Episode 8: Side Street Inn

Rating by Yelp.com: 4 stars
Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian
Price Range: $11 - $30
Operation Hours: Mon thru Sun 2pm - 2am 

Aloha viewers, today Best Grinds looks to explore the eateries commonly labeled as sports bars. Sports Bars are often gathering places for friends and families where they can casually socialize and hence the main, watch sports while enjoying the eatery's fine cuisine and beverages.  After doing research online by E-word of mouth, we have discovered Side Street Inn is a very popular bar that various demographics choose to visit due to its lively ambiance and flavorful meals and drinks.  Side Street Inn has been the hidden hot spot for many local residents for years.  They’ve been locally and nationally recognized as being the gathering place for the island’s best chefs such as Alan Wong of Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise, and many more.  Side Street Inn opened its doors in 1992 by Chef and Owner, Colin Nishida and had won numerous awards since then. The restaurant offers something for everyone from sports lovers to wine connoisseurs with multiple satellite-ready, big screen TVs to enjoy sports games and a full bar with a wide selection of both domestic and imported beers.

Best Grindz Takes You On Da Strip! [Video]

Upon entering the restaurant I must say the ambiance lived up to its reputation; Side Street Inn was lively as I have been told, with all customers being comfortably being loud and socializing with no formal boundaries to limit them. Staff were exceptionally friendly, parking was available (for a fee) and seats were generous and looked clean, therefore in terms of service quality and facilities I'll give this place a thumb's up, no pun intended. However, I must say this food fell short when it came up short. I ordered three of the most popular cuisines on the menu as recommended by our friendly server (as you will see in our podcast video), and I was not very impressed by the taste. Sure the large portions for family style sharing is great, but the cuisines were quite salty and did not have a good balance of flavors at all. The pork chop pieces were inconsistent as while some pieces were more tender than others while some pieces were way too dry and for a second I thought I was chewing a car's tire. Overall, the place is great as a social gathering place, but if it were me I would stick to only ordering commercially standard drinks such as beer that taste the same regardless of where you order it from.

Likes

     Good lively ambiance

     Clean facilities

     Parking availability

Dislikes

     Inconsistent meals that were not properly seasoned

Official Best Grindz Rating...3.5 stars!!!

Episode 7: Wild Bean Espresso

Rating by Yelp.com: 3 ½ stars

Cuisine: Coffee & Tea, Shakes, Food Stands

Price Range: Inexpensive, Under $10


Lunch wagons are increasingly becoming a popular concept here on Oahu and a variety of trucks are popping up with different concepts rather than the typical “lunch” wagon concept. Halle Nguyen, owner of Wild Bean Espresso came up with one of the most unique concept of opening up a coffee truck and having her baristas dressed in lingerie while they prepare and serve drinks. Halle came up with this concept while attending school up in Seattle which was where she got exposed to similar concepts of entrepreneurship trucks and thought to herself, “Hey, why not open one in Hawaii? And so she did! Today she owns 2 trucks and will be opening up her third truck next month. So if you are looking for something to “perk” you up or a little eye candy, head on down to Wild Bean Espresso located conveniently along Waimanu Street near Ward Center.

Best Grindz Takes You on a New Adventure! [Video]

My experience at Wild Bean Espresso was definitely a unique one because it was my first time trying it out.  Wild Bean Espresso knows how to truly lure in customers to try their refreshingly wonderful drinks with their friendly attitude and unique uniform.  When I first approached the truck, I was greeted by all three lovely ladies and was immediately introduced the menu and their popular menu items.  My drink was made to order and did not take very long.  As they were making my drink, they constantly made small conversation with me on whether or not I like my drink more on the sweet side or not, which shows me they’re being interactive with their customers.  After receiving my drink and having a taste, it was made with just the right amount of added liquid sugar and the espresso and chocolate was mixed to the right amount, making my iced mocha not too bitter, not too sweet, but just how I like it.  The only disadvantage they have is they’re located around a construction area therefore the loud noise can become very overwhelming.  Parking although may not be an issue for me when I went, but could be an issue to many others because there is absolutely no parking around the area so customers can only park on the side of the street for a short time to purchase drinks.

Likes

     Friendly Staff

     Personalize Flavor to Customer’s Preference

     Interaction with Customer

Dislikes

     No Parking

     Loud Construction Noise

Official Best Grindz Rating...4 stars!!!

Episode 6: Dee Thai Restaurant

Rating by Yelp.com: 4 stars
Cuisine: Thai
Price Range: $11 - $30
Operation Hours: Mon thru Sat 11am - 2pm Lunch, Mon thru Sun 5pm - 9:30pm Dinner

Dee-Thai Restaurant opened up in 2008 as a simple family run Thai restaurant. Located on Kapahulu Ave, the cozy restaurant is able to seat 48 parties. The front of house team is led by the Son of the family while his Mother runs the Kitchen as the head chef. Dee-Thai looks to bring to customers a slice of Thailand with bold flavors and the warm and welcoming hospitality that gave Thailand the nickname the land of smiles.  

Best Grindz Discovers Its Spicy Side! [Video]

Aloha viewers this is Natakorn "Thumb" Changrew checking in for this episode of Best Grindz's review. This week we explored one of the best rated Thai restaurants on yelp.com, Dee-Thai on Kapahulu, and who better to review Thai food than yours truly. Born and raised in the area that originated Thai food, I believe I can truly claim to understand the authentic sweet, sour, salty and spicy taste of Thai food. Upon arriving at Dee-Thai I came across the first problem; parking. Parking here is very bad.... because there isn't any customer parking available! Customers are advised to find the closest street parking available. Not a good start, but as I entered the restaurant the greeting I received turned it all around. Ton, the son of the family gave us a warm welcome and allowed us to pick the table of our choice. However, Ton wasn't dressed in any sort of uniform (wearing a normal T-shirt) and at first I thought he was another customer. Both the exterior and interior decoration of the restaurant wasn't exactly impressive, but it works for me. The lighting of the place is nice, and the Thai music played in the background was set at the right volume to assist the ambiance and give it a Thai appeal but at the same time not becoming too much of a distraction. I can see this place being a nice eatery to have a meal with your friends, but based on the feel the place gives I wouldn't have a business dinner or take my date for a special dining experience here as it doesn't exactly scream classy or romantic. The menu provided is pretty simple, properly describing cuisine's English and authentic Thai name, the options you have with each cuisine (I.E what type of meat) and its price. Although not mentioned in the menu, the staff did aware us how they can cater the spice levels to our preference; a flexibility that I think is a plus. I find the cuisines Dee-Thai offer to be very gutsy, featuring some authentic Thai cuisines normally not found in most Thai restaurants in America. Some of these signature dishes I believe require some authentic ingredients hard to get a hold of in the states or are simply not known to most foreigners. Two of these include "Pla-foo" fluffy fish salad and "Pad Kee mao" an authentic spicy Thai noodle cuisine. Good news for vegetarians as well as Dee-Thai dedicates a page of the menu to those who choose to stick to veggies and tofu. The food here, was definitely the star of the show. The three items I ordered tasted fresh and very authentic, having flavors that truly reminded me of home. The meal was rustic and very delicious, and also very well priced! Along with the great service they provide, I can see why Dee-Thai has received very good rating and I will definitely be coming back!

Likes

Great Authentic Food

Vegetarian friendly and adjustable spice levels

Friendly Staff

Well Priced

Dislikes

Lack of uniform for front of house staff
No Parking

Official Best Grindz Rating..4.5 stars!!!

Episode 5: Waiola's Shave Ice

Rating by Yelp.com:   4 ½ stars
Cuisine:  Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, Local Flavor
Price Range: Inexpensive, less than $10
Operation Hours: Mon thru Sun, 7:30am – 6pm

 

Waiola's shave ice has become one of the most popular places to be at on a very hot and sunny day.  Located conveniently in the heart of town along Waiola Street and Kapahulu Avenue, this mom and pop store has become well liked by both the local community and tourists alike.  You may wonder, what makes them so great? And how do they differ from other competitors like the famous Matsumoto’s Shave Ice on the north shore?  Well, first of all, it's conveniently located in town, the variety of 35 flavors they offer that can't be found anywhere else, and their selection of toppings or add ons such as li hing powder, mochi balls, and condensed milk that adds such great flavor to your ice!  The number one thing that makes them all so great is...the shaved ice.  When it comes to shave ice, the ice is what makes the biggest difference.  At Waiola's Shave Ice, their shave ice is so super fine and soft that when the spoonful of flavorful goodness hits the top of your tongue, it just melts in your mouth.  So what are you waiting for?! Head on over to Waiola's Shave Ice!  

Best Grindz Cools Down with Some Island Snow [Video]

Hey everyone, this week, we take you to Waiola’s Shave Ice and I got to say that I really enjoyed my experience there.  When I arrived, what stood out to me at first was there were a lot of parking space and many benches for customers to enjoy their shave ice.  I ordered my usual favorite which was lychee and li hing mui.  My first spoonful of shaved ice was awesome, the flavors spoke to me right away and I could not stop eating it!  However I noticed that as I’m finishing up my cup of shaved ice, the flavors started to disappear and noticed right away that my shaved ice could’ve use a little bit more syrup.  Other than this, the ice was smooth and super fine and I would most definitely stop by for another cup of shaved ice on the next very hot and sunny day.

Likes

Quick Service

Lots of Parking

Lots of Benches for Seating

Dislikes

Lack syrup on Shave Ice
Person assisting us was not attentive

           


Official Best Grindz Rating..4 stars!!!

Episode 4: Nico's Pier 38

Rating by Yelp.com:   4 stars
Cuisine:  Seafood, French
Price Range: Moderate, $8 - $15
Operation Hours: Mon thru Fri 6:30am - 5pm, Sat 6:30am – 2pm


Nico's Pier 38, located across from the Honolulu Fish Auction, serves fresher fish than anyone else. The founder, Nico Chaize, a French chef, started working in the restaurant business at teh age of 15 and has worked at a number of fine restaurants here in Honolulu including Michel's at the Colony Surf and The Bistro at Century Center. Nico loves to make people happy through the use of his culinary skills and decided to open a small breakfast and lunch take-out counter in 2004. Nico's Pier 38 serves local style plate with a touch of French flare and also fresh fish right from the auction at an affrodable price. So if you are looking for the freshest catch, head on down to Nico's Pier 38!

Best Grinds Takes You Under the Sea [ Video ]

I really enjoyed my experience at Nico's Pier 38, even though there was nothing fancy about it. When I arrived, there were lots of parking. When I entered, I noticed that it was very small. Basically it was just a counter to order from and the seating was located outside. Since they are known for having the freshest fish, I placed my order for a ahi poke salad. I didn't have to wait long for my order at all. The salad turned out to be so delicious! The fish was tender and full of flavor. I enjoyed my salad while relaxing and taking in the beautiful scenery of the pier.

Likes

Quick Service

Lots of Parking

Beautiful Scenery
Delicious Food

Dislikes

None!

           

           

Official Best Grindz Rating..5 stars!!!

Episode 3: Rainbow's Drive In

Rating by Yelp.com: 4 stars
Cuisine: Hawaiian, BBQ
Price Range: Cheap, under $10
Operation Hours: Mon thru Sun 7am – 9pm


Rainbow’s Drive In has been operating for over 49 years and has been serving the most ono grindz to both the local community and tourists from all over the world.  Rainbow’s Drive In founder, Seiju Ifuku learned how to cook while he was in the army during WW II.  After the war ended, he worked at the famous Kapiolani Drive In and later married his wife, Ayako and opened Rainbow’s Drive In at their current location on Kapahulu Avenue.  Their philosophy was to serve plates with generous portions of hearty, simply food, with two scoops of rice and a side of macaroni salad at a reasonable price.

 Best Grindz Takes You Back in Time, Local Style! [Video]

Hello everyone, it’s Kim here to give you my feedback on how my experience at Rainbow’s Drive In was.  When I first entered there was already a line but surprisingly enough, it only took less than 5 minutes for me to place my order and receive my food!  What I enjoyed most at Rainbow’s was the way my food was prepared.  I ordered the boneless chicken with gravy so what I was expecting was not an overcook chicken which most places tend to make this mistake but Rainbow’s nailed it!  My chicken was moist and had great flavor, my gravy wasn’t salty and complemented the chicken very well making me a very happy diner.  The atmosphere was very local style which completes their theme of a drive in however I felt that the staff could’ve tended to the cleanliness of the dine out area a little more by wiping down the tables and replenishing the condiments when it runs out.  Overall Rainbow’s Drive In won me over with the quick service, convenient location, and awesome food!


Likes
Quick Service
Convenient w/ lots of parking!
Quality of food was superb

Dislikes
Bathrooms were not sanitary
Tables were not wiped down
Condiments needed to be replenished

                                       Official Best Grindz Rating……4 stars!

Episode 2: Leonard's Bakery

Rating by Yelp.com:   4 ½ stars
Cuisine:  Desserts, Bake Goods
Price Range: Inexpensive $1 - $6
Operation Hours: Sun thru Thurs 5:30am - 9pm, Fri and Sat 6am – 10pm

Leonard’s Bakery was founded in 1952 by Leonard and his wife, Margaret.  Leonard got the idea of creating malasadas also known as donuts with the hole in the middle from his mother whom had suggested that he make it in celebration of Shrove Tuesday, a Portuguese Tradition.  Aside from the delicious and famous malasadas, you’ll be able to find an assortment of pastries, cookies, breads, wraps, pies and cakes, as well as doughnuts displayed to make your mouth water.  To accompany these treats, you'll find coffee, espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, teas, and hot chocolate.  It's no wonder that Leonard's is still one of the must try bakeries on the island!

Best Grindz Has a Sweet Tooth! [Video]

Hey everyone, so it's Dara here giving you my input on my experience at Leonard's Bakery.  When I first walked in the shop I noticed how very small it was.  The overall bakery has a very old-fashion feel to it.  In the front of the shop there is parking for the customers which makes it convenient. They provide two benches at the entrance for customers to enjoy their purchase. However, I noticed that the staff was not so welcoming or friendly, but the service was very quick.  They offer a variety of baked goods, but they are best known for their tasty malasadas! You can choose from an assortment of flavors of malasadas, but my favorite is the original which is malasada dusted with sugar. In my opinion, they have the best malasadas on island. The malasadas are so tasty, soft, and moist, you can't stop with having just one!

Likes

            Provides Parking

            Fast Service

            Reasonable Price

Dislikes

            Not so Friendly Service

            In Need of Renovation or Clean up

            Limited Seating

Official Best Grindz Rating…...4 stars!!!

Episode 1 : Ono's Hawaiian Foods

Rating by Yelp.com:   4 stars  

Cuisine:  Hawaiian
Price Range: Moderate $11 - $30
Operation Hours: M­on thru Sat 11am - 8pm

When people think of Hawaii, the number one cuisine that most people would have to consider trying is Hawaiian food.  Which takes us to one of the most rated by yelpers as being the soul foods of the islands…Ono’s Hawaiian Foods.  Situated along Kapahulu Avenue, Ono’s Hawaiian Foods has been in business for over 50 years.  All of their family recipes have been handed down from generations to generations.  People from all over the world from high end celebrities to local residents of Honolulu have all dined in this family oriented hole-in-the-wall spot.

Best Grindz Goes Hawaiian! [Video]

Hey Viewers, so this is Kim and I wanted to talk a little about my experience dining at Ono’s Hawaiian Foods.  The atmosphere when we first walked in was very homey and welcoming.  It had a family oriented feel to it, making me feel as if I was going to my auntie’s or uncle’s house.  The food…I’ve got to say was outstanding, I just love how the laulau just falls apart at the touch of my fork and steam just explodes out from it.  The flavors were just right for me, a hint of saltiness, sweet, and juicy filled with savory goodness! The Kalua pig melted in my mouth and the haupia had just the right amount of sweetness to it.  Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Ono’s and intend to come back for sure.  The staff was friendly but lack interaction with us.  I felt that they could’ve check on our table to make sure we’re doing ok and refill our water at least.  As I scan the mini restaurant, I did not see any guest interaction at all.  Interaction was only done during taking orders and processing the check.  Main downfall for me during my overall experience was I did not get my water refills, which when I dine out is a must!

Likes

            Friendly Staff

            Welcoming atmosphere

            Quality of food was superb

Dislikes

            Lack guest interaction

            No water refills

            Big parking issue!

Official Best Grindz Rating……4 stars!