On the Inundation of Local Eateries by Tourists

Nice little column by Denby Fawcett "lamenting" the tourist inundation of local food joints: "Our Favorite Local Hangouts Are Overrun With Tourists."  Umami doesn't think this makes them "tourist traps" in the sense of "place-that-exploits-tourists."  Rather, these are just good places to eat that worked their way from "good place" to "locals place" to "local foodie place" to "destination foodie place."

Umami, though, is amused that she fails to mention Boot and Kimo's, perhaps the first of the breakfast joints flooded by busloads of tourists.  Boots was crammed into a small space in Kailua and grew so popular that waits easily ran 45 minutes.  In 2009, it moved to a space that was twice as large.  Umami visited the new digs in 2010 (The Post:  Hangover Remedy!) and the wait was still 45 minutes.  Crazy.

Umami doesn't go by Boots much anymore.  He and Elle do go by Moena Cafe (The Post:  Moena Cafe Corned Beef Hash) for breakfast.  If the wait is too long, Zippy's is right next door.  We are talking about breakfast, after all.

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Red Pepper Restaurant - Red Pepper Mix

Red Pepper Restaurant is a new (less than a month old) spot on Fort Street Mall, in a strip of storefronts that has turned steadily into a food court for nearby Hawaii Pacific University.  There is already another Korean BBQ in the vicinity, the venerable 2-Go-Bar-B-Q.  This newcomer distinguishes itself by being a "fresh and healthy" version.

Red Pepper Mix

Is it a worthwhile distinction?  Well, the Red Pepper Mix ($9.59) does feel a little cleaner, less sauce heavy, and has an interesting piece item, i.e. "pepper jun."  Pepper jun turns out to be a piece of bell pepper, coated in egg batter and deep fried . . . a Korean chile relleno.  Very tasty and lots of fun.

The rest of the food is, to Umami's palate, a bit under seasoned and nondescript, which is not how Umami thinks of Korean cuisine.  Two nicely grilled, but under seasoned boneless chicken thighs, bulgogi that could have used a little more time marinating, pepper jun (winnah!), a piece of mandoo (pretty good, but "healthy?").  You get three vegetables, but unlike other Korean BBQs, you don't get to choose.  And the macaroni salad ("healthy?") is also on the bland side.

All in all, a lot of food, but disappointingly unentertaining.  Maybe opening day jitters.  Maybe Umami's palate is not in step with fresh and healthy (though that's not really a surprise).

Because Elle asked, Umami will go back to see if they have a Pepper Jun plate . . . but, if not, hard for him to see choosing Red Pepper over 2-Go.

Red Pepper Restaurant
1150 Fort Street Mall
Honolulu, Hawaii  96815
808-536-1200

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Carval Cafe - Bacon Wrapped Roast Pork

The search for Brown and White Food leads Umami further and further afield, this time to Restaurant Row to try Carval Cafe.  Actually, Elle was at Restaurant Row a week earlier to take a deposition and had tried it on the recommendation of the deponent in the case.  Elle tried the Grilled Vegetable on Foccacia and found it very good, with lots of freshly grilled (i.e., hot) vegetables and a salad with a dressing that was so good, she saved it for last.

But that's not how Umami rolls . . .   

How Umami Rolls:
Carval Cafe Bacon Wrapped Roast Pork

Bacon Wrapped Roast Pork ($8.75) is a bit of a misnomer, since the pork is not actually wrapped in bacon when plated.  Maybe when it cooked?  At any rate, the pork is tender enough to fall off the bone if there was a bone to fall off of.  There are bits of bacon in the gravy, but the key is that it infuses the gravy with smoke, salt and fat.  As Olaf ("Frozen") might say, "All good things, all good things."

The gravy is very thin and, when mixed with the rice, reminded Umami of eating Kalua Pig, when the juices get into the rice.  Fabulous!

Umami will be heading back there soon, maybe this week.  Ms. Trina gave up (legged) meats for Lent, but this coming week, all bets are off.  Maybe Umami will take a cue from Elle and go for the Grilled Vegetables on Foccacia.  Maybe . . .

Carval Cafe
Restaurant Row (across from "the Thai place" aka Payao)
500 Ala Moana Blvd
Ste 2b
Honolulu, HI 96813

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Jack in the Box "Bacon Insider"

Bacon Insider

Umami likes a good bacon burger, and Jack in the Box's Bacon Insider is a good one, even if it is blatantly pandering to the current bacon craze.  Sporting bacon in the burger and in the mayo, it's still the strips of bacon that make the sandwich.  Brioche bun is nice touch.  At $5, a solid burger.  And did Umami mention the bacon?

Jack in the Box
Tons of locations, but Umami went to:

1001 Bishop Street

Honolulu, Hawaii   96813

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*Updated* New Ramen Place in Downtown Honolulu

Umami often gets lunch at the Remington College building downtown.  Noticed a new ramen place opened featuring a tonkotsu (pork broth) style.  Figured, why not?  $7.25 for the "classic tonkotsu ramen" and $0.25 for a scoop of rice (to soak up the rest of the broth).  This is what $7.25 gets you:

Seriously?

Seriously, that's it.  Turns out, garnishes cost $0.25 extra, as in $0.25 for corn, $0.25 for some sliced ham, or for nori, or for kamaboko.  Odd, though, isn't it, that Umami wouldn't mind paying $8 for a bowl with three toppings if it had just come packaged like that.  But give him options and suddenly it's looking like a pricey alternative.

Anyway, it's downstairs next Downtown Cafe fka Panya.  Umami will investigate further and get more facts.  Like, the name of the place.

*Update*

The name of the place is:  Kaka'ako Foods.  Here's the menu for the day Umami visited:

Such an array of choices!

Umami supposes there's a benefit to giving the customer some control over toppings, but Umami prefers the Korean BBQ method of choose your plate and pick any three sides over this.  Far better to price the bowl at $8.00 and say pick three toppings!  And, even at that, Umami finds the price a little steep when $8.00 will also buy you a nice plate lunch.  Barring a substantial change in pricing, Umami's not likely to return.

Well, unless Umami needs a side order rice.  $0.25 gets you a decent size scoop here.

• Kaka'ako Foods
• Remington College Building
• 1111 Bishop St
  Honolulu, HI 96813

Umami Super Bowl Food

Umami believes you don't need an expansive Super Bowl spread if you have the one perfect food executed to perfection.  To wit:

Chili Dog -
Because Sometimes, You Get What You Need 

Chili Dog.  Hebrew National Beef Franks.  Chili Mix Chili.  Mozarella and Cheddar Cheeses.  Onion.  Tabasco.  Beer (off-camera, but you know it's there).  Good stuff.  Too bad the game was crappy.  Bruno Mars, however, was awesome - great show - look for it on YouTube.

Max and Lucy's Teri Glazed Salmon

Umami has been hunting for new Brown and White Food haunts, since a bunch of his favorite lunch spots have closed over the last year.  One of his new favorites is Max and Lucy's, near the Honolulu Circuit Court near the ominously named Lawyer's Building.

Today, though, Umami was in a healthy mood and, so, ordered the Teri Glazed Salmon ($10) plate.

Umami Goes Healthy

Generous piece of salmon with a mild teri glaze.  Brown rice.  A curiously bland pasta salad (not recommended).  A guilt free lunch.  But the Brown and White fare is better.  Will post some pics . . . stay tuned.

Max and Lucy's
568 Halekauwila St

Honolulu, HI 96813
Neighborhood: Downtown

(808) 547-3663