Spreading Aloha with Comfort Food

When Gwen Alejo-Herring, owner of Queen Street Cafe & Grill, opened up shop more than three years ago, she cleverly let her kiawe grill do all the talking.

“We constantly had it going to cook our Kiawe Grilled Steak ($8),” says Alejo-Herring. “To this day, that smoky aroma alone brings in so many customers.”

Tucked away inside Aiea Shopping Center, Queen Street Cafe & Grill is a popular local hot spot with flocks of customers going in and out every 10 minutes. Named after its predecessor restaurant, Queen Bee’s Bar & Grill, the eatery specializes in high quality, local comfort food made fresh-to-order.

Customers rave about the menu’s Firecracker Chicken ($7), which features a generous medley of boneless fried chicken pieces drizzled with a spicy mayo and sweet chili sauce. Another top contender is Ahi Belly with Ponzu Sauce ($9), pan-fried to tender perfection and served with a house-made lemon juice and soy dressing.

“My mom’s greatest joy was cooking for the family, so it’s a passion the rest of us held onto growing up,” explains Alejo-Herring. “One of my brother’s specialties is our signature Guava Smoked Pork with Onions ($8), which he smokes for almost eight hours with a guava glaze and caramelized onions.”

For the best of many worlds, Alejo-Herring recommends the UH Sports Special ($9.50), which comes with kiawe grilled steak, furikake garlic chicken, luncheon meat and ahi katsu, served on top of furikake rice and accompanied by tartar sauce and wasabi aioli. “It’s a great dish for first-timers because it has three of our most popular items,” says Alejo-Herring.

All entrees come with a choice of two scoops of white rice, garlic mashed potatoes or brown rice, along with a choice of potato, mac or tossed salad. “Customers can feel free to substitute a dish or side item without charge,” says Alejo-Herring. “We enjoy when our diners take advantage of our flexibility to custom-create a perfect meal.”

Available for a limited time only, Dining Out readers are invited to take advantage of a special Hot Deals Hawaii offer in which customers may purchase a $20 voucher for $10 that is valid for any menu item (excluding catering). The voucher may not be redeemed for cash or credit or combined with other specials, discounts or coupons. The deal, available at www.HotDealsHawaii.com is valid from Sept. 3, 2014, to Feb. 28, 2015.

Queen Street Cafe & Grill

99-080 Kauhale St., Suite C1, Aiea
484-2708
Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.