Comfort food never goes out of style

Lined with picture windows and filled with melodies of Hawaiian slack-key guitar and vintage aloha prints, Kenny’s Restaurant is a place for reveling in nostalgia. The eatery owes its success and position as a community fixture to the preservation of the comforts of yesteryear — not only through hospitable service, but also through plates laden with soul-warming classics. Kenny’s invites you to step back in time with the following dishes on special for the holidays through Jan. 3.

With its colorful mix of ingredients and array of crispy tortilla triangles framing the plate, it’s no wonder customers say Kenny’s Taco Salad ($10.99) looks like the sun. This crave-worthy iceberg lettuce salad bursts with flavors of seasoned ground beef, refried and black beans, diced tomatoes, green onions and shredded cheddar. The dish is topped off with ranch dressing, mild salsa, sour cream and one more garnish. “We throw in some jalapenos to give it a little kick,” explains Erlene Hutchinson, the restaurant’s senior assistant manager.

The secret behind Kenny’s succulent prime rib is a closely guarded one. “It’s still tender even at medium-well,” Hutchinson attests. Served with au jus and horseradish, vegetables and choice of starch, Prime Rib (regular cut $20.95) is a highly sought-after item. Customers who want a larger portion can order Kenny’s cut ($27.95). Kenny’s even offers the classic in catering size for the holidays. Call for more details.

Another item people have fallen for is Stuffed Cabbage ($12.65), even though it’s a simple dish — seasoned ground beef wrapped in tender cabbage leaves and baked in a light tomato and bell pepper sauce. “People just don’t have time to make it anymore,” says Hutchinson. Kenny’s happily saves you the trouble.

Roast Turkey Plate ($12.99) has all the holiday-inspired goodness you could desire. Fresh roasted turkey, both white and dark meat, peeks out from underneath a thick smother of gravy. The rest of the traditional fixings are there too: house-made sausage and sage stuffing hidden beneath the turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

Craving any of these classic comfort food dishes? Carve out some time to enjoy a relaxed meal while catching up with loved ones. And don’t forget to leave time for a comfort food-inspired nap.

Kenny’s Restaurant

Kamehameha Shopping Center
1620 N. School St.
841-0931
Sunday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday, 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Saturday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.