Anykine Grill

Umami has a new "go to" spot for brown and white food:  Anykine Grill.  It's located in downtown Honolulu on Bishop Street/Union Mall.  It's a small place with maybe six tables, that writes its specials on the windows.  Be sure to check the specials!

Umami and Ms. D, however, stuck to the basics when they went by the other day:  Chicken Cutlet ($8)  and Roast Pork ($8), gravy on the rice, natch!  Also natch:  Dr. Lois would not approve.

Roast Pork

Chicken Cutlet

Both plates were perfectly executed, the epitome of brown and white cuisine.   Good solid food, properly seasoned, generously sized portions.  Realistically, you get two (three, if you're Elle) meals out of one plate.

Later, Umami was passing by after a checkup with Dr. Lois and saw this on the Specials window:  "Oxtail Laulau."  This, he thought, is proof that the Universe has a sense of humor and, as a child of the Universe, I must go along with the joke.

Oxtail Laulau

Here, then, in all of its fearsome glory, is the Oxtail Laulau ($12).  The oxtail is smoked in texture, but with still a good amount of fat, so not too chewy.  It's beef and beef fat, so it is absurdly rich, much more so than a typical laulau (and that's saying something).  Plenty of leaf to pick up the juices.  It is a crazy dish, but well worth trying.  Realistically, you get three (four, if you're Elle) meals out of it.  Umami wouldn't eat it too often, but he would definitely eat it again. Don't tell Dr. Lois.

It's Not Boneless

Anykine Grill
1148 Bishop St
Honolulu, HI 96813
Neighborhood: Downtown(808) 526-3030
http://www.anykinegrill.com