Jay Eats Worldwide

Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago, "what's saimin?" I grew up on noodles and my nieces are following the family tradition, they love noodles too.  I don't remember having a favorite noodle, except for spaghetti, and what kid doesn't like spaghetti?  Being Asian, we had ramen, soba, somen, and udon noodles growing up.  During my college years, I started eating Korean naengmyeon and Vietnamese pho.   But it was the summers I spent in Hawai'i having saimin that I remember the most and would now have to say was my favorite growing up.  It's probably because it wasn't something found in Los Angeles, except when my grandma would visit and bring frozen S&S Saimin packages for us.  I usually had to wait for the end of school and spending the summers in Hawai'i for saimin.  So, what is saimin?  It's really a cross of Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese cultures and food.  How did they all ...

Isn't the saying: "There's a Pot of Gold at the  end of the  Rainbow Drive In" RIGHT? At this Hawaiian Rainbow, you'll find some of the island's  best local food. You've probably seen Rainbow Drive In on Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Unique Eats, or one of the many food shows on TV. Yes, they're popular... Rainbow Drive In photo* To me, it's been an institution since spending  summers on Oahu with my grandparents, their house is just up the street. Rainbow Drive In has been a GO TO plate lunch place on Kapahulu Avenue for 50 years.  See What Jay Eats... I love how they still serve the old skool way, no styrofoam containers here.   Mix Plate BBQ Beef, Mahi Mahi (fried fish), Boneless Chicken, 2 scoops rice, and 1 scoop macaroni salad. $7.95 Except for including their chili, I love the Mix Plate and enjoying a variety of what they do. In addition to plate lunches, t...

Maui Style! I'm always asked how the food combinations of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, etc. got put together all on one plate? Going back to the plantation days, it was the plantation workers who shared their lunches with each other. Sam Sato's Still family owned and operated It's off the beaten path and pretty much all local customers (so you know it's a good place) No line today, so let's see what Jay Eats... Sam Sato's is famous for their Dry Saimin with char sui (BBQ pork), bean sprouts, and green onions Saimin is a noodle soup originated in Hawaii during the plantation days. It's a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino ingredients brought together to form a unique dish not found in Asia. If you've followed my Hawaii Food Adventures, you know that I LOVE Saimin! Having spent summers in Hawaii growing up, saimin it's like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch outside of Hawaii. ...

OK, so it's NOT ramen... But Happy Ramen Monday and Labor Day! I'm getting ready for my Hawaii trip and was getting in the Hawaii spirit today. So, I busted out the S&S Saimin packages from the freezer and made it the way I like it. Saimin is Hawaii's version of noodle soup and truly a local Hawaii creation. It's a cross between many of the local cultures in Hawaii. Back in the 1930's, the broth was made with kelp and dried shrimp, similar to the Japanese dashi (kelp and bonito flakes). Add in some Chinese noodles and chasu (BBQ pork) to the broth. Top off with garnishes like shreds of egg, green onions, and slices of fish cake. This is what I know to be saimin! S&S Saimin With chashu (BBQ pork) and green onions This is the way I like it... When I get to Hawaii at the end of the month, I'll be enjoying saimin with a side of teriyaki beef sticks too... Stay Tuned! Pass the Hot Mustard! Photo by Jay Terauchi (c) Kahuna of the Kitchen

I was reading Nonstop Honolulu the other day and came across Mari Taketa's (@nonstopmari) "What is it about saimin?" Saimin is a noodle soup unique to Hawaii with Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino ingredients. Spending a lot of summers in Hawaii with my grandparents, I grew up with saimin and still love it many years later. Although there aren't really good saimin places in Southern California, I had to look for a noodle place that would satisfy my urge for this local favorite. A few months ago, my friend introduced me to Foo Foo Tei in Hacienda Heights. Foo Foo Tei is a unique place that serves 31 different types of ramen or at least that is the base. My friend happened to read postings from http://www.goramen.com/ . OK, this is a small world, I know Keizo (@GoRamen) who heads the site and is the ramen master in my book. Keizo tried the 31 different ramens each day for a month, you can read about his ramen adventure on his site. I don't think I could eat that ...

Jay Terauchi's Honolulu Food Favorites: Zippy’s – My #1 Favorite Place growing up and still is. Yummy’s Korean BBQ For that quick Korean fix Rainbow Drive-In Plate lunch Lahaina Chicken – InterIsland Terminal & Ala Moana Center Liliha Bakery Coco Puffs Breakfast – sit at the counter Closed Mondays – otherwise open 24 hours. Young’s Fish Market Kalua Pig (traditional imu) One of the best I’ve had – retail. Palace Saimin Saimin, won ton mein, teri beef sticks. Street parking Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill Mahi-Mahi tacos Fish & Chips – local fish daily Side Street Inn – Sports Bar Pork Chops – Enough said… Kim Chee Fried Rice Helena’s Hawaiian Food Maui Onion with alae salt Angelo Pietro Raw Potato Salad Create your own Japanese style pasta entree Gyotaku – Old style Japanese Combinations Okinawan Sweet Potato Haupia ...