We can’t say that there are no places to eat in Hilo as there has been a flurry of new dining spots recently.
Happenings around Hilo
We can’t say that there are no places to eat in Hilo as there has been a flurry of new dining spots recently.
Tamari
Kenichiro Kikuchi, originally from Yokohama Japan, had a restaurant by the same name in New York for 10 years and moved to Hilo to open Tamari on Furneauex Lane. Open Monday-Saturday from 10A a.m.-2 p.m., the offerings include chicken cutlet, rolled and stuffed with vegetables and miso, pan-fried tofu stead with a tamari-garlic-ginger sauce, tofu croquette, and dashimaki, an omelet with vegetables. The selections remind me of an “okazu-ya.”
Somsamai Style Restaurant
A couple of doors from Tamari is Somsamai Style Restaurant, which is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. There are a few tables inside and the day I went to check it out, every seat was taken. Somsamai is also a wonderful seamstress and she used to park her sewing machine at Hilo Farmers Market.
Thai Smile
If the name sounds familiar, Thai Smile had a wagon at Hilo Farmer Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Now in the former Po Thai Restaurant, next to Grapes, A Wine Store on Kilauea Avenue, Kanithaporn Graf and her daughter are open for lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5-8 p.m. daily. Nicknamed “Teal,” her green papaya salad, pad Thai and pad see eew, or wide rice noodle, egg, broccoli, zucchini and cabbage stir-fried in black bean sauce are her most popular items that have her regulars keep coming back for.
Sakura-Sakura
Next door to Thai Smile, owner Mrs. Sakura makes authentic Japanese food on Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and is closed on Sunday. Oyako (chicken) donburi, unagi, chicken katsu or pork katsu donburi, shrimp tempura, tempura or curry udon are some of Sakura-Sakura’s selections, all priced from $8 up.
Sweet Thunder Products
Dawn Cabral formerly had her Sushi-To-Go shop where Thai Smile is now located. Now in the Waiakea Villa Waterfront, Suite 16B, open from Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., on Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Special orders need to be called in one day ahead at 989-0222. When ahi is readily available, Dawn has a $15 Spicy Ahi Chirashi challenge. No prize, just bragging rights, but the first winner, Keoki, ate 2 pounds of sushi rice, 1 pound of spicy ahi, which contains ghost peppers, within one hour. The other challenge is the Sushi challenge: 105 pieces of sushi, which include 30 pieces of nigiri, 40 pieces makizushi, 30 pieces of hosomaki and 5 temaki with miso soup and one soft drink must be consumed in one hour. If you can do it, $110 paid in advance will be refunded.
Lucy’s Taqueira
Located where Mongolian Grill formerly was on Kilauea Avenue, we have tried three times to get in but have not been able to get in. Folks who have been lucky enough to get a table say the food is great and worth the wait. We hope to be able to try their food one day.
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s new chef
With the retirement of Chef Piet Wigmans, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel welcomes Chef Khamtan Tanhchaleum. Chef was at the Mauna Lani Resort, then to Michele at Colony Surf in Waikiki, then to the Prince Hotels, Pacific Beach Hotel, Koolau Golf Course Restaurant, back to the Prince Hotel and then to Hilo! Chef Kham has started to make changes to the weekend buffet and has fish prepared several ways: blackened with sweet chili sauce; grilled with beurre blanc sauce; or steamed local fish with ginger, lup cheong sausage, drizzled with hot oil, soy sauce, cilantro and green onions. Together with Gregroy Arianoff, food and beverage manager, you will be seeing many changes in the food and beverage at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
Casa de Luna
Opening after their final inspection in March hopefully), John Tong, Chef Brunson Young, who worked at Fiasco, Banyan Hibachi and Shooters, and bar manager Nathan Hanson are very ready for their 55-seat restaurant to serve their tapa dishes and full meals. Chef is excited about their cheese puffs for their signature pupu and the seared duck breast with fruit compote for a full meal. There will be several beers on tap, wines, and a variety of margaritas. Casa de Luna is located on the corner of Mamo and Keawe Streets.
Hawaiian Brain Freeze
Sandy Akau and Karen Mays used to own J&J Mobile Wagon but now have a permanent location at Waiakea Villas Marketplace. Selling shaved ice and ice cream from Hilo Homemade and Dave’s, Hawaiian Brain Freeze is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. There is a room where you can enjoy your treat or have a small party for about 10 children and two adults. Parties are $250 for three hours and includes ice cream, shaved ice and cake. Just call Sandy or Karen at 557-1351 one week notice and they will even decorate the room for the party.
Foodie Bites
Hilo Community College, Culinary Arts Cafeteria is open today through Friday. Call 934-2559 for specials of the week. The Bamboo Hale is featuring the foods of Mexico. Call 934-2562 for reservations.
Rotary Club of South Hilo’s 8th Annual Hilo Huli at Coconut Island is on May 6 from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tickets are available from any club member or at Creative Arts Hawaii.
Please feel free to e-mail me at wilson.audrey@hawaiiantel.net if you have a question. Bon appetit until next week.