03/06/07

Great selection/catering menu, love the manapua

by localgrinder

Take a number - this place is always packed during lunch hours, but worth the wait. The restaurant has some small tables and chairs, but not really a place to sit and eat. Inside looks like a cafeteria with a serious selection of meats, veggies, starch - the spicy eggplant, chow fun and egg fuyoung are excellent. The chicken is good - I've had better. But, the manapua is very good - not as great as Aiea Manapua, but still very tasty and a better selection. I especially like the Roast Duck manapua - it is ground-up rather than sliced or seared and has a thick mixing of hoisin, but it is good. The NikuMan manapua was tasty too - with pork hash, shitake mushroom and onions (very generous w/the shitake). The prices seem high until you realize a plate lunch will feed two to three - they tape the containers closed to keep the mountain of food inside the box!

The place is clean but chaotic and loud - it's a relief to get out of the door with your plastic bag. The staff seems very focused on serving (they are very fast by the way) instead of customer service, but you won't care once you take your first bite!

• Pros: Excellent selection of meats, veggies, starch, manapua, dim sum - tasty
• Cons: Don't sit down to eat - too loud, chaotic.