KUNIO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

KUNIO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

WAIPAHU, HAWAII

KUNIO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

94-799 LUMIAINA STREET

WAIPAHU, HI  96797

808-680-9188

HOURS:  Daily 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM

www.restaurantkunio.com

Don't usually go to Waipahu for lunch but got an invitation and I was there.  Entered Kunio to find a little gem of a Japanese restaurant in a busy strip mall across from the Waikele Outlet Stores.  We were greeted and seated around 11:00 am while the place was empty.  By noon the restaurant was filling up very fast with couples, groups and families.  Hot Tea and Ice Water were on the table in minutes and we placed our order for the Funamori Party Boat ($127.80 for Four).  Pickled Cabbage was served first and it was a refreshing little small bite to get us started.  Then came a great cup of Miso Soup and a Salad with delicious Japanese dressing.  The Miso Soup and Salad made me think that this place may just be a great find.  After seeing the Party Boat arrive I knew it was a great find.

Wow...what a beautiful presentation of food.  They say we eat with our eyes and the Party Boat was a feast for the eyes too.  The Party Boat is definitely an eye catcher too as everyone in the restaurant was turning their heads and asking "what is that?".  That my friends is one mean ass plate of food for four hungry guys who love to eat.  I jumped on the Ahi Sashimi first.  It was fresh and melted like butter in my mouth.  Next up I went straight for the lobster that was cut into small pieces so it could easily be shared.  The Boat includes Drawn Butter for the Lobster and i poured it over the crustacean and enjoyed each bite.  Was not the sweetest Lobster around but it was good.  I worked my way around the boat trying the Teriyaki Ribeye, Pork Tonkatsu, Chicken Katsu, Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura.  All delicious.  I had to take a few brakes in between bites as I was filled to the max. I finished with Ahi and Shrimp Sushi.   Got to a point where I could not eat another bite from the Boat.  Enjoyed this meal immensely.  The four of us could not empty the boat and the waitress brought take-out boxes to take some home.  

KUNIO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

KUNIO RESTAURANT IN WAIPAHU IS ACROSS FROM THE OUTLET MALL

BRIGHT CLEAN INTERIOR WITH SMALL SUSHI BAR IN BACK OF RESTAURANT

LARGE BUT ALWAYS CROWDED FOR LUNCH AND DINNER

KUNIO RESTAURANT MENU

FUNAMORI PARTY BOAT IS $31.95 WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR PEOPLE - THATS $127.80

HOT TEA TO START OUR FEAST

PICKLED CABBAGE APPETIZER INCLUDED

GREAT TASTING MISO SOUP INCLUDED

DELICIOUS SALAD INCLUDED

ASSORTED APPETIZERS INCLUDED

HERE COMES THE BOAT

THE FUNAMORI PARTY BOAT

LOBSTER TAILS

TERIYAKI RIBEYE, CHICKEN KATSU, PORK TONKATSU AND FRIED PRAWNS

SHRIMP AND VEGETABLE TEMPURA 

SASHIMI AND ASSORTED SUSHI

KAHAI STREET KITCHEN - AHI WRAP

 KAHAI STREET KITCHEN

HONOLULU, HAWAII

KAHAI STREET KITCHEN

237 KALIHI STREET

HONOLULU, HI  96819

808-845-0320

HOURS:  Tuesday thru Thursday 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM

                 Friday 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

                 Closed Monday, Saturday and Sunday

www.kahaistreet-kitchen.com

Yes, California has great Mexican food and In n' Out Burger that we don't have in Hawaii.  But we have places like Kahai Street Kitchen that cooks up great local and sometimes fine dining food for under ten bucks.  This super fresh Ahi Tuna Wrap set me back nine bucks and was worth every penny.  This was the perfect combination of fresh lightly seared Tuna and an equally fresh mix of 

vegetables.  One bite of this baby and I was happy to be eating in Hawaii on this day and did not even crave a taco afterwards.  This Wrap was big and delicious.  I love Kahai Street Kitchen especially when they serve up something like this.  The restaurant is a true hole-in-the-wall with no parking and seating for just a few people.  It is only open for a few hours four days a week for lunch and the menu changes every single day.  You need to get on their email list.  Once you are on, they will email you the daily specials by 8:00 am each day.  We place our orders by phone and then run over and pick them up.  This is a TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE!

KAHAI STREET KITCHEN AHI TUNA WRAP

CARNITAS TACOS - COOKED ON WEBER GAS GRILL

CARNITAS TACOS

COOKED ON WEBER GAS GRILL

Never thought of making Carnitas on the gas outdoor grill until I received an email from Weber with a recipe.  Followed the recipe and it delivered some great tasting meat that the entire family loved.  In fact, my daughter requested these tacos for dinner two nights in a row.  The recipe was pretty simple.  

Prepared a dry rub and coated  some Pork Ribs.  I let the ribs sit with the dry rub on while I followed the recipe for the marinade which consisted of Mexican Beer, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Onion and Garlic.  Brought the mixture to a boil and then transferred it to a large pot that could go inside the grill with the lid closed.  I then put the Pork Ribs on the grill and cooked them on both sides for around 8-10 minutes total to get a nice sear and grill marks.  Then placed the ribs into the pot and set my grill for around 300 degrees.  Covered the pot with aluminum foil and let it cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Turned the ribs 3-4 times during the cooking process and made sure the marinade was getting all over the meat.  After under three hours the ribs were falling off the bone and the liquid had reduced to a thick syrup.  Pulled off all the bones and mixed it all up while shredding the pork with two forks.  End result was a moist and delicious Carnitas that made great Street Tacos.  Will make this recipe again and again.  Click the link below for the complete Weber recipe:

http://www.weber.com/recipes/pork/pork-carnitas-simmered-in-citrus-and-beer

CARNITAS TACO COOKED ON WEBER OUTDOOR GAS GRILL

CRUNCHY STYLE CARNITAS TACO

 I LIKED THE CRUNCY VERSION BETTER THAN THE SOFT TORTILLA

THE SHREDDED PORK WAS SWEET AND DELICIOUS

BROWNED THE RIBS ON THE GRILL FIRST AND THEN ADDED THEM TO A POT
WITH MARINADE.  COOKED ON THE OUTDOOR GAS GRILL FOR JUST ABOUT 2.5 HOURS
AT 300 DEGREES.  TRIED TO KEEP GRILL AT 300 BUT IT WENT HIGHER FOR AWHILE. 

COOKED RIBS WERE FALLING OFF THE BONE

PLACED PORK BACK INTO MARINADE AND THEN SHREDDED IT UP FOR TACOS

PLACED CARNITAS ON WARM FLOUR TORTILLA AND TOPPED WITH CABBAGE, ONION, CILANTRO AND A BIT OF HOT SAUCE

GUAM SUNSET - WESTIN GUAM RESORT

GUAM SUNSET

TUMON BAY, GUAM

After working a long day on Guam it was nice to sit on a beach chair and just chill out with a cold beverage in front of the Westin.   As the sun set on Tumon Bay I realized how much I love and miss by Wife and Daughter.  Seeing a beautiful sunset like this was just not the same without them.