Page 3 - Dining Out - May 15, 2022

Restaurant Insider with Anne Lee
Duke’s Malama Crew Beach Cleanup
Join Duke’s Waikiki for fun and educational beach cleanups at 7:30 a.m. Saturdays. Participants receive a free breakfast. For more information, call 808-922-2268.
• May 28
• June 1 and 8 (off-site)
• June 11 • June 25 • July 9
• July 23 • Aug. 6
• Aug. 20 • Sept. 3 • Sept. 17 • Oct. 1
•Oct.8
• Oct. 29 •Nov.5
• Nov. 26 •Dec.3
• Dec. 17
featured on your show, Where Ha- waii Eats. There’s also all the fresh poke or shrimp cocktail you want to eat. We also have our macada- mia nut-crusted fresh catch with lemon caper beurre blanc; huli huli chicken with teriyaki sauce and pineapple gremolata; and a vegetarian option in the kabocha squash ravioli with coconut ginger broth and seasonal vegetables.
Finally, no meal is complete with our signature Hula Pie that you can order for $13. It’s big enough to share.
AL: Duke’s does a lot to support the community. How did that come to be?
MY: Our founders Rob and Sandy believe that supporting the com- munity where they lived, worked and played was important and in- corporated that into our compa- ny culture. Currently, our restau- rants donate over 1% of profits to causes that are important locally and that share our values. One in particular is our Duke’s Malama
16, you need to get a job and save up some money. This is what I did all throughout high school and col- lege, and didn’t really think of it as a career until I realized I had a passion for this industry. I decided to go to Johnson & Wales to study culinary and have been with TS Restaurants for 15 years. The rest, they say, is history.
AL: Tell me the difference be- tween Duke’s and Hula Grill. MY: Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill Waikiki are known for their locally sourced menus, using products from local farmers, and everything is prepared fresh. At Hula Grill, farm-to-table culinary experiences are a big focus, as are upholding cultural traditions, like hula. We have something for everyone — kids, vegans or that picky eater.
Duke’s popularity has to do with a sense of place. We are located right in the middle of Waikiki, which was Duke (Kahanamoku)’s playground. Being the iconic
figure he was, you just get that welcoming, warm feeling from coming in this restaurant. We’re very synonymous with who he was, and it’s very important for us to do that, because if you’re representing somebody like that, you can’t do it wrong.
AL: What are the lunch buffet options?
MY: The lunch buffet is $21.50. It’s a steal at that price. We are known for our salad bar. We have a big salad bar selection with fresh local greens and vegetables, white and fried rice, shoyu chicken, kalua pig and cabbage, and a yakisoba station, and we also have a panini station that features our panini of the day. The lunch buffet is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.
AL: Tell me more about your other buffets.
MY: Our popular breakfast buffet has been an option for a while now, from 7 to 10.30 a.m. seven days
a week at $21.50 per person. It features:
• Made-to-order omelets (ba- con, ham and cheese, Denver style or seasonal veggie), eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, ba- nana pancakes and French toast (choose from coconut or tradition- al maple syrup)
• Hawaii’s own spicy Portu- guese sausage, Duroc bacon, breakfast potatoes with onions and peppers, and fresh local fruit (papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, watermelon, oranges)
• Assorted cereals, yogurt and granola; selection of breakfast breads, including English muffins and bagels; fresh brewed coffee and hot tea; or for an additional fee we have the famous Duke’s bloody mary ($10) or a mimosa ($8).
Then we have our famous Thursday night all-you-can-eat prime rib buffet, which is one of the best deals in town ($64 per person, $24 for keiki). We offer our popular slow-roasted Double R Signature Ranch prime rib that we
Duke’s Waikiki
Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort 2335 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu 808-922-2268 dukeswaikiki.com
7 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
Crew Beach Cleanup. This is a fun, educational way to receive a free breakfast after, at Duke’s Waikiki (see the schedule up top). Clean- up starts at 7.30 a.m. We meet at the restaurant and work our way down to the Duke Kahanamoku statue. In honor of World Ocean Day, June 8, we will be off-site in Kahuku with snacks, beverages and a cookout at the end.
AL: Anything else you want to share?
MY: We have live music, all day seven days a week, and Henry Kapono is here with us on Sun- days, unless he is out touring or has something on his calendar. We offer validation if you park at Ohana East for $5, up to four hours — not bad for Waikiki.
RESERVATIONS
OpenTable 808.739.8811 HokusKahala.com
Best Restaurant, Critics’ Choice
HOKU’S AT KAHALA
Dinner: 5:30–8:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday Sunday TeiHoku Brunch: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Dining Out / May 15-21, 2022 / 3