X

Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Step Up to the Plate

June 17, 2018

Story By: Elima Pangorang |

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S HOUSE SPECIAL: TOFU WITH EGGPLANT & SALTED FISH CASSEROLE ($13.95)

Many people find their “happy place” in a number of ways.

It can be a physical escape like the beach or it can be an intangible entity, as is the case with Lisa Lum.

Lum is the owner of Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant and her happy place is found in the customers that come into her popular Waialae eatery daily.

“I like to see all the customers that come in and we take care of them,” explains Lum. “They eat and they are so happy. It makes me more happy to see them happy.”

And that’s exactly what Lum and her staff have been doing for the last 17 years, pleasing customers and satisfying hunger woes with a plethora of Chinese dining options, both from the regular menu as well as the dim sum menu (available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.). What’s more, there’s a 10 percent discount on dim sum when customers use their charge card to pay for meals from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

“Our most popular dim sum options are the char-siu bao, pork hash and shrimp dumpling,” shares Lum.

But that’s only just the beginning. Within the rolling carts that roam the dining area, hot and ready to serve with a simple wave of your hand, are mouthwatering pickings such as deep fried taro, various look fun, spinach with shrimp dumplings, stuffed fish cake with tofu, mochi rice ball, half moon and more. Plus, there are even lunch specials for just $10.95 that include roast duck, char-siu meat and roast spare ribs.

So don’t worry, be happy at this fun Chinese restaurant and discover the many ways to please your taste and appetite.

Tea time

As many Chinese restaurants do, Happy Days Chinese Seafood Restaurant provides a steamy pot of Jasmine tea brewed straight from the leaf.

Tofu on top

Generous cuts of fried tofu provide a cleansing bite between the savory richness of the saucy eggplant and ocean bites of salted fish.

Eggplant galore

Did you know that eggplant is actually a fruit and not a vegetable? Either way, this favored “fruit-table” adds luxurious texture to this steamy dish.

Swim in flavor

Cubes of salted fish scatter about this dish, creating a pleasant, tasty bite to satisfy your seafood desires.

Sauce is boss

This casserole comes out on a pedestal, literally, holding a burner to keep the dish nice and hot throughout the meal. The secret sauce, made in-house by the chef, makes for a nice broth to also add as a topper for the rice.

Ilima Awards
Hawaii's Best