Wailana’s Holiday Menu a Big Reason to Go Irish

There’s a saying that contends, “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough!” For all those who can’t trace their lineage back to the Isle of Eire, no worries, we get our own saying: “Lucky you live Hawaii!”

And that’s especially true on St. Patrick’s Day, because Wailana Coffee House is supplying a menu filled with Irish-inspired dishes sure to make any leprechaun green with envy.

“We enjoy having our Holiday Menus,” says Wailana’s Kenton Tom. “It is a great time to offer new items at great prices for special occasions.”

Start St. Paddy’s Day right with a breakfast special for $9.25. In honor of the traditional Irish stand-by, corned beef, the breakfast is a savory combination of fresh corned beef hash, two large eggs cooked any style, hash-brown potatoes, toast and coffee.

If that doesn’t satisfy you’re corned-beef craving, why not order the Corned Beef and Cabbage Killarney. Heaping slices of moist, tender corned beef are draped over caraway-flavored cabbage wedges on this $12.95 dinner plate. The meal stays true to its Irish roots with a side serving of boiled potatoes and carrots, with creamed horseradish sauce and mustard for dipping.

For something a little lighter, try the Fillet of Salmon Florentine ($13.25). A thick salmon fillet is poached in a court bouillon before being placed on a spinach bed and crowned with a house-made hollandaise sauce.

Or sample the Roast Chicken O’Shannon ($12.50), a well-seasoned chicken half served with Wailana’s famous homemade macadamia nut stuffing and dressed in a thick blanket of rich pan gravy.

The dinners are available from 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday, March 17, and include “all you can eat” salad bar, corn on the cob and choice of baked or mashed potato, french fries or rice. For dessert there’s a festive chocolate-mint cake, and each meal comes with coffee, tea or soft drink.

On the Side

Enter a restaurant at 2 in the afternoon and you expect to find businessmen enjoying a late lunch, parents treating their children to a before-dinner snack, or surfers fueling up before going in for another set.

But what’s the crowd like at that same restaurant at 2 in the morning? Not too different, according to Wailana Coffee House co-owner Kenton Tom.

The popular 24-hour restaurant opened in 1969 on Ala Moana Boulevard in the very spot the landmark Kapiolani Drive Inn was stood.

“Wailana’s lineage comes from Kapiolani Drive Inn,” Tom says. “Kapiolani Drive Inn stood on this very same spot and was opened 24 hours with car hop service. It was very popular with the late-night crowd, and that tradition continues today.”

Popular menu items at the casual eatery include Broasted Chicken ($10.95), Oxtail Soup ($11.25) and breakfast items served any time of day or night, including the Jamboree Breakfast ($6.35) and Eggs Benedict ($9.85).

“The key is the sauce, made fresh with egg yolks, drawn butter, lemon juice and spices,” says Tom of the egg, ham and English muffin treat.

“The Jamboree Breakfast (comes with) all the hotcakes one can eat with two eggs and two strips of bacon,” he adds. “Our pancake batter is our special recipe made every day. One can change to banana, macadamia nut, blueberry, coconut, pineapple or even combination pancakes for a $1 more.”

And with its close proximity to Waikiki, don’t be surprised if you find yourself bumping into a famous face or two.

“We have had many celebrities come through the restaurant, from movie stars to great athletes, people like Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal,” Tom confesses. “However, in general we notice that they like to be treated just like our regular customers and enjoy the local foods and ambiance.”

Wailana Coffee House