Hello foodies today I bring you to a place I have been to many times, Ono Pinay Kitchen. It's a mixture of Hawaiian and Filipino cuisine. The owner (Maria) is Filipino and was raised in Hawaii. This place is asian, women and veteran owned. Maria's husband is the veteran. The place is what you would call a hole in the wall or a little gem. A small local business that puts out really good food.
The store front opened up in January of 2019. Maria started selling food goodies in a local farmer's market prior to that for a few years. She made a lot of friends selling at the farmers market and before long she was asked by these friends/customers why not open a restaurant.
I particularly go on Tuesdays because it is their buffet day and it's mostly Filipino cuisine. Its almost always busy there on this day but wasn't today. Maybe the overcast weather had something to do with it who knows. All the better because the bite size lumpia they have often run out quick. Also I had the perfect opportunity to take some pictures as there wasn't a line of people getting food.
Before getting our food Maria came to our table and told us that one of her staff was late and she had the desserts. She told us she would quickly fry up some bananas. Music to my ears because I love some banana cues even though I ordered some turon off the menu. Hey now I can compare the two and maybe decide which one I like better, haha.
The buffet line starts with your choice of rice. Two choices steamed or fried (garlic) rice. I choice steamed rice but sometimes I get the fried. I'm not a huge fan of fried rice but Filipino fried rice is just different from other fried rices in a good way.
Next up on the line is some pancit. Vegetarian variety here and I can't ever dish too much on my plate. Can I take the whole pan back to my table all I need is two forks? Seriously though I love these noodles.
Just to the right is some filipino spaghetti. Oh so sweet with the sauce and the chopped hot dogs. This was a nice change of taste as I added something later that had a little heat and spice to eat. If your spaghetti lover try this because it is a different kind of spaghetti in a sweet tooth way.
Last on the first table is some bite size lumpia. There were just a handful of people eating when we arrived. Dang they put a dent into them didn't they? It seems where ever there is lumpia there really isn't any because it disappears. These were filled with both pork and beef. One bite at a time they disappeared off my plate. Yummy and delicious 馃構
On the next table we first have some Kuala Pork. This is as Hawaiian recipe well worth trying. It's smoked, shredded pork with cabbage and let me tell you the pork is so tender and tasty.
Next we have spicy adobo on the left. There's chicken, beef, and pork in there. It's cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, cabbage, and plantain bananas. A first time for me trying this and I have a new crush 馃槏 To the right is chicken adobo. To me this is probably the most popular dish for us Americans who are into filipino cuisine. I apologize for the bad quality picture here I don't know why it appears so dark.
Alright here is my plate almost got everything on it. Only thing I missed was the chicken adobo. I didn't want to walk back to the table holding the plate with two hands, haha. Initially I thought I would get a second plate with some fried rice and some chicken adobo but my first plate took a lot of might to finish.
I had to get some desserts I got a small plate with a small slice of pineapple, piece of canalope, banana cues (just brought out) and something I else I forgot what it was called. The fruits are fruit just to fill the plate so you don't overload it with to many sweets, haha. Oh the banana cues were delicious. Shh I grabbed a few more they were small slices.The unknown desert was delicious it had crushed Twix on top. There were three of us at the table so we each had a turon. I ate mine later that afternoon. Oh so crunchy on the outside and soft and a bit gooey on the inside.
Which is better banana cues or turon (fried spring roll with a banana on the inside)? I still can't answer that. For those that have had both what do you prefer?
How was the experience today? Just like every time I go there, excellent. The food is great but what really wins me over is the home feel to it. Maria and her staff give off vibes that you are guests not customers. They will come to your table and sometimes carry on a good conversations. It's a like going over to a friends or family members house for dinner. I'm greeted by name and they actually know me through many conversations.
The place is not all that fancy in the inside. I would describe it as little dated. That does not take away from the overall experience to me. It's still a cozy and comfortable environment.I hadn't visited there in about a month and they certainly noticed that. I had a conversation with Maria and one of her daughters. I learned they will be incorporating a loyality card program where you buy 9 buffets get the 10th for free. I go there enough and would fill that card up quickly, haha. Another fact I learned is they have a booth at the farmer's market still. I might have to check them out there on the weekend. They sell baked and dessert goodies there.
Thanks for stopping by and reading up to this point. I have wanted to write and share this place for quite sometime. Its been a place I have mentioned with a few of you. So it's another promise article I can cross off the list 馃榿. Take care, be safe and have great week ahead. Salamat(Thank you) and Aloha (Bye bye)!
