still smell them coming out of the oven now….mmmmm!
Spat’s at the Hyatt : “Pasta With Passion ! ”
Bobby McGee’s
Black Orchid
Compadres “Taco Tuesdays”
Mr Christian’s
Tratoria
Coco’s
Canlis
I’m with Kat. I miss the ono ono shake from KC drive inn. I never thought the food at Wisteria was that great, but I miss the atmosphere and it seemed like a genuine local restaurant. A place you go and see generations of families having dinner together.
I do miss the fries from kenny’s burger house. I’ve had more than a few sub-standard burgers from there. I miss the old school registers they used to have and how they would put your food in plain brown paper bags.
How about these two from the opposite ends of the spectrum:
Tiki Tops in Kaneohe
John Dominis
Hey Cat,
For me it’s:
KC Drive In
Ranch House
Kenny’s Burger House
Smitty’s
The lunchwagon that used to be at Kewalo Basin
Hello Cat,
My wife’s grandmother and grandfather was the owner of Chucky’s. Her grandma is still living and often talks about those days. I ate at Chunky’s a lot back then.
I miss the Jumbo’s fried min with teri chicken. Char broiled was only at the one on Beretania by Times with the nice huge fish tanks now a Grace’s. blech The original Church’s fried chicken at Statdium Mall along with the Godfather’s Pizza that was there too in the 80’s. Everything from the 80’s Jack in the Box menu namely the nachos supreme and the hot ham and cheese on poppy seed roll with that great horseradish sauce. The 70’s Zippy’s oxtail and tripe stew, just doesn’t taste the same anymore even the oxtail soup doesn’t taste the same as from the 80’s.
i miss swiss inn too. that was my favorite dinner place. i would drive out from kapolei to go eat there. the food was excellent but what also made it special was the staff. the owner/chef’s wife would always greet us with a smile and talk story with everyone. and that salad dressing is the bomb. i gotta go see if i can still pick up a bottle at longs kahala.
i really miss the glazed donuts from bakery kapiolani. they had a little touch of lemon in the glaze that made it so ono. *sigh*
Hey Cat … hmmm … I think I might be alone in my opinion on this one … because it’s hard to recall a restaurant or food from anywhere that I’ve missed that much since it’s been gone … of course I’ve always had favorite restaurants and foods … but not being able to go to these places or eat the food hasn’t had a devastating effect on me …
… maybe it’s because I think I can find similar or reasonable facsimiles at other places … or maybe it’s because food is always evolving … and my tastes may have changed …
… or maybe it’s because I just didn’t realize how good it was … and I don’t mind settling for lesser food now … sad to think that way, though …
… oh, ok, now I remember at least one place … the L&L Drive-In in Puck’s Alley … yeah, I know there are tons of L&L’s around but this one was different … I’m not sure about the whole menu … but there were 3 things I always ordered from there .. a special mix of the teri-beef and the chicken curry … and the other thing was the teri-fries …
… that L&L was a staple during college days … ok, the place wasn’t too clean and the grills were caked with grease … but I’d love to be able to taste the food again …
… still, I can’t say I was even depressed by it’s closing … because I didn’t go there too often after a while … just too far … and out of the way … and out of mind …
… I don’t even know when it closed … does anyone out there know??? …
I forgot about that L&L. the food was, somehow, better. maybe it was because we were famished after marathon sessions of playing pool next door (for the amount of pool my friends and I played it’s amazing how not good we were/are).
Chunky’s was a weekly favorite as was guri guri ice cream just around the corner. But, it was more than the food, it was the memories with my Nanny and Papa that made the meals taste even better! For those who grew up in McCully, “Back Store” served the best hamburgers for generations before they closed when I was in the 7th grade. And, let’s not forget Washington Saimin on King Street. They would even deliver plate lunches on the corner of King and Pensacola so we wouldn’t get caught for truancy at McKinley. Good food, good people, good times. 🙂
I miss Chico’s Pizza Palor. That was my hang out during high school. The fried chicken and the potato wedge fries was so ono.
I remember Chicken Alice. The original location was at the Ala Moana Shopping Center where Nieman Marcus is now located. Man, we used to buy the 30 or 40 pieces size for our graduation parties and Super Bowl get-togethers. I know everyone knows the secret, Park’s Brand Kim Chee Sauce. But to be munching on those hot and spicy drummettes and wings, it was the bomb!
I miss The Garden Court (Liberty House) and Hackfields, Coco’s, Kamigata, Yum Yum Tree, Suehiros and King’s Bakery.
KOI KOI in the food court at AM. i loved their OKONOMIYAKI
Flamingo Chuckwagon on Kapiolani. Even though the specialty was the Prime Rib, their fried chicken was to die for (for me anyway…)
Only old folks from Ewa will remember, but my favorite restaurant was Tenney Tavern next to the old Ewa Plantation Gym. It burned down from a grill fire in the 70’s or 80’s. They had ono pork cutlet, home made hamburgers, and lemon meringue pie. At the soda fountain you could order green river or coke w/squirt of cherry, chocolate or vanilla. Small kid time I noted the underside of the counter was stuck with a million wads of gum…and a few were mine.
Hey Cat…..if you ever venture to PDX you CAN get your Swiss Inn fix. There’s a place called Cafe Hibiscus that is run by daughter Jenny. Since I’m here now, it’s definitely on my agenda to go have lunch there. I’ll be posting pics when I do 🙂
I’m throwing Therapy Sports Grill on that list. Really enjoyed the local food there. Also…
* Suehiro
* Magoo’s at Pucks Alley…the Hot Ham and Mushroom Sandwich…
* Casis…Chef Mavro’s downtown attempt…
* HK’s…
King Tsin, the Sweet & Spicy Prawns were the best!
@Nathan, You can still get the Hot Ham and Mushroom Sandwich at the Magoo’s Truck next to the McDonald’s on King St!
The hamburgers at Bakery Kapiolani in Aiea Shopping Center.
And I already miss the fried noodles at HK’s, which opened where Ellen’s was before with the okazu-ya and the guri guri. That King Street location between Isenberg and Coolidge is MONEY!
Diners on Keeaumoku, Scotty’s, and the Kewalo Basin lunch wagons. Also, Maruzen in Moiliili, Dog House in Kapahulu. Not much left today…sad
I agree with Chicken Alice! Used to eat at her bar before she opened her restaurant.
How about hamburgers from “back store” behind Washington Intermediate?
My wife’s family owned Honda Deli catessen. I worked in the deli for the last 25 years before they closed. People from all over the island came to buy their lunch because of it’s one of a kind taste.
Since they closed, pe0ple try to get else where for the same taste. But Honda
deli had a taste all it’s own. I miss the food as much as anyone.