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Big City Diner

Digest Step Up to the Plate

February 22, 2015

Story By: Lynsey Beth Futa |

LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL: Hawaiian Island Fresh Fish, BCD Style ($14.99 lunch, $19.99 dinner)

Speaking of fresh, the fish featured will be bought at the auction, ensuring that it is locally caught, and will vary according to what is available. Pictured is ahi, encrusted with furikake and seared to perfection.

The fish is ladened with julienned ginger and carrots, green onion curls and cilantro from Wong Farms.

There is nothing small about the fare at Big City Diner (BCD), in portion-size and in flavor. With five locations on the island, the restaurants are overseen by senior executive chef, Dennis Franks. It is under his direction that the establishment continues to serve up favorites such as The Really Loco, Loco Moco ($10.99) and Grandma’s Incredible Kimchee Fried Rice ($8.99). Joining the HAF’s (Hawaii Agricultural Foundation) Localicious campaign to promote and support local farms, Big City Diner is featuring Hawaiian Island Fresh Fish during the month of March.

A bed of blanched bok choy rests in a generous amount of a local, go-to sauce mixture of mirin, Aloha Shoyu and sesame oil, reminiscent of the taste of BCD’s weekday special, Grilled Asian Fish Oriental over Baby Bok Choy ($10.99).

The combination of subtle flavors create a harmonious dish that represents local fare, boasts freshness and is sure to tantalize the taste buds of tourists and locals alike.

Chef Dennis explains that the differences in pricing “between lunch and dinner is that the dinner portion offers a bigger piece of fish.” This only reiterates the idea that Big City does nothing small, a concept that diners and their appetites have a large appreciation for.

Big City Diner

Pearlridge East
98-211 Pali Momi St., Ste. 900, Aiea (and four other locations island-wide) 487-8588 (restaurant)
487-8188 (catering)
Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight
BigCityDinerHawaii.com

98-211 Pali Momi Street #900, Aiea, HI 96701

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