Plate-Lunch Royalty

Deep Fried Mac and Cheese with Country Ham ($9.25, special)

Named after its original location in Kalihi, Kahai Street Kitchen relocated to the corner of S. King and Coolidge streets in Moiliili last year, serving its signature gourmet Pacific comfort food.

“I try to kick it up a notch and make (the food) a little different,” says head chef David Yamamoto, who has more than 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industry — including Roy’s and Hiroshi.

“Also, our food is cooked to order, so it might take a little bit longer, but everything is freshly made,” he adds.

The neighborhood Kahai Street Kitchen is designed as a convenient takeout plate-lunch eatery, but the food remains high-quality, creatively unique and beautifully presented.

The menu features gourmet selections, fresh Island salads, tacos, wraps, burgers, sandwiches and many old-school favorites.

Kahai Street Kitchen also offers catering, which is how the company originated when it opened in 2006, before expanding to its current casual-dining setting with a walk-up window and outdoor and indoor seating.

WHAT’S NEW?

Among this week’s specials at Kahai Street Kitchen are Deep Fried Mac and Cheese with Country Ham ($9.25) and Char-broiled Pulehu Tri-Tip ($10.95) plates.

Popular with both kids and adults, the mac-and-cheese dish includes macaroni with jack, cheddar, mozzarella and blue cheeses, and diced country ham, all stuffed inside a panko-crusted and deep-fried croquette, with homemade marinara sauce.

Charbroiled Pulehu Tri-Tip is marinated for 24 hours in a mixture of herbs and spices. It’s then charbroiled to perfection, sliced, and topped with roasted tomatoes and homemade chimichurri sauce.

Kahai Street Kitchen

946 Coolidge St., Moiliili
845-0320
Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays
kahaistreet-kitchen.com