Capsun's Corner – by Capsun M. Poe

I know it’s Monday, but I took the day off.  If you are a regularly reader, you probably know that I also took off last Friday as well.  And tomorrow is a holiday.  What can I say?  I have lots of vacation time to take, so why not make a really long weekend out of it?  So, in honor of my vacation day, I’d like to talk about two things I love: Kona and food.  Or more specifically, Kona food.

One of my favorite things about going home to Kona is the comfort food, but lately, it hasn’t been anything my mom has cooked. Not that it’s true, but from what I see during my trips home, it seems like my mom hasn’t cooked in several years. So when I went home for my class reunion this past weekend, I thought I should blog about the places I grew up on and a couple that I discovered after I moved. And I’ll share them with all of you. If you ever find yourself in Kona, do stop by and try these places:

• Manago Hotel Restaurant (82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy., 808-323-2642):  Best.Porkchops.Ever – Period! They’re fried opelu is also good.  No matter how long or short a trip I take home to Kona, I always make time for Manago; this weekend, I went there twice.  I was supposed to take a picture, but my mouth was watering, so you know that didn’t happen.  And, if you want to stay at a hotel off the beaten path that takes you away from all the tourist traps, this is it!
• Teshima’s Restaurant (79-7251 Mamalahoa Hwy., 808-322-9140):  Great shrimp tempura and the miso soup that I grew up on.  Other delicious Japanese food, too.  Parking can be tricky, but locals park at the gas station if the main lot is full.
• Big Island Grill (75-5702 Kuakini Hwy., 808-326-1153):  Everything I’ve ordered is great here.  Warning:  portions are BIG, so order multiple dishes at your own risk.  While this restaurant didn’t open until after I moved away, it is still one I frequent often and was opened by a local couple, one of whom was a longtime chef at a local hotel.  This is a popular local restaurant, so if you go during meal rush times, you will probably have a wait.
• Sandy’s Drive In (79-7436 Mamalahoa Hwy., 808-322-2161):  Simply delicious local food and plate lunches, diner style.

And after you eat all that food, you might be hungry for a snack.  I’ve got places for that, too:

• Kona Chips (82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy.):  The best potato chips I’ve eaten.  They use a secret family recipe, so you know it must be good.  Anyone who tries them for the first time is surprised by the light amount of oil, which is accomplished by a special “spinning” process.  They have a variety of chips, not just the potato, selling both sweet and savory selections.
• Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies (73-5563 Maiau St., 808-329-6055):  They sell cookies dipped in chocolate, what more do you need to know?  They are conveniently located near the airport, so you can always pick some up before you leave Kona.  It’s my second favorite cookie place in Hawaii.  Maybe I’ll write a post about my first favorite, which is not in Kona and is the reason it isn’t mentioned here.

Trust me, if you go to only one of these places, you will be a fan.  Also, before anyone asks why another restaurant wasn’t listed, please remember that these are my comfort foods; you are welcome to have your own and share them with others in the comments.  And finally, I should point out that I don’t get anything for making these or any other recommendations on this blog; I am also not related to any of these people, their food is just that good!

Mahalo!

Tags: big island grill, food, kona, kona cookies, manago, mrs. barry's, sandy's drive, teshima