Hawaiian Style Cafe - 11

Comfort food is an art form in Hawaii. When it's commonplace for food orders to include the phrase "gravy all over", you know Hawaii understands the concept.

Case in point: Hawaiian Style Cafe


Found in the town of Kamuela on the Big Island, Hawaiian Style Cafe is perfectly situated, geographically, to dish out comfort food. At around 2,500 feet in elevation, the weather is unusually chilly for Hawaii. And given the popularity of the place, you'll find yourself bearing all that cold air while you wait outside for a table. Consider that slightly misty, cold, high-altitude air the mood setter for your meal. Because when your table is ready, you'll be perfectly set-up for warm delicious comfort food.

First thing you walk in on is a long low bar packed with customers, just like a diner should have. Then your attention is drawn to the handwritten white board with today's specials. Things like Teri Loco Moco and Pulehu Ribs might distract you, but I'm here on strict recommendations to try two things:

Kalua Hash and "Da Tita Mok" Plate

Sadly I didn't get any photos of the Kalua Hash, but it was as good as it sounds. Crispy on the outside, soft potatoes and kalua on the inside. Served with two eggs and a side of fried rice, this plate was amazing. And when I make my way back up to Kamuela, I'll update this post with a pic.

As for order #2, the embrassing to order but very, very, very worth it, "Da Tita Mok":


And here's how they build this bad boy...start with a couple scoops of fried rice and then pack on the following: two sausage patties, one hamburger patty, one perfectly cooked chicken cutlet (crispy, crusty & flaky) and then top it off with two eggs (personally, I like 'em runny). AND THEN...cover this whole plate in amazing brown gravy. Comfort food perfection. One more pic...just to do it justice.


(side note, if you notice, a bite of food is missing from the left side of the plate. I totally forgot to take the picture. The plate came, I was chilly and hungry and I couldn't stop myself. The plate looked too good)

Overall it earns an Onomono 11 for me. If this place was in Oahu would I still give it an 11?Maybe not. I might drop it a point or two, but the cold air of Kamuela was the perfect set-up for making this place extra delicious. And I can't hold that against Hawaiian Style Cafe. So wear you shorts and revel in that chill in your bones, because "gravy all over" never tasted better.