Doing It Veggie Style at Dean’s

Tofu Steak ($9.25)

The Windward town of Kaneohe is known for its popular Chinese restaurants as well as its many places to grab a plate lunch. But we all know that the typical plate lunch consists of meat, rice, mac or potato salad and maybe a green salad, which leaves much to be desired for those who choose not to eat meat or fish. And even if they have an offering that appears vegetarian, it often is prepared with oyster sauce or chicken broth.

But you can just cruise past the rest and make a stop at Adon Plaza, where Dean’s Drive Inn is cooking up a variety of vegetarian specialties.

“We have a whole line of vegetarian items here,” says chef and owner Dean Mishima. “It’s all vegetarian — burgers, grillers — no fish sauce, no shrimp, no chicken base or stock.”

That’s because Mishima and his family are Seventh-day Adventists, who keep a vegetarian diet.

Maui Taro Burger ($7.95)

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“Church members come for lunch,” he says, “so we have to have vegetarian food for them.”

But you don’t have to join the church to enjoy Dean’s Drive Inn’s healthy fare with flair. Whether you’re in the mood for a sandwich or a full plate lunch, Dean’s does it veggie style.

The Maui Taro Burger ($7.95) comes with a choice of homemade soup, spring mix salad or fries.

“We make our soups from scratch,” says Mishima.

There’s also Tofu Steak ($9.25) that’s topped with ogo lomi tomato and served with rice (white or brown) and a choice of soup, tossed or macaroni salad. It’s a pretty plate that’s good for you, too.

The list goes on — stir-fry tofu and vegetables, vegetarian chili and rice, chili dogs and more.

So head over to the Windward side, hungry veggie lovers. Dean’s has it covered.

Dean’s Drive Inn

45-773 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe
247.1300
Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed Saturdays