Still pleasing diners after all these years

By Lynsey Beth Futa

The decades may come and go, but New Eagle Cafe’s goal remains the same: to offer local comfort food in a warm environment. The 1950s restaurant has continued to thrive throughout the years, even in the midst of multiple owners and a location change in the 1980s.

The friendly staff treats everyone as if they’re regulars, smiling and laughing with customers as they deliver scrumptious plates of daily specials to eager diners.

Breakfast is an especially wonderful time to dine at New Eagle Cafe, with omelets, pancakes and even Japanese breakfast options served up, such as Grilled Miso Butterfish ($11.25) and Shioyaki Salmon ($10.25). Enjoy Roast Prime Rib and Half-Order Eggs Benedict ($16.45) as well, which sports a generous cut of prime rib — a carnivore’s dream.

As you quickly will notice, Asian culture in Hawaii has influenced many of New Eagle’s dishes. Take the establishment’s Mandoo Min ($10.25), for example. The soup stock is simple but flavorful, and each spoonful brings up new goodies to devour. Fresh, thick noodles sink to the bottom of the bowl, as oversized homemade mandoo wade at the top. The Korean dumpling is packed with clear noodles, ground pork and spices, which is somewhat of a family recipe, owner Tae Im divulges.

Also in Mandoo Min are fishcake, Chinese mustard cabbage, green onion and egg. It’s no doubt that this dish is a favorite among diners of all ages.

If you have a hankering for a little bit of everything, and an appetite to support these cravings, try one of New Eagle’s teishoku options ($24 each). The Japanese meal sets include miso soup, tossed salad, tsukemono and rice. Don’t forget shrimp and veggie tempura, with the shrimp breaded in panko for extra texture and crunch, and the veggies coated in a delightful batter for contrast. Ahi sashimi also makes the set, but the main entree is entirely up to you. Im suggests Barbecue Short Ribs (Kalbi). The succulent bone-in meat is grilled with a tasty soy-based sauce and garnished with green onions. Other teishoku choices include Tonkatsu and Saba.

If nothing else, order a cup of coffee and enjoy your companions’ company. After all, first and foremost, New Eagle Cafe is a family joint eager to serve aloha to all who enter.

New Eagle Cafe

(808) 488-0343
1130 N. Nimitz Hwy., Honolulu
545-2233
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.;
Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.;
Saturday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.;
Sunday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
neweaglecafehawaii.com