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Something For Everyone

A La Carte Columns

July 10, 2016

Story By: Dining Out Team | Photos by: Bodie Collins

Pho Special ($9.25 medium)

Pho Special ($9.25 medium)

By Ellise Kakazu

Fairwood Drive Inn & Pho 27 Cafe truly is a one-stop shop.

The two-in-one restaurant offers a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese/Hong Kong and local-style food.

Owner Tiffany Ko says she decided to open an eatery that appeals to everyone’s appetite because she understands the stress of rushing to and from different restaurants to get food that satisfies each member of the family.

And although the menu already is extensive, it seems to keep growing. Some of the restaurant’s latest additions include Hong Kong-style baked and sizzling plates. The baked plates (Baked Seafood, Sole Fish, Shrimp, Pork Chop, Chicken, New York Steak and Spaghetti) are great deals, Ko notes, because they come with a side of minestrone soup and green salad. (Prices range from $9.95 to $12.95.) The sizzling plates (Pork Chop, Chicken Steak, New York Steak and Mixed Grill Steak) also are treats because they include a side of french fries, broccoli and tomato. (Prices range from $10.95 to $13.95.)

The diverse menu, affordable prices and inviting atmosphere truly are key ingredients to the restaurant’s success.

Fairwood Drive Inn & Pho 27 Cafe conveniently is located in Kaimuki Shopping Center, so parking is not a problem. The only thing one might have to worry about is which menu item to choose.

Jai with rice ($9.25)

Jai with rice ($9.25)

GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

Many customers have asked and waited for owner Tiffany Ko’s Jai ($9.25 with rice, $1 extra to substitute cake noodles; $9.75 a la carte), and now they can finally enjoy it every day. Ko explains that the dish usually is served during Chinese New Year, but since customers keep asking for it, she decided to add the dish to the daily menu. The beloved Jai is a medley of ingredients such as black mushroom, lily flower, Chinese cabbage, snow peas, bean curd, carrots, long rice, fungus and tofu.

Another crowd pleaser is Pho Special ($9.25 medium, $9.85 large), which features silky smooth noodles, beef slices, beef ball, tendon, brisket and tripe topped with onions, green onions and parsley. The pho’s broth is made from beef bones, ginger, a mixture of herbs and onions — it takes about six hours to make and it’s made fresh every morning.

Fairwood Drive Inn & Pho 27 Cafe

Kaimuki Shopping Center,
3221 Waialae Ave., Ste. 21, Kaimuki
739-6688 (Fairwood Drive Inn) and 738-0027 (Pho 27 Cafe)
Daily, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Honolulu, HI 96816

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