Yum Yum Restaurant

Located in Salt Lake Shopping Center, Yum Yum touts itself as a Chinese and Thai restaurant. We were craving Chinese food, but we found that their menu was almost exclusively Thai.

Ambiance:
Not bad. The configuration was a little confusing because we had to head to the middle of the restaurant to be seated. The interior of the restaurant looked like it was a Chinese restaurant converted into a Thai restaurant.

Service:
Good. The servers were friendly and timely.

Food:

• Tom yum soup with tofu: It tasted like that moment right before the sun rises in the morning. Dawn. Dawn, as in the dishwashing soap. When the soup came out of the kitchen piping hot, the flavor of soap wasn't that noticeable. However, as it cooled, the soapy flavor became more apparent. Not the perfect way to start dinner, but thankfully the rest of the meal tasted less...like Dawn.
  
• Stir fried eggplant with tofu: Good. Very tasty. The taste was similar to szechuan-style eggplant, but with thai basil.
  
• Stir fried long rice with egg: Interesting. Not something we'd usually order, but pretty good. Simple. Seems like a breakfast food with the bits of scrambled egg.

As with most Thai restaurants, rice had to be ordered separately.

Value:
The dishes were surprisingly affordable, more so than at other Thai restaurants. For the three dishes, we spent a little over $20. They didn't skimp on the portion size either.

Overall:
With the exception of the soup, the food at Yum Yum lived up to the restaurant's name. A great place to go for cheap Thai food.

Jimbo Restaurant

Located on King St., before McCully, this noodle shop is hard to find.

The layout of the restaurant is similar to the ingredients in the dishes--simple.

Ambiance:
It was as if you opened the door, and stepped into a noodle shop in Japan. Quaint, simple, and busy (but not too busy).

Service:
The service was quick. To the point. Punctual. Good.

Food:
We had the bean curd cold udon, and the ume cold udon. Good choices for a hot day.

• Bean Curd Cold Udon: The taste was in the dipping sauce. The dish came with wakame, bean curd, green onions, chiso, and udon. The udon was chewy, with just the right amount of firmness. The portion was a little on the smaller side, so we would recommend getting the larger portion.
• Ume Cold Udon: The dish was similar to the bean curd cold udon, except it came with ume instead of bean curd.

Value:
Though we could have made the meal ourselves for half the price, this was a convenient and quick stop en route to a greater cause: the great aloha run.

Overall:
Compared to other noodle shops, this one was average. It was pricey, but it was a simple and refreshing meal.

Champa Thai

We stopped by Champa Thai, which is located in Pearl Kai Shopping Center (across from Pearlridge), after spending the morning at the Oahu Urban Garden.

Ambiance:
The interior of Champa Thai is very nicely decorated. It would be the perfect place to take someone on a first date. Though we came on a weekday, we were a little surprised to see the restaurant so packed. It seems to be the favorite of many military personnel.

Service:
Good service. Our orders were taken quickly, our waters refilled frequently, and our food prepared in a timely manner. We were delivered the wrong dish, but the waitress caught herself just before setting the food on the table. (Shucks, we were hoping for a free dish). Other than that, no complaints.

Food:

• Mee Krob: We ordered this as our appetizer. Described as "crispy noodles with bean sprouts tossed in a sweet sauce and topped with green onions," we found that was exactly what it was. The texture of the noodles was unique: light, almost like shrimp chips in noodle form. The sweet sauce tasted pretty much like sweet sour sauce. The portion was VERY generous and we were getting a little full even before the entree came.
• Green Curried Vegetables: A pretty standard curry with an assortment of vegetables.
  
• Sweet and Sour Tofu: We were a little amused because the vegetables in our two entrees were nearly exactly alike. Nevertheless, the flavors were completely different.
  
• Brown rice: every bit as delicious as white rice. White rice is softer, but this brown rice had a heartier, more subtly nutty flavor. Not at all overpowering with the dishes we ordered.

Value:
Prices are pretty standard. We paid a little over $25 with tip. The portions were large enough that we were stuffed at the end.

Overall:
This place is popular for a reason. There aren't many Thai restaurants in the Aiea/Pearl City area, and the food here is quite tasty. Can't wait to eat here again!

Pho Viet

Pho Viet is a little restaurant located in the Aiea Town Square, which is across the Aiea Bowling Alley. We decided to stop here after doing the Great Aloha Run, for a light lunch.

Ambiance:
Okay, this place isn't the greatest when it comes to ambiance, but in a small place like this, it is easy to relax. Trust me, after the Great Aloha Run, being comfortable was the most important thing. It also helps that it didn't feel too awkward eating out in running attire. The restaurant was fairly busy at around 11, perhaps because it was President's Day.

Service:
We've been to Pho Viet a few times now and it seems as if there's only one waitress for the entire restaurant. Nevertheless, she was attentive. Our order was taken on time and our food was delivered quickly. No complaints here! (FYI: don't wait for the bill. Pay up front instead)

Food:
The portions at Pho Viet are slightly smaller than what most restaurants offer, but more than enough for lunch.

• Lemongrass Tofu with Vermicelli: Lemon grass chicken is awesome, but lemongrass tofu is just as tasty. The tofu is lightly fried and coated with a bit of chili and served over vermicelli. What's really nice is that under the noodles are more vegetables. The lettuce and mint add to the refreshing quality of this dish. The only complaint is that there were no pickled carrots and daikon to garnish.
  
• Soft Noodle with Tofu: A very simple dish. Skinny noodles covered in a light gravy with bits of fried tofu. Pretty good!

Value:
Eating at Pho Viet is very affordable. We spent around $20 for lunch and came out feeling re-energized and ready to run another 8 miles. Just kidding. But really, try this place. It's very good!

Overall:
Pho Viet is one restaurant that we keep coming to again and again. Perfect for anyone looking for good Vietnamese food in Aiea!

Little Village Noodle House

Located in Chinatown across The Actor's Group, Little Village Noodle House is one of many Chinese restaurants in the area, yet it stands out in many little ways. For one, the restaurant has it's own parking lot for their customers. For another, the dishes are slightly more pricey and are smaller than average, yet they offer an array of food. For vegetarians, their menu offering is a delight.

Ambiance:
Little Village is a cutely decorated restaurant and very nicely kept. It is particularly nice how the daily specials are listed on a chalkboard written neatly above the kitchen area, where it is easy for most people to see. It seems to be the favorite of many, since every time we've come here (even on weekdays) the restaurant is bustling. Despite the popularity of the restaurant, we've never had a hard time being seated, even without reservations.

Service:
The service has always been excellent here. The servers do not seem to be assigned to any particular area; rather, they work together. They do their utmost to make sure that the customer is satisfied. This was on display during the last time we came. We were seated next to a couple who was dissatisfied with their dish. The man told the server that he wanted them to re-cook the shrimp in a very specific manner. With unerring grace, the server apologized and sent the food back. When he took the food back to the man, he asked if the shrimp was to his taste. It was not, and the food was sent back yet again. Though the food ended up not to the man's taste in the end, the server showed unfailing concern that the man be satisfied.

In our case, the servers are always friendly. They don't make us feel guilty about asking for more rice and there is always someone around to ask for more.

Food:
We ordered three dishes: tofu with bamboo fungus, choy sum with black mushroom, and shoyu tofu with leek and chili.

• Tofu with bamboo fungus: We get this dish nearly every time we come here. It's one of those dishes that is difficult to find anywhere else. In concept, it is very simple. Fried tofu, bamboo fungus (which looks almost disturbingly like those rubber finger tips used in offices to flip through paper), Chinese peas, and bits of garlic. That's all. But somehow so very delicious.
  
• Choy sum with black mushroom: A very pretty dish! It was one of the daily specials. Came on a bed of choy sum with large shiitake mushrooms on top. The portion size was generous and the dish was overall very tasty.
• Shoyu tofu with leek and chili: We ordered this dish almost on a whim and had no idea what to expect. What a pleasant surprise. Firm tofu sliced thinly with slices of leek. Having never tried leek, it was surprising to find that it tastes like an onion, but much milder. The texture is pleasantly tender. Couldn't stop eating this one. Just don't eat the chili. It's extremely hot, as one of us found out.

On a side note, the food also seems to be less greasy and salty overall.

Value:
Though the portions are a little smaller than average and the prices are higher than at most Chinese restaurants, Little Village is a must for those looking for high quality Chinese food. It is wonderfully vegetarian-friendly. Our meal came out to around $30, but we had enough leftovers for one of us to take for lunch the next day.

Overall:
One of our favorite Chinese restaurants. The service is excellent and the food is heavenly. If you're ever in Chinatown and overwhelmed with the sheer number of restaurants, give this place a try! You won't regret it.

Utage

February is Vegetarian month for one of us, so we will be featuring restaurants offering vegetarian options. First up is Utage, a restaurant serving Okinawan and Japanese food. This restaurant is a favorite of many of our acquaintances, especially those of Okinawan heritage.

Ambiance:
The interior of the restaurant is nicely kept and the booths were quite comfortable. We had to wait around 20 minutes for the five of us since the restaurant was packed. Since we went on a Friday night at around 7:00, it wasn't too much of a surprise. The other time we've been here, there has also been a small waiting time. A very popular place to dine.

Service:
Good. Our waitress was friendly and accommodating. Though she probably had many customers to wait on, she didn't make us feel rushed. Our food came out in a timely manner.

Food:
Utage's meals come with soup or salad, fruit punch, hot/iced tea or coffee, and dessert.

• Goya (bittermelon), Tofu and Eggs: Called champuru, or stir-fry, the goya dish is supposed to come with a choice of pork, chicken, spam, bacon, tuna or shoyu pork. However, since one of our reviewers goes vegetarian in February, he opted to substitute meat for more tofu. Bittermelon is not for everyone, though bittermelon lovers who can't cook it because their families refuse to eat it will be pleased to see this item on the menu. Besides the bitter taste, the dish is quite tasty.
• Okinawan Miso Soup (Pork, Tofu, Egg and Vegetables): Okay, this is not exactly vegetarian, but it was too good to pass up. With the exception of the pork, which was a little dry, the soup is absolutely delicious. The broth is a little sweeter than traditional Japanese miso soup, but also less salty. The tofu, egg and vegetables perfectly complement one another. Soothing and not too fatty.
  
• Dessert: We both had jello with whipped cream. A nice little treat for those who enjoy an after meal sweet.
  

Value:
Because each entree comes as a complete meal, it seems like a really good deal. If you think about it, most Japanese restaurants offer complementary soup/salad and tea anyway. Very smart move by Utage to make their meals seem a better value. Nevertheless, since our meal came out to a little over $20 for the two of us, it was still an extremely affordable meal.

Overall:
Utage is the perfect place for those who are looking for food outside of the standard Japanese fare. Okinawan food is distinctly different from Japanese food and it's a pity that there aren't more places offering this type of cuisine. The food is absolutely delicious and we'll definitely come back again.

Tadashi Japanese Cuisine

Located in the busy Pearl Kai Shopping Center, Tadashi is one of many locally-based restaurants in that complex. For those living on the west side, is one of the best places to go to satisfy a sushi craving. We went with two of our friends on a weekend night and were able to be seated without reservations, though the restaurant was near capacity.

Ambiance:
A nicely kept, yet somewhat typical Japanese restaurant setting. The seating was a little too cafeteria-like for my taste, especially for the price of the dishes.

Service:
Our waitress might have been new because she was frequently confused. She was pretty pleasant nonetheless and servers came around frequently to refill our water and tea.

Food:
We ordered the edomae and deluxe chirashi. It came with miso soup, soba, and tsukemono.

• Edomae: Described as "seven pieces assorted nigiri with four tekkyu maki and tamago," the edomae set was standard sushi, yet good. We're actually not sure if our waitress gave us the wrong set because it didn't seem to be what the menu described. Hopefully we weren't overcharged!
  
• Deluxe Chirashi: Assorted sashimi over sushi rice. Yum! Arranged in a compact bento box, this dish was deceptively large and more than enough for one person. Nice pieces of fish (salmon, ahi, etc.), tako and egg.
  

Drinks:

• Plum wine: So dangerously sweet. It's easy to forget that this plum wine contains alcohol. Definitely gave a pleasant buzz. Definitely not for those who dislike "girly" drinks.
  
• Otokoyama: Came chilled. On the drier side and not for everyone. A split decision.

Value:
We definitely splurged a bit by going to Tadashi. The bill came out to around $50 for the two of us. However, we emerged pleasantly warmed by our drinks and comfortably full from a delicious sushi meal. No regrets.

Overall:
For those living in Pearl City/Aiea, Tadashi is the place to go for sushi a step above Genki and Kuru Kuru. We'll be back!