A Fresh Start for On On at McCully

Now under new ownership, On On at McCully continues to dish up your favorites when it comes to classic Chinese fare. However, owner Qiao Chen also has revamped the menu offering an eclectic variety of dishes inspired by those currently found in Mainland China.

“In Mainland China, the food has changed immensely,” says Chen. “Unlike a lot of local Chinese food in Hawaii, which has a lot of heavy sauces, many of the dishes (in Mainland China) are lighter and healthy. Yet, we want our customers to know that we still have all the dishes that kamaaina enjoy.”

With more than 101 delicious choices to suit your palate, On On at McCully focuses on authenticity while also playing it up with local flair. An example of this is found in Honey Shrimp with Macadamia Nut. Priced at $14.99, this entree is a spin-off of the traditional Honey Shrimp with Walnuts and features tender deep-fried shrimp in a sweet mayonnaise sauce adorned with flavorful macadamia nuts.

“We try our best to keep our ingredients as local as possible. We work with local Chinese farms and local fishermen to bring in the freshest items available,” Chen adds.

Another hit item off the menu is On On at McCully’s House Special Chicken ($10.99). Restaurant manager Vincent Zhuang refers to it as very spicy, but assures that it draws in a crowd.

“House Special Chicken is made with chicken wings marinated in a sour-spicy sauce,” he explains, noting that the sauce is concocted from a secret recipe. “Our executive chef Joe Li was trained in Mainland China and has been cooking for a total of 30 years, 23 of those years were spent in Hawaii.”

On On at McCully uses no MSG in its cooking, and Zhuang says listening to customer feedback is an integral part of running a restaurant.

“We have guest feedback forms that we ask our customers to fill out and valid suggestions are entered into a raffle drawing to win a prize on the 8th of every month.

Prizes include watches, jewelry and whiskey, to name a few,” he explains.

Now that the holiday season is just about in full swing, many are already reserving the restaurant’s private party room, which can hold up to 60 people. Party trays also are available and delivery service is provided for those orders priced at $30 or more and within a four-mile radius of the restaurant.

“We want our customers to experience various cuisine form different parts of China, and we’re open to requests from customers, too,” Chen says.

On On at McCully

1110 McCully St., Honolulu
946.8833 or 230.6886
Open daily, 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.