Shinnen Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Of course, though the year has changed, we’re still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Which still means donning face masks and potentially eye protection (at work at least) along with social distancing. And because the data still shows that indoor dining is associated with the highest percentage of positive cases, we still patronize local restaurants primarily with take-out. In fact, since the pandemic started, we’ve only dined inhouse on two occasions and one of those occasions was prior to the City and County’s Tiered system when it seemed that the 50th flattened the curve. So probably for the better part of this Year of the Metal Ox, we’ll continue to support our local restaurant industry with take-out and today’s column focuses not just on local establishments but those in my neck-of-the woods in K-Town or the good old 96744.
Zia’s Caffe
I first sampled food at the original Zia’s Caffe in Kailua as I previously worked at the Kaiser Permanente Clinic right next door then in 2001, the Dymond clan who run the Kalapawai Market and Café businesses opened a 2nd location in Kaneohe. I didn’t think that the 2nd location would survive as being a lifelong resident of K-Town, fellow 96744ers love their breakfasts and Chinese food but not much else but here we are almost 20 years later and the only thing that has changed are the owners.
Back in 2017, Lindsey Dymond put Zia’s Caffe on the market while the business was still doing well and still had many years left on the lease so that the Dymond clan could focus on promoting and advancing the Kalapawai businesses. In 2019, Micah Suderman who was (and still is) the Director of Restaurants at the Royal Hawaiian decided to purchase Zia’s Caffe which his spouse, Sophany Mao-Suderman would manage. The purchase was finalized in January 2020… then the perfect storm hit. COVID-19 touched down on Hawaiian shores, tourism suddenly died so Micah was laid-off from The Royal Hawaiian and the previous Zia’s Caffe chef left leaving Micah to man the kitchen himself. However, in August, Chef Keith Endo formerly of Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar (our 2nd home) decided to make a change of scenery and joined Zia’s Caffe bringing with him many of the specials served at Vino like the fried Brussel sprouts, straciatella cheese and Bristol Bay seared scallops. Zia’s Caffe also recently purchased a pasta machine so several fresh pasta are now on the menu and they’ve already started wine pairing dinners – three to four course meals with wine pairings for the savory courses as Micah is also a Certified Sommelier. A bonus is that Zia’s Caffe now consistently offers Porchetta on their special menu. If you’ve never sampled porchetta, it’s a whole pork belly slathered with fresh herbs then rolled and tied and roasted low and slow until the flesh is succulent and tender and the skin crisp and crackling. When the porchetta was first offered, K-Towners probably didn’t order it much as a porchetta pasta was offered several days later with chopped porchetta in a brown sauce on fresh fettucine. Because I haven’t seen the porchetta pasta offered lately, I assume it’s because the porchetta now sells out soon after it’s offered. Great standby dishes offered prior to Chef Endo’s arrival are the Chicken Parmesan, a huge pounded, breaded and fried chicken cutlet with mozzarella and marinara on spaghetti, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Fish on lemon and asparagus risotto and their Chopped Salad with balsamic vinaigrette. And while Zia’s Caffe is only about a 10 minute drive from our house, Door Dash delivers in our neck-of-the-woods which is the perfect option when I’ve started my cocktail hour a little early on Sunday afternoons…
Zia’s Caffe
45-620 Kamehameha Highway
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 235-9427
Monday – Sunday, 11:00am – 8:30pm
Ono2Guys
Located in the miniscule Adon Plaza in the heart of Kaneohe, it’s not the easiest bakery to find. From the main intersection at Likelike and Kamehameha Highways, the entrance to Adon Plaza’s tiny parking lot is right after the 2nd traffic light on the right. The entry and exit can accommodate a little more than 1 car width so if someone is leaving, you have to wait on Kamehameha Highway before entering the parking lot. If you ever visited the original location of Dean’s Drive Inn (which moved about 3 blocks North) which later was occupied by Don Goyo’s Mexican Food (which moved to Windward City Shopping Center), Ono2Guys is in the same spot. And though the Ono2Guys logo depicts a rugged character flashing a shaka, the owners couldn’t be nicer people. Usually Kyoung Je “Ewa” Kim works the front with “Lei” and Kyoung Ho “Kai” Rho baking in the back.
They first started selling standard bakery fair with square bread loaves like Shirokiya and Kimuraya used to sell, anpan or sweet bean filled bread as well as standard pastries along with their chestnut bread which is bread literally filled with whole, sweetened chestnuts. And during the pandemic, they started selling dosirak or Korean bento as well as various pickles and kim chi. When Ms S had to change her exercise regimen due to the temporary closure of 24 Hour Fitness, she started going on early morning walks outside of our neighborhood as we live on a long hill popular with walkers (not wearing face masks) so she elects to avoid the large crowds of walkers. But since it’s still early when she finishes her walks, she always makes a weekly stop at Ono2Guys for dosirak ($6 including tax) and pastries. Several months ago when businesses were allowed to reopen, Ono2Guys was robbed at gunpoint which lead first to anger then frustration for the owners but after overwhelming support from residents on social media including making that initial visit or extra purchases at Ono2Guys, the owners felt that they truly were part of the Kaneohe Ohana and found the silver lining in this senseless act.
Ono2Guys
45-773 Kamehameha Highway
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 762-3111
Wednesday to Sunday, 7:00am – 4:00pm
Like their Facebook page to see daily dosirak
Adela’s Country Eatery
I Love Country Café co-owner Millie Kim and her baker and longtime friend, Adela Visitacion were invited to Hokkaido because of Adela’s Macadamia Nut Shortbread cookies but ended up learning the art of ramen noodle making at the Mochizuki Seimen Noodle Factory for 5 days and ended purchasing a ramen noodle making machine before returning. Upon return, they decided to infuse the noodles with local flavors instead of simply creating traditional ramen noodles. And that started a new partnership for Millie Chan which she named after her friend. They currently serve noodles flavored with purple sweet potato or ube, taro, ulu (breadfruit), moringa (malunggay) and sometimes avocado. And while they also produce standard angel’s hair pasta and ramen noodles, the flavored noodles are either paired with special sauces or you can simply decide on your own sauce and topping combo.
Don’t tell my internist but my favorite is the emerald green moringa noodles stir fried local style topped with lechon (crispy fried pork belly) with chopped onions and tomatoes – for the record, the lechon also is great on their garlic fried rice. I also like the ube noodles with garlic butter topped with garlic shrimp as well as the taro noodles with coconut cream sauce and bits of luau leaf and shrimp. Adela’s also offers several variations of fried rice – my favorite is the chicken adobo fried rice with 2 sunny side eggs or the smoked almon fried rice when it’s available. Their fried chicken also has several local food bloggers waxing poetic as it’s available with four different sauces though the crème de la crème for most diners is the large dessert case with several variations of cheesecake and other baked goodies (that’s also available by the full cake if you order in advance).
Adela’s Country Eatery
45-1151 Kamehameha Highway
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 236-2366
Monday – Saturday, 10:30am – 8:00pm
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