GREAT EATS HAWAII

Sunday, May 20, 2018

VOLARE RISTORANTE ITALIANO - CHICAGO, IL

VOLARE RISTORANTE ITALIANO

201 E. GRAND AVE

CHICAGO, IL. 60611

312-410-9900

HOURS: Monday thru Thursday 11:00 AM -10:30 PM

Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

www.volarerestaurant.com

www.yelp.com/biz/volare-ristorante-italiano-chicago

www.facebook.com/VolareChicago/

Loved the food, service and company at Volare. Dined with some incredible friends who live in Chicago and we enjoyed a great evening of food, friendship and wine. The portions here are huge so I recommend sharing so you can enjoy a variety of dishes and flavors. Loved the Spaghetti Neri al Pesce ($24) with Black Squid Ink Spaghetti with Crab, Scallops and Shrimp in a creamy Rose Sauce. I tried so hard to finish this but could only manage about half the plate. So good. Loved the Insalata Di Mare ($18) with Octopus, Calamari, Conch and Shrimp. The serving was enough for four people to share as an appetizer. The Bruschetta Italiana ($8) is a bargain of an appetizer that was perfect for a table of four to share. Also enjoyed the Cheese and Salami Antipasti which again was great to share with the table. This is a quality restaurant with great service, food and huge portions. Would definitely go back again to try another dozen of their dishes.

VOLARE RISTORANTE ITALIANO

VOLARE MENU

FRESH BAKED BREADS

GREAT SERVICE AT VOLARE

CHEESE AND MEATS

BRUSCHETTA

INSALATA DI MARI

SPAGHETTI NERI AL PESCE

DINNER WITH FRIENDS FROM CHICAGO

PORTILLO'S - CHICAGO, IL

PORTILLO'S

CLARK AND ONTARIO

100 W. ONTARIO

CHICAGO, IL. 60654

312-587-8910

HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM / Sunday 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM

www.portillos.com

www.facebook.com/portillos.hotdog/

www.yelp.com/biz/portillos-hot-dogs-and-barnellis-salad-bowl-chicago

Portillo's has become a must go spot when I visit Chicago. The Italian Beef Sandwich here is one of my favorite sandwiches on the planet. I was forced to visit Portillo's twice on this trip. The first time I was waiting in line for about half an hour. An employee came up and took my order in line and wrote it on a bag. I ordered an Italian Sandwich and a Hot Dog. After waiting another half hour to get our food, we opened the bag and found an Italian Sausage Sandwich and Hot Dog. No Italian Beef! Rather than wait in line again we just ate what was given to us even though it was the wrong order. The Italian Sausage with Hot Peppers, Dipped and Mozzarella Cheese ($5.90) was good but kind of depressing because I was craving the Italian Beef Sandwich so much. The Chicago Dog with Everything ($3.09) was delicious. One of my favorite dogs in Chicago. Love the soft Poppy Seed Bun. This was satisfying but not having the Italian Beef made this visit a bummer. So what to do? Go back on another day - Wait in line again and get than damn Italian Beef. I did....

The Italian Beef with Hot Peppers, XT Gravy and Mozzarella ($7.14) delivered on every level. Wow..what a sandwich. Every component is delicious. Plenty of Beef drenched in Gravy with a load of Hot Peppers and topping of Mozzarella Cheese. I sat alone on the patio and savored each and every bite. Surrounded by tourists and locals I was in a zone with me and my Italian Beef as one.

There seemed to be no-one around me, no cars and no sound. Just me and my Portillo's Italian Beef. One of the best sandwiches on the planet.

Click link below to view previous posts on Portillo's;

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/01/portillos.html

https://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/01/portillos-hot-dogs-and-italian-beef.html

PORTILLO'S ITALIAN BEEF IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SANDWICHES EVER

PORTILLO'S ON CLARK AND ONTARIO

A MUST VISIT WHEN IN CHICAGO

BE PREPARED TO WAIT IN LINE TO ORDER AND PICK UP

ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH HOT PEPPERS AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE

CHICAGO DOG WITH EVERYTHING

PORTILLO'S ITALIAN BEEF

ITALIAN BEEF WITH GRAVY, HOT PEPPERS AND MOZZARELLA

PLENTY OF BEEF

Sunday, April 29, 2018

YAJIMA-YA JAPANESE AND LOCAL CUISINE

YAJIMA-YA

1345 KING STREET

HONOLULU, HI. 96814

808-492-9800

HOURS: Monday 5-9 / Tuesday thru Sunday 11-2, 5-9

www.facebook.com/pages/Yajima-Ya-Restaurant/211686305953569

www.yelp.com/biz/yajima-ya-restaurant-honolulu-2

Entire family enjoyed our meal at Yajima-Ya. The staff was friendly, the place was clean and the food was good. Loved the All you Can Eat Soup Bar where I loaded my Miso Soup with Green Onions. Sashimi was fresh and delicious. Meals include Rice and Pickled Vegetables. I loved the dipping sauce for the Garlic Ahi. Sauce was addicting and I put it on everything. One of the best tasting Japanese sauces I have ever tasted. Loved it. Made everything taste better.

YAJIMA-YA JAPANESE AND LOCAL CUISINE

YAJIMA-YA ON KING STREET

ENTRANCE IS ON THE SIDE

ENTER AND PASS THE OPEN KITCHEN WHERE EVERYONE GREETS YOU

YAJIMA-YA DINING ROOM

STRIKE THAT POSE AT YAJIMA-JA

YAJIMA-YA LUNCH MENU

HELP YOURSELF SOUP STATION

LOADED MY MISO SOUP UP WITH GREEN ONIONS

AHI SASHIMI

GARLIC STEAK

MISO BUTTERFISH

MISO BUTTERFISH WAS MOIST AND DELICIOUS

GARLIC AHI

GARLIC AHI - ITS THE DIPPING SAUCE THAT PUTS THIS OVER THE TOP WITH FLAVOR

EL PALANQUE MEXICAN RESTAURANT

177 S. KAMEHAMEHA HWY

WAHIAWA, HI. 96786

808-622-5829

HOURS: Tuesday thru Friday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM / 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM / Sunday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM / Closed Monday

https://elpalenquehawaii.weebly.com

www.facebook.com/El-Palenque-116257828402007/

www.yelp.com/biz/el-palenque-wahiawa

I was not too impressed with the food at El Palanque in Wahiawa but did enjoy the Chips and Salsa. The Salsa is packed with flavor and a lot of heat which I found addicting. The Chicken Enchilada with Red Sauce was a bit dry and bland. The Crispy Beef Tacos were ordered with the works including, Lettuce, Cheese, Cilantro and Onions. Loved everything about this taco except for the Beef. While there was a good amount of Beef, the flavor was not good. A friend had the same tacos and said the same. Disappointing because I really liked everything on this plate with the exception of the Beef. My friends raved about the Beans and Rice and said they had great flavor and better than most Mexican restaurants they visit. I tried a bite of the Tamale and found it to be very bland and tasteless.