As they prepare to welcome a new addition to their family, Allen and Mayu Farinas, husband-and-wife team and owners of GRYLT, also have bolstered their restaurant ohana, much to the delight of Windward residents.
The Farinas are expecting the birth of their daughter in the coming weeks, but are focused on serving up “good food that’s good for you” via their popular restaurant, and just opened the doors to a fourth GRYLT location in Kailua Shopping Center April 1. The duo strives to offer restaurant-quality cuisine that is served quickly, yet puts a spin on fast-food, as dishes feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients that offer “a healthier alternative to the plate lunch.”
“We have expanded our menu to include sandwiches, wraps, soups, dressings and sauces all made from scratch and using local ingredients,” Allen says. “We’re more creative when it comes to the way in which we prepare dishes. Even with my wife being 37 weeks pregnant, we’ve opened all the stores together and continue the mission of creating food (at GRYLT) that we would serve to our family.”
Harris Ichida serves as general manager of the sparkling new Kailua location, which joins GRYLT’s family of restaurants in Manoa Marketplace, Kahala Mall and Ala Moana Center’s Makai Food Court.
Diners have the option of building their own plate (prices vary by selections) by selecting a protein, starch, vegetable and sauce. Customers have a wide variety of choices, including Angus steak, all-natural chicken, line-caught ahi, Atlantic salmon and even grilled tofu. Multiple entrees and “Power Meals” also satisfy appetites, as the Ahi Wrap ($10.85) includes fresh ahi wrapped in a Sinaloa tortilla seasoned with Hawaiian salt and pepper, and served with wasabi aioli, Kunia aquaponic lettuce, locally grown Sugar-land tomatoes and onions. The combination “is as local as you can get.”
The owners also recommend Seafood Trio ($19.95), a combination of GRYLT’s most popular fresh-and-never-frozen ocean fare. The power meal includes freshly grilled salmon, ahi and garlic shrimp. It’s easy to see why the Trio has become a best seller. Ichida also explains that customers have the option to increase or decrease the portion size (prices will vary) according to their appetite, so meals truly are customizable.
GRYLT offers favorites for the entire family, including keiki portions of chicken or steak ($6.95 each), which are served on a bed of rice sprinkled with furikake. Fresh soups also are crafted daily ($2.95 for a cup or $2 with the purchase of a sandwich, wrap or meal), and popular selections are Fire-roasted Tomato Basil, Chicken Parmesan, Salmon Bisque and Beef Barley, which rotate daily.
“Everything is fresh, and we offer a wide variety of options,” Ichida says. “I know Kailua residents have been anticipating this. When I would visit our other stores, many customers would ask me, ‘Hey, when are you opening in Kailua?’ Now, we can welcome them here.”
The GRYLT ohana emphasizes that customers can look forward to the entire experience, including its commitment to stellar service and providing the freshest, tastiest ingredients possible.
“We take pride in what we create. We’re going to feed our own daughter this food, so you know that it’s not going to have any junk,” Allen says.
“Here at GRYLT, we’re all about consciously created, nutritious meals. Come let our family serve your family.”
GRYLT
Kailua Shopping Center
600 Kailua Road
263-7958
Daily, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Kailua, HI 96734
See more articles from: GRYLT