Veggie Wrap ($8.65) LAWRENCE TABUDLO PHOTO
As any ’80s baby can recall, whenever a “grill” was mentioned — often pluralized with a “z” — visions of metal-teethed music elite like Flava Flav and Nelly come to mind (and I’m not talking about braces). But here on Oahu in 2015, a new vision of grillz is bustin’ out in the form of grilled foods — which also bring loads of smiles.
Realizing that Hawaii was in desperate need of a healthy fast-food eatery, GRYLT owner Allen Farinas decided to take matters into his own hands. What has resulted is a now four-location local chain that specializes in serving up healthy yet hearty meals filled with all of the great things you want (think flavor and fresh ingredients) and void of all of the things you don’t (unnatural additives, grease and extra, empty calories.)
Sure to earn a grin, Summer Baby Kale Salad ($9.95) is a rainbow of freshness, featuring a crisp bed of kale with dried cranberries, sliced almonds, mandarin orange, sun-kissed strawberries, crumbled feta and a light, house-made strawberry vinaigrette.
A popular menu item among vegetarians and meat eaters alike, Farinas shares that “vegans may opt out of the feta topping, and then the salad is completely vegan, including the fresh, made-from-scratch strawberry vinaigrette.”
And although it’s a different kind of wrap, hip hop fanatics and ’80s babies alike will love GRYLT’s Veggie Wrap ($8.65), showcasing lettuce, grilled tomato, onion, zucchini, squash, mushroom, red pepper and just a smidgen of savory citrus herb aioli tucked into a spinach wrap.
Another tried-and-true choice is the Tofu Plate ($10.45), pairing generous slabs of grilled-to-perfection tofu with one scoop each of the eatery’s signature Yukon gold potatoes, fresh veggies, and smashed cauliflower ($1 additional). The dish is served with a citrus herb sauce that gives it that extra zing.
So the next time you are in Kailua, Ala Moana, Manoa or Kahala, stop by, take a seat, order up your favorite veggie meal and let this healthy grill light up that megawatt smile (no gold necessary).
GRYLT
Kahala Mall
4211 Waialae Ave., Honolulu (with additional locations at Ala Moana Center, Manoa Shopping Center and Kailua Shopping Center)
734-7958
Daily, 10 a.m.-9p.m.
Honolulu, HI 96816
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