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**Pomai** · February 15, 2010, 10:10 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Thankfully, the list is still long.

I'll start with a recommendation from the 'Old Time Saimin Stand' thread at Boulevard Saimin, who finds their beginnings on where else? Dillingham Boulevard in the 1950's. Note, they'll soon be changing location to the corner of Alakawa Street and Nimitz Highway in the former Weyerhaueser building. As noted in that thread, they win the saimin broth contest, while also being a great overall comfort food diner. Very reasonably-priced too, which is important!

Speaking of old school diners, I'd also recommend Wailana Coffee house in Waikiki, who are also reasonably-priced, with good food, and open 24 hours a day for you party animals.

While I haven't been there for this service (only for the Coco Puffs at the bakery), I hear Liliha Bakery's 24-hour diner is also a great choice. Especially their pancakes.

Heading back to the "center of Hawaii's Food Universe known as Kalihi", and also dates back to the 1950's in their beginnings, I'll vouch for (the New) Violet's Grill, who makes one MEAN Ashitibichi (Okinawan Pig's Feet Soup), as well as being the winner (unfairly) of the BEST SAIMIN on Oahu.

Like Like Drive Inn on "Koreamoku street" is another old school favorite, but I've heard mixed reviews on their food as of recent. You be the judge.

**Pomai** · February 15, 2010, 10:42 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Going ethnic, Jin Joo Korean Restaurant in Waimalu Shopping Center has been around for decades now and makes a KILLER Big Bone Kal Bi...

While I honestly haven't been there recently, Kim Chee I in Kaneohe is still going strong, and I remember them having KILLER Kal Bi as well. They go well back to at least the 80's.

For Hawaiian, one old school place mostly off the radar is People's Cafe just outside of downtown Honolulu...

Not to forget Helena's back in where else? Kalihi!

**Expat Kamaaina** · February 16, 2010, 05:12 AM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

I know this thread is about old restaurants to recommend that still exist. But if you bear with me, I would like to talk about and ask about some restaurants that are now gone (I think).......Kuhio Grill was a great place in Moiliili. I also used to love Flamingo's. For a fancy meal (it was fancy to me when I was a kid) I used to love it when my parents took us to eat New York cut steak at a place called Tropics, which had a killer salad dressing that you could buy retail and it was where the Ala Moana Hotel is now. I also used to like to go and eat at the old Sampan Inn at Kewalo basin, and they was a diner at the corner across the street from Pier 39 (??) and I cannot remember its name. When my wife and I were very young, we used to take the kids to these places because of the affordability factor.

I also used to like the Crouching Lion Restaurant for its London Broil, and we also used to like going to Haiku Gardens restaurant to eat the buffet, but alas, these two places are not-so-good anymore.

**Ron Whitfield** · February 16, 2010, 06:19 AM

Old Restaurants you wish you could still recommend...

EK,
I miss Bakery Kapiolani, once hidden in the Aiea Shopping Center's lower corner. Neat cafe w/wraparound grill, 50s style in every way.

I loved the Ala Moana Bl. Flamingo Cafe. The epitome of casual eating out ala Oahu 1960. Plus they were open early on Sunday's and the bar had a TV for getting my LA Rams fix. Banana pie!

There was a classic little diner on School St. Ewa of Liliha St., forgotten the name, it's gone. Real time capsule.

Hana's Kitchen in Ka'a'awa was good old school, now a BBQ joint. I worked there in '95 when it was still Ka'a'awa Country Kitchen. Cool job with good food.

Rosie's Boathouse in Kaneohe. Good food/drink, mellow, and Bla Pahinui was a regular performer.

**LikaNui** · February 16, 2010, 12:48 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Originally posted by Expat Kamaaina View Post

I also used to like the Crouching Lion Restaurant for its London Broil, and we also used to like going to Haiku Gardens restaurant to eat the buffet, but alas, these two places are not-so-good anymore.

When was the last time you ate at either of those places?
Crouching Lion got a new owner just over one year ago; they made a lot of renovations and some good improvements to the menu and in the kitchen.
Haiku Gardens is now Haleiwa Joe's, of course. Buffet only for Sunday brunch, and each time I've gone for either brunch or dinner it was wonderful.

**Albert** · February 16, 2010, 02:11 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Well, I miss the Tahitian Lanai. Never actually ate there, but did it ever have atmosphere.

A long-timer happily still around is, of course, Willows.

**Ron Whitfield** · February 16, 2010, 02:18 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Sheesh, yes, Tahitian Lanai!

**Kimo** · February 16, 2010, 02:48 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Renewed an acquaintance w Wailana Coffee Shop this past weekend - MAHvelous (and relatively inexpensive!). Parking still a problem . . .

**Mike_Lowery** · February 16, 2010, 06:33 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

I still eat at Pee-Wee and Rainbow Drive-Ins whenever I'm on Oahu. Tsukenjo's if they don't close early.

**Kaukura** · February 16, 2010, 08:08 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Wailana really does have some pretty good food. I especially love their meatloaf dinner. For UNDER $10 you get 2 large meatloaf patties with gravy, choice of startch (baked potato with sour cream and butter for me please!) vegetable, slice of grill pineapple, bread, bottomless beverage AND the salad bar PLUS desert (sundae I believe) and coffee. Even I cannot eat all of this. (well, I can but...), but yes, under $10. or hovering around that...

**Expat Kamaaina** · February 17, 2010, 02:58 AM

Re: Old Restaurants you wish you could still recommend...

Originally posted by Ron Whitfield View Post

EK,
I miss Bakery Kapiolani, once hidden in the Aiea Shopping Center's lower corner. Neat cafe w/wraparound grill, 50s style in every way.

I loved the Ala Moana Bl. Flamingo Cafe. The epitome of casual eating out ala Oahu 1960. Plus they were open early on Sunday's and the bar had a TV for getting my LA Rams fix. Banana pie!

There was a classic little diner on School St. Ewa of Liliha St., forgotten the name, it's gone. Real time capsule.

Hana's Kitchen in Ka'a'awa was good old school, now a BBQ joint. I worked there in '95 when it was still Ka'a'awa Country Kitchen. Cool job with good food.

Rosie's Boathouse in Kaneohe. Good food/drink, mellow, and Bla Pahinui was a regular performer.

================================================== ===
Yeah; I agree with you. Those were the good old days!

**Expat Kamaaina** · February 17, 2010, 02:59 AM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Originally posted by LikaNui View Post

When was the last time you ate at either of those places?
Crouching Lion got a new owner just over one year ago; they made a lot of renovations and some good improvements to the menu and in the kitchen.
Haiku Gardens is now Haleiwa Joe's, of course. Buffet only for Sunday brunch, and each time I've gone for either brunch or dinner it was wonderful.

================================================== =
It has been a whole lot of years since I visited either place. Crouching Lion was last visited over 10 years ago. Haiku Gardens maybe 4-5 years, after it became Haliewa Joe's, but I did not like it.

**LikaNui** · February 17, 2010, 05:00 AM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Originally posted by Expat Kamaaina View Post

It has been a whole lot of years since I visited either place. Crouching Lion was last visited over 10 years ago. Haiku Gardens maybe 4-5 years, after it became Haliewa Joe's, but I did not like it.

Okay. Thanks for clarifying that. Based on your original post I thought you had been to both places very recently.
Obviously a heuckuva lot can change in 10 years and in 4 to 5 years. Things even change month to month in the restaurant business -- new owners, new management, new chefs, new wait help, new suppliers, etc etc. For purposes of this thread, I suggest we all include the date of the most recent visit to each establishment that we critique. For me, Crouching Lion was last week and Haleiwa Joe's was less than 3 weeks ago.
I ate at Tahitian Lanai dozens of times, although I don't remember the dates since it's been closed for so long.

However, you can almost relive the experience by going to La Mariana Sailing Club down on Sand Island Access Road. The food is average but the setting is fantabulous!

Same group of folks around the piano bar too. They all switched over when TL closed.

**Kaonohi** · February 17, 2010, 05:36 PM

Re: Old Restaurants you recommend!

Koa House in Kaneohe - for Brunch. Be prepared to wait for a table.....

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Old Restaurants you recommend!

Old Restaurants you recommend!

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