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Longstanding eatery rides tasty new wave

A La Carte Columns

July 2, 2017

Story By: Ali Resich | Photos by: ANTHONY CONSILLIO

Char Siu and Chicken on Rice ($7.99 special)

Hoy Tin Kitchen, formerly known as Hoy Tin Chop Suey, has undergone a recent revamp. Luckily for its flock of loyal patrons, the menu of popular local-style Chinese food is here to stay.

Although the takeout spot, conveniently located on bustling Liliha Street, is not large in size, the flavors and portions it offers are of grand stature — and you can’t miss it thanks to its fresh coat of bright blue paint.

Manager Lin Fan with Char Siu on Rice ($7.99 special) and Oyster Sauce Chicken Cake Noodle ($7.99 special)

Current manager Lin Fan says the blue facade represents the eatery’s name — hoy means “ocean” and tin means “sky” — and for at least the past 30 years, the sky has been the limit for the Kalihi eatery, as it has served minute chicken cake noodle, crispy gau gee mein and other favorites to residents and professionals in the area as well as to hospital employees from Kuakini Health System nearby.

When it came time for the previous owners to sell Hoy Tin earlier this year, the ownership from Canton Seafood Restaurant — the elegant dine-in Chinese eatery on Keeaumoku Street — decided to take over the operation and maintain it as an important fixture of the neighborhood.

Oyster Sauce Chicken Cake Noodle ($7.99 special)

“Hoy Tin has a very good reputation within the community for its good prices and large portions, so we want to keep that going,” says Fan, adding that the restaurant will continue to cater to local tastes, while also gradually incorporating elements that Canton Seafood has championed over the years, including authentic Chinese recipes and the use of good-quality ingredients.

In honor of its grand opening June 8, and in celebration of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, Hoy Tin Kitchen is dishing out a host of mouthwatering specials for a steal of a deal. Patrons can chomp away on Oyster Sauce Chicken Fried Noodle for just $6.99, or order the dish with cake noodle for $1 more.

Char Siu on Rice ($7.99 special)

Another special to go to town on is Char Siu and Chicken on Rice, currently available for a mere $7.99. The savory roasted meats are served with choy sum, and customers also can have the dish prepared with char siu only for the same price.

Fan notes that Hoy Tin’s fare is especially popular with construction workers in the surrounding area, seeing as they can fill up on the large portions offered for very affordable prices. But all customers, including regulars and newcomers alike, can expect to enjoy the same great flavors — and do so within the comfort of an updated dining space, complete with a handful of tables for those who want to sit down for a quick meal.

Hoy Tin Kitchen

1727 Liliha St., Kalihi
533-7333
Daily, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Honolulu, HI 96817

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