Find ‘big’ opportunities to eat healthier

Citrus-Grilled Salmon Salad with Ponzu ($14.49 Big, $11.49 Not-So-Big)

Big City Diner has a lengthy track record of putting wide smiles on the faces of its hungry patrons.

Lane Muraoka, a local boy from Kailua who attended Iolani School, founded Big City Diner and opened its first location in Kaimuki in 1998. The business, which recently celebrated 20 years of serving the community, has grown to a total of six restaurants islandwide, also settling into Ward Entertainment Center, Waipio Shopping Center, Kailua Town Center, Pearlridge East and Windward Mall.

Fire-roasted Portobello Mushroom Salad ($13.49)

There’s no better gift to yourself and your loved ones than to start off the new year on a healthy note. So, it’s great news that Big City Diner has plenty of dining options that taste good and are good for you, too.

Muraoka shares the restaurant offers high fiber brown rice options, green tea, fresh fish and egg-white omelets. It also serves Zico 100 percent coconut water and Vitamin Water Zero (with no sugar) in Pomegranate, Acai and Blueberry flavor.

BCD Thai Tofu Salad ($13.49)

For those who want to eat lighter but not skimp on delicious flavor, Big City Diner’s menu boasts a variety of taste bud tempting salad choices. For example, there’s Fire-roasted Portobello Mushroom Salad ($13.49). This yummy menu item features sliced portobello mushrooms on a bed of organic greens, chopped romaine lettuce, diced Roma tomatoes and sweet red onions. The refreshing salad is topped with big croutons, imported Parmesan cheese, red onion rings and fresh lemon, and is served with ancho-chile dressing.

Another option is BCD Thai Tofu Salad ($13.49), consisting of a bed of romaine with chopped peanuts, red onions, crisp bean sprouts, Roma tomatoes, green onions and crispy won ton strips. It is served with the chef’s mouthwatering Thai peanut dressing and tofu — or you can choose chicken instead of tofu.

A third protein-packed choice on the salad selections list is Citrus-Grilled Salmon Salad with Ponzu ($14.49 Big, $11.49 Not-So-Big). The perfectly cooked and flavored salmon is served warm atop organic mesclun greens, Roma tomatoes and other veggies, all of which can be dressed with the restaurant’s spicy ponzu-vinaigrette.

With choices like these, it’s no surprise that Big City Diner continues to be a favorite destination among locals and visitors for two decades and counting.