A Diner Like No Other

“Famous” Oxtail Soup ($12.95 small, $14.95 regular)

Old school meets new flavors at Kam Bowl, a Kalihi-based restaurant that serves local favorites at affordable prices.

The eatery opened in January, replacing Kenny’s Restaurant, and it already is a hit among area residents and visitors. Naomi Crouch, Kam Bowl floor manager and server, explains that customers appreciate the scratch-made mentality the restaurant follows.

“I think that’s what sets us apart,” Crouch says. “The food is home-cooked … it’s personal.”

Another thing that separates this eatery from others on the island is its diner-like feel. With counter and booth seating areas, affordable prices and nostalgic dishes, Kam Bowl is doing it right.

The restaurant’s menu features many local favorites, but there are a few standout dishes that customers have on their culinary repeat button, such as Fried Rice ($8.50), Loco Moco ($10.95) and Kalua Pork Soup ($8.95).

IT’S ALL IN THE BOWL

Kam Bowl draws in diners both near and far with its “Famous” Oxtail Soup ($12.95 small, $14.95 regular), which is served with two scoops of rice. The well-known soup combines oxtail, Chinese parsley, green onions and ginger. In Hawaii, there are many restaurants that serve oxtail soup, but Kam Bowl’s version has been recognized by many as “the best.” Floor manager and server Naomi Crouch says the dish “keeps customers coming back.”

Kam Bowl Restaurant

Kamehameha Shopping Center
1620 N. School St., Kalihi
841-0931
Daily, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Holiday Hours: Christmas Eve, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Closed Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m., closed New Year’s Day