Side Street Inn: Aloha to LOST

After six seasons, my love affair with the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 comes to a tragic (and completely unacceptable) end this Sunday, May 23. For years, I looked forward to a new episode of LOST every week and, even when when the season ended, I knew it was coming back. Now I don’t know what to do! I suppose I’ll start with the tips in this final Dharma Initiative Orientation video from Jimmy Kimmel Live.

As a tribute to LOST and the 120-ish hours I’ve spent watching the show (not counting the time spent watching episodes more than once…), I thought I’d write a Hawai’i post about one of favorite places to grind (a.k.a. stuff my face) when I’m home.

Located in an industrial area near Ala Moana Shopping Center more immediately recognizable for its seedy bars and strip clubs than award-winning food, Side Street Inn is a hidden hotspot that is a favorite with locals. Don’t let the shady exterior (or interior with neon signs and dart boards lining the walls) fool you; Hawai’i’s premier chefs have long visited Side Street Inn after closing up their own kitchens for the night, and even Anthony Bourdain was bowled over by the food on his Hawai’i episode of No Reservations.

Photo courtesy of thegirlsny

At this point, my family and I have our Side Street Inn ordering down to a science.

We always start with the Farmer’s Salad ($12.00), which combines local greens, tomatoes, onions and avocado with shrimp, capers and lemon vinaigrette. This salad uses so many delicious local ingredients, and I never cease to be delighted by the juxtaposition of the mild flavors of the shrimp and avocado against the tang of the capers and vinaigrette. So ono (delicious).

On my last visit, we gave the shrimp scampi (black tiger shrimp sauteed with mushrooms, zucchini and capers in garlic butter, $13.00) a try. Although each bite of the perfectly cooked shrimp resulted in a satisfying *snap*, the veggies were a little overcooked and too soft for my liking. Oh well, nothing tons of garlic butter and parmesan can’t cure.

We Hawai’i natives love our white rice. Thus, an order of musubi ($3.50) to accompany dinner is a necessity. Although musubi are frequently served with spam, Side Street Inn serves them as little triangles of rice wrapped in nori and topped with furikake (dried nori and sesame seeds).

Any meal at Side Street Inn is incomplete without their kalbi (Korean shortribs with kimchi, $20.00). With the meat’s rich soy flavor and the perfect amount of char, these shortribs epitomize kalbi and are the reason I’m so picky about my kalbi. Whereas some cuts of shortrib are so thin that your teeth chomp right through each bite, these are satisfyingly thick and juicy.

Mfjkoe;rithertlwkejr. Look at them!

Also popular and a must-order are the pan-fried island pork chops ($21.00). These two-bite-sized pieces of pork with their wonderfully crispy, golden brown outer layer have the power to keep you eating even once you’re dangerously full. Because they’re on the drier side, the pork chops benefit from a dip in the ketchup.

Finally, we have the liliko’i (passion fruit) creme brulee ($5.00). Until I recently devoured the passion fruit creme brulee from Mo-Chica, this dessert from Side Street Inn was my gold standard for all creme brulee. The liliko’i-infused custard is on the thinner side of creme brulees and, as a result, each tart spoonful immediately spreads throughout your entire mouth. Also, even the paper thin caramel layer at the top of the custard tastes like liliko’i.

You have to love the touch of Hawai’i at the top!

And so, I pay tribute to one of my favorite television shows with a post about one of my favorite restaurants. Argh, I love both so much. Now, I’m just sad about the end of LOST and really, really hungry.

Side Street Inn

www.sidestreetinn.com

1225 Hopaka St.

Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 591-0253

Nak Won Korean Restaurant

When I first moved to Los Angeles from Hawai’i, I was surprised to learn that much of the Korean food here was a trendy, cook-it-yourself-and-pay-an-exorbitant-amount-of-money-to do-so kind of thing.

Although I had eaten at these sorts of restaurants back home, I am far more accustomed and partial to Korean restaurants where the dishes are prepared for you and are accompanied by 4-5 complimentary side dishes such as potato salad and kimchi–all for around $10 per person. Simple, effort-free and cheap. Was this asking so much?!

Finally, a friend recommended that I try Nak Won.

Located in an unassuming strip mall in Koreatown, Nak Won is open 24 hours a day and serves up tasty, traditional Korean dishes at reasonable prices.

Behold: the side dishes. These dishes include kimchi, bean sprouts and potato salad and are perfect for snacking before your entree arrives. Don’t worry if you gobble them all up; Nak Won’s friendly waitresses will gladly refill your little bowls.

My friend Jen ordered the Dak Dori Tang ($13.99), a dish for which chicken is marinated in hot pepper sauce with vegetables and then simmered in a soup. The chicken had a nice spicy kick, but the bones in each piece of chicken necessitated abandoning our fork and knife in favor of our hands, which left our hands and fingers red. The taste, however, was worth the mess.

J ordered his usual–the kalbi. ($12.99). Whereas some restaurants give only four or five pieces per order, Nak Won piles its platter high with hot, juicy shortribs. Nak Won’s kalbi is second only to that of Ohana BBQ in my book.

I ordered the bulgogi ($10.99), which is served with white and green onions that play nicely off the tender meat. Although the beef’s flavor is just good–not great–it is difficult to argue with the price and amount of food you get (I usually end up getting two meals out of Nak Won’s bulgogi).

So, if you like Korean food but don’t like getting up off your butt, driving to a restaurant and then paying to cook your own food, I recommend Nak Won.

Nak Won Korean Restaurant

1001 S. Vermont Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90006

(213) 388-8889

Ohana BBQ

After spending most of Saturday glued to my TV, hoping that my home would not be decimated by a tsunami (thankfully, it was not…not even close, actually), I was in desperate need of some Hawaii food. Specifically, I was craving kalbi, and my favorite place for this dish is Ohana BBQ in Studio City.

Not to be confused with the chain restaurant Ohana Hawaiian BBQ, this cozy, family-run restaurant located in a strip mall serves “Korean food with a Hawaiian twist.” Their menu includes local staples such as BBQ chicken, beef and pork, katsu and noodles.

The restaurant’s interior reminds me of small plate lunch joints in Hawaii, with vintage posters and Kim Taylor Reece photographs lining the walls. Also decorating the walls are various write-ups of Ohana BBQ in LA publications. In short, this place is legit in more ways than one.

The kalbi (beef short ribs, $10.95) is nothing short of fantastic. I’ve eaten my fair share of short ribs in both Hawaii and LA, and these are at the top of my list of favorites. The meat is much thicker than at most resturants (both Korean and Hawaiian) and is incredibly juicy and tender.

Although the local girl in me balks at paying $10.95 for kalbi (and, with a guava juice, around $14 for my whole meal), when I consider the quality of the meat and the wonderful flavor, I gladly put aside my one issue with Ohana BBQ and whip out my Hello Kitty credit card to pay up.

J ordered tonkatsu ($8.95), which is a sliced, breaded pork cutlet served with a tangy and sweet sauce. Ohana BBQ’s pork is juicy, and the breading is delightfully crispy. Every bite is a savory mix of tenderness and crunch. Although Ohana BBQ’s katsu sauce is thin and I am partial to thicker sauce, it tastes exactly as it should. Yum!

Ohana BBQ also serves shaved ice, but, with their lack of flavor options, you’re better off tracking down Get Shaved. You should, however, definitely pair your meal with one of the Hawaiian Sun juices they offer.

After a stressful morning and afternoon, Ohana BBQ was comfort on a plate–completely authentic and better, in fact, than much of the kalbi and katsu I’ve had in Hawaii. My mouth is watering just remembering it…

Ohana BBQ

www.ohanabbq.com

11269 Ventura Blvd.

Studio City, CA 91604

(818) 508-3192

Aloha Cafe

It was a happy, happy day when I discovered Aloha Cafe. Located in the Honda Plaza in Little Tokyo, Aloha Cafe has a great selection of local (i.e. Hawaiian) breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In terms of well-priced Hawaiian food in LA, it doesn’t get much better than this place (L&L isn’t that good in Hawaii, and it certainly won’t be any better in California!). Some dishes taste more authentic than others, but I’ve yet to be disappointed with anything I’ve ordered, and service is always wonderful. It’s a great place to visit when I need a little taste of home.

On this trip, J ordered the kalua pig weekend special. “Kalua” refers to food cooked in a traditional underground oven, which steams and slow cooks the meat and makes it very tender. Kalua pig can be very salty sometimes, but Aloha Cafe’s had the perrrrfect amount of salt. I sampled some and was in heaven!

The kalua pig plate comes with chicken long rice, and J was a big fan. I, on the other hand, have traumatic memories of being forced to eat chicken long rice in elementary school and have avoided the stuff ever since.

J, a sushi and sashimi lover, was thrilled to discover poke on his first trip to Hawaii–which instantly made my Japanese surfer/fisherman/kayaker Dad love my little haole (a.k.a. white dude). J ordered a side of Aloha Cafe’s ahi poke (one of the specials of the day) and really enjoyed it.

For my lunch, I ordered the kal-bi plate. Aloha Cafe’s kal-bi is an example of one of their dishes that differs a bit from standard plate lunch fare. Aloha Cafe marinates its shortribs in something other than just the standard shoyu and sugar combo. Their kal-bi is a little heartier and a little sweeter, and the meat’s a little more tender.

I also ordered a side of kimchi. This was crunchy and had great flavor and was not too spicy–just right for a wimp like me!

When it comes to Aloha Cafe, try anything and everything. Even if it’s not what you’re used to, it’ll still be tasty, just different. If you know nothing about Hawaiian food, you’re sure to love everything. Oh and be sure to pair your meal with a can of guava juice. Yum!

Follow Aloha Cafe on Twitter (www.twitter.com/alohacafe) for updates on their daily specials and *squeal* freebies.

Aloha Cafewww.alohacafelosangeles.com
410 E. 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 346-9930