Happy Holidays With a Twist on Breakfast

Man, oh man, time is flying by at a blink of an eye. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be here before we know it (ahem, my favorite holiday ever)! Lots of little ones will be hitting the hay early tomorrow night anticipating a visit from Santa and his reindeer. To tell you the truth, it was always difficult for me to fall asleep as a child on Christmas Eve because I was beyond excited to wake up with my family to fun-filled gifts under the tree.

Now, fast forward 20 years or so later, and the feeling is almost the same. The excitement is still there, however, I can’t wait to fall asleep tomorrow night so that I can wake up and eat a huge Christmas breakfast! Breakfast is the perfect meal, but sadly a lot of times I don’t have the time or energy to experience it in all its glory. But alas, now that the holidays are here, breakfast is even more of a big deal — it’s a feast! Everything is a little more extravagant this time of year, isn’t it?

So, this week, Ono readers, it’s time to put a twist on Christmas breakfast and devour tasty delights that are out of the ordinary. Although breakfast may not be served on Christmas Day at the following

Ono, You Know establishments, it’s Christmas every day as far as my tummy is concerned when it comes to these dishes. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Good to Grill

Best known for its meaty hits such as braised short ribs, prime rib, kalbi and hibachi chicken, Good to Grill also puts a spin on your go-to hearty breakfast of the usual eggs, sausage, waffles and choice of carbs, and goes the healthy route with its Tofu, Veggies and Egg Whites Omelette ($7.99). With all the splurging going on this time of year, this omelette is the perfect choice — it tastes good and is good for you!

According to restaurant general manager, Jesse Nicholson, Tofu, Veggies and Egg Whites Omelette features a colorful variety of guilt-free ingredients, including red and green bell peppers, onion, tomato, spinach and tofu nestled in a blanket of low-calorie egg whites. And since you can’t get much healthier than this, give yourself a break and indulge in a side of your choice, whether it be white or brown rice, white or wheat toast or hash potatoes (go ahead and opt for fried rice if you wish for $1 more).

“We’re known for our selection of meats cooked on the kiawe wood grill, but we also try to give our customers a non-meat option, and this is it,” Nicholson says. “Vegetarians love it.”

Good to Grill offers Tofu, Veggies and Egg Whites Scramble as well ($7.99). Breakfast is available Saturday and Sunday only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. So, start your day the right way at Good to Grill, located in Safeway Center Kapahulu.

Good to Grill
Safeway Center Kapahulu
888 Kapahulu Ave.
734.7345

Kit n Kitchen

The holiday season gets a little brighter (if that’s even possible) with Kit n Kitchen. This University Avenue eatery, best known for its Eurasian cuisine, began serving the most important meal of the day about two years ago, and owner and chef May Yiu takes pride in the restaurant’s New England-style breakfast with a local twist.

Breakfast is available Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m., and I believe the menu is equivalent to Disneyland as there are so many amazing options to choose from. Omelettes, crepes, waffles, pancakes — Kit n Kitchen has it all. Yet, if I had to select one breakfast item off the menu to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Omurice, hands down. Priced at $10.95, this omelette is the best Christmas gift ever. Island pineapple chicken fried rice is enveloped in a three extra-large egg omelette and bathed in a homemade tomato sauce. Your choice of bacon, Spam, link sausage, ham or Portuguese sausage and white or wheat toast accompany this early morning feast.

It’s Christmas every day at Kit n Kitchen.

Kit n Kitchen
1010 University Ave.
942.7622

Hee Hing Restaurant

It’s always a good time for Chinese fare, and Hee Hing Restaurant on Kapahulu Avenue is the place to be this holiday season. This family-run establishment was founded more than two decades ago, and has claimed its spot as a top choice among locals and visitors alike.

This award-winning restaurant serves up entrees that are definitely rave-worthy, however, it’s the dim sum here that is sure to impress even the most finicky of eaters. Served daily from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dim sum is readily available for those breakfast and lunch time cravings.

A couple of my favorite dim sum delicacies include Baked Manapua with Char Siu ($2.95 for three pieces) and Baked Cream Buns ($2.60 for three pieces). Both are delicious and must-haves at any gathering. Hee Hing’s Baked Manapua melts in your mouth, and the morsels of meat are just so tender and tasty, while Baked Cream Buns put a little sweet into every meal, as the custard filling is heaven in a bun. What a way to spoil yourself at breakfast, huh? Your day can only get sweeter after this.

And coming soon to Hee Hing is Shanghai Dumplings, which I was fortunate enough to sneak a peek. Served in a steam basket, these scrumptious little dumplings are plump with pork filling and chicken broth, and I promise you will soon be adding another steady dim sum item to your list in the near future. I can’t wait for these dumplings to hit the menu!

So, sleep in a bit, rub the sleep from your tired eyes and head to Hee Hing Restaurant — breakfast awaits.

Hee Hing Restaurant
449 Kapahulu Ave. Ste. 101
735.5544