Barefoot Cafe

No, just no. After a long drive to Hana, we were starving and not in the mood to search out food. This little food stand is located near the beach and is convenient, but that's about it.

The line was long and the menu was not exciting in the least. Just the basics here, fish and chips, hamburgers, hotdogs, boba drinks and some Hawaiian specialty plates. My fella and I opted to share a kalbi lunch plate with rice and mac salad. 

The food came up quick, but our kalbi was more like a charcoal piece of sirloin steak with sweet sauce on it. So odd. It was tough and the flavors were not good. I stuck with the rice and mac salad which were basic, but I'm glad she opted to share instead of wasting money on two plates.

Location: Hana Beach Park, Hāna, HI 96713

Items sampled: kalbi lunch plate 

Mochiko Chicken

Mochiko Chicken is a cute little spot for inexpensive chicken strips and chicken bowls. I arrived on the fourth day they were open and service was superb. The owners and staff really care and wanted genuine feedback to make their restaurant better.

My friend and I ordered the four piece chicken strip meal, the Ohana, and the Hawaiian Hen House, a grilled chicken bowl with rice. The strips are meaty and lightly battered. They are enormous, so a great value for the price. They aren't really mochiko style chicken, but are good. The chicken bowl wasn't very exciting. The chicken was good, but the flavors were on the bland side and I had to add some cole slaw to make it more interesting flavor-wise. The lychee lemonade was subtle, but a little sweeter than I would have liked. Still good, though.

The prices, portions and service were great, so I'm happy to come back again soon to try more menu items.

Items sampled: Hawaiian Hen House chicken bowl, The Ohana mochiko chicken strip combo with fries, cole slaw and a Hawaiian bread roll.

Location: 2101 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102

Festival Buffet at Fiesta Rancho

For someone who doesn't like buffets, I end up eating at a lot of buffets. We met here to try the Hawaiian buffet items that they carry on Tuesdays. The price is $12.99 with a player's card. 

The only things I would be interested in eating again were the roast pig and bbq pork. The rest of the food didn't do much for me. Most of the main dishes and sides I tried were over salted and the dessert options were just sad. The only thing I liked from the desserts were the little cream puffs that you can buy at the grocery store. 

Service was sufficient, but there were times that dirty plates and empty drink glasses sat a little longer than I would have liked. The sodas on the second round of drinks were all flat, so no one drank them and it was hard to find our server again to get them replaced. 

They have singers and a hula dancer that come around to entertain everyone on Tuesdays. It was pleasant, but I would have preferred they stuck to one corner of the buffet instead of moving around to each table, since we had to awkwardly sit through their set, afraid to be rude and walk up to get more food while they performed. 

I heard other patrons complaining about the price since it was a special menu that they weren't anticipating. 

They did have a good amount of Hawaiian items to choose from, if you're interested in checking it out and the price seems about right for it. Just make sure you sign up for their player's card to receive the discount, since it's about four dollars more if you don't have one. One player's card will get you the discount for up to two diners.

Items sampled: spam fried rice, roast pig, bbq pork, Haupia, cream puffs, Kahlua pork, poi, poke

Location: Fiesta Rancho, 2405 N Rancho Dr, North Las Vegas, NV 89130

Island Flavor

After a nice dinner out with my friend, we decided we wanted a little dessert to top off our evening. Thinking about all our options in the area, we finally decided to head to Island Flavor. I had never been before, but my friend kept raving about their cakes, so I was excited. I opted for the guava cake and my friend ordered the Haupia cake. I also ordered a kalbi plate to-go for my fella.

The guava was delicious, but the Haupia was my real favorite. Both were incredibly fluffy and light. Delicate flavors, I can't wait to come back for their desserts alone. Service was quick and refills were plentiful. 

Our takeout order was ready quickly and we were on our way. I couldn't resist taking a bite or two of my fella's kalbi plate as well. The meat was flavorful and cooked well. It had a nice smoky flavor and the mac salad was one of the better versions I've had. Not overly creamy and complemented the meat and rice perfectly.

The food was great and I look forward to coming back to try the rest of their menu.