oahu - honolulu: iyasume musubi

tommy fills up on musubi at iyasume musubi...

spam musubi, double tuna mayo, spicy fried chicken

tommy says: how can you go wrong with rice and spam? iyasume musubi offers not only the classics but many other flavors as well. all were yummy, but the spicy fried chicken was the favorite. the triangles could all have used a bit more filling. 

iyasume musubi
2410 koa ave, suite 4
honolulu, hi 96815
(808) 921-0168
http://www.tonsuke.com/eomusubiya.html

oahu - honolulu: waiola shave ice

tommy chills out at waiola shave ice...

strawberry cream with condensed milk, thai tea and orange creamsicle

tommy says: this place has the the softest textured ice on the island!  the syrup flavors are good and numerous, but nothing particularly special.  what is special though is their magical soft snow!

waiola shave ice

2135 waiola st 

honolulu, hi 96826

(808) 949-2269

https://www.facebook.com/WaiolaShaveIce

oahu - honolulu: ono hawaiian foods

tommy kicks off his trip to oahu at ono hawaiian foods...

lomi lomi salmon, chicken long rice soup, boiled butterfish, haupia, pipikaula, kalua pig

tommy says: the kalua pork and haupia make this place worth a visit.  the pork was tender and was very flavorful (unlike many other versions of this dish which seem to be on the bland side), and oh-so-good with the raw onions!  the haupia had a nice slightly soft texture, not too firm, and the coconut flavor was not overpowering. lomi lomi salmon is ok, just don't think it is my thing - like a very mild salsa with salmon.  the chicken long rice soup has a mild flavor; it is basically just a chicken noodle soup with glass noodles.  the boiled butterfish was also ok.  pipikaula was a bit too dry and sweet, reminiscent of a teriyaki jerky.

ono hawaiian foods

726 kapahulu ave honolulu, hi 96816 (808) 737-2275

san gabriel valley - san gabriel: newport seafood

tommy dives in at newport seafood in san gabriel...

crispy fried squid with salt and pepper

crab with ginger and green onion

beef loc lac (french style)

newport special lobster

tommy says: the lobster and the beef loc lac were the standouts.  the squid was good, but nothing remarkably different from a well done calamari.  the crab was also good, but couldn't stand up to the lobster.  the lobster meat was sweet and tender, and the sauce had a nice mild peppery kick.  the beef was tender and when dipped in the lime juice with salt and pepper, sublime!  hands down the best version of this dish around.

newport tan cang seafood restaurant
518 w. las tunas dr
san gabriel, ca 91776
(626) 289-5998
http://newportseafood.com/

san fernando valley - van nuys: el criollo

tommy mambos his way over to el criollo in van nuys...

rabo encendido: oxtail stewed in a criollo wine sauce 

lomo saltado

tommy says: oxtail stew. get it. love it. don't be shy about picking every last bit of meat out of those crevices of the bones. it is rich, tender, and fantastic. the lomo saltado was just okay.  it had more of a chinese-y flavor than other versions, and the meat was sliced a bit thin. 

el criollo
6622 van nuys blvd
van nuys, ca 91405
(818) 785-8625
http://www.cubanfoodlaonline.com/