Wailana Coffee House

Always wonder what goes on behind the scenes at your favorite restaurant? Well, much credit goes to the many chefs, owners and managers who work diligently day in and day out to make sure Hawaii’s diners have a top-notch dining experience.

This week, Dining Out gets the inside scoops from Wailana Coffee House’s general manager Kenton Tom, who gives us a little taste of Wailana Coffee House and shares just what fuels his culinary drive.

Name: Kenton Tom
Title: General Manager of Wailana Coffee House

Who or what inspires you as a chef/manager/owner? My father is my most-inspirational restaurateur. He was a tireless worker, working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. He loved making customers happy and offering them great value.

What’s your most popular dish? Our most popular dish has to be our Jamboree Breakfast. It features all-you-can-eat pancakes, two strips of bacon and two eggs. It is served 24 hours a day.

What is the biggest compliment you’ve ever received as a chef/manager/owner? That Wailana is not only the best-value restaurant in Waikiki, but also the friendliest.

If you could serve food to a celebrity, what dish would you serve? Oxtail soup. Our most unique dish that sells out every time we make this weekly special. This Oriental dish consists of trimmed oxtails simmered in a special stock until very tender, and seasoned with black mushrooms, red dates, anise seed, peanuts and other Oriental seasonings.

Wailana Coffee House

1860 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
955.1764
Open daily, 24 hours Closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday