But some of you might be asking, "Ron, what is Huli Huli Chicken?" Huli Huli means "turn turn" in Hawaiian which refers to the original Hawaiian method of cooking the chicken on a rotisserie. The barbequed chicken is cooked with Huli Huli sauce which is made with pure Hawaiian brown sugar cane along with soy sauce, fresh ginger and more. Huli Huli Chicken is usually served at luaus, roadside stands and restaurants across the Hawaiian Islands. Located right on the edge of the parking lot off Eastern Avenue at the Fresh 52 Farmers Market at Sansone Park Place (9480 S. Eastern Avenue between Serene Avenue and Silverado Ranch Blvd.) you will find "He'le' Ono Ohana's" canopy serving Huli Huli Chicken and other Hawaiian specialities like Spam Musubi and more. If you have a hard time finding it just look for the smoke or follow your nose. Once you find it you'll see owner Junior Reyes and his Dad barbequing at the grill while the rest of his Ohana (Family) will be under the canopy ready to take your order.

Like I mentioned earlier, their Huli Huli Chicken is the best in town and is so tender and tasty. Their chicken is soaked over night, marinated in their very own special He'le' Ono family recipe and is slowly char-grilled the next day right on the spot. The Huli Huli Chicken is served plate lunch style with 2 big scoops of white rice with Furikaki sprinkled on top and a side of 2 scoops of Macaroni Salad. (Regular Plate is $7 and Small plate which includes only one scoop rice and Mac Salad is $5) The Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 8:30AM until 1PM. I suggest that you get out there early if you can in order to beat the lunch time crowd or the big rush before they close and tear down the grills. I personally enjoy grilling myself, especially during NFL Football Season. But now that Junior and his Ohana are just down the street, why mess with the grill at home when I could now run down the street to get my Huli Huli Chicken and be back just in time for kick off of the early 10AM football games. Click here to see a few more photos from He'le' Ono Ohana at the Fresh 52 Farmers Market. Also visit their website at www.heleono.com. He'le' Ono Ohana is also available for catering.

Posted on September 22, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

As we looked at the menu, we saw that they offered burritos, bowls, salads and taco made to order the way you want it. The menu reminded us alot of Chipotle Mexican Grill but with Hawaiian style flavor. Being that it was our first time there, we were offered samples of the various meats you have to choose from such as Huli Huli Chicken, Kalua Pig, Pulehu Steak, and Grilled Fish. They were all so delicious but the grilled fish was probably my favorite which was so tender and flavorful. So after tasting the samples and reviewing the menu we were ready to order. The way it works when ordering is you walk up to the counter where the staff is set up like an assembly line to prepare your meal.

Step 1: Choose your item of either Burrito, Bowl, Salad, or Tacos (which by the way is served 3 to a plate). Step 2: Choose your meat from the selection of Huli Huli Chicken, Kalua Pig, Pulehu Steak or Grilled Fish. For Vegetarians, you can substitute the meat for Grilled Veggies. Step 3: Select one or all of the toppings such as Seaweed Rice, Black Beans, Shredded Cabbage, Romaine Lettuce, and Grilled Veggies. Step 4: Choose one of the salsas from your choice of Charred Pineapple Verde (Mild), Mango & Roasted Corn (Medium), and Tomatoe w/ Grilled Maui Onion (Spicy). And Step 5: Choose one or all from your choices of additional toppings like Sour Cream, Cheese, Lettuce, Jalepenos, Cabbage, Lime, Guacamole w/ Hawaiian Pink Salt, and Grilled Veggies. And if you want additional dressing, Salad Dressing is served on the side from your choices of Papaya Buttermilk Ranch or Roasted Sesame Gingerette.

Because we were hungry and we also wanted to try everything, we ordered a Grilled Fish Burrito, a Pulehu Steak Bowl, and a Taco Plate with one taco with Huli Huli Chicken and the other two with Kalua Pig, and Pulehu Steak. I honestly can't say which one was my favorite because it was all so good and so fresh. They also gave us a piece of Coconut Bark to sample. I'm not sure if it's something they plan to add to the menu and I'm not sure how else to describe it except that it was kind of like a Coconut Shmore. Whatever it was, it was so good and so sweet! While we were eating, we got to meet the owner Christopher who was just as friendly as his staff. During our conversation he told us that he had worked in different restaurants for quite awhile and had always wanted to start something on his own. It wasn't until recently when he with the support and encouragement from his Hawaiian wife that they decided to turn their plans, concept, and vision into reality. After opening for over a month now, Braddah's Island Style has had a successful start. In fact the day we were there it was quite busy. Christopher prides himself and his business on offering a great menu, fresh food, and great customer service. This was definitely our experience during our visit here.

Check out more photos from our visit to Braddah's Island Style restaurant. More info can also be found on their website at www.braddahstacos.com. (Inside scoop, 2 more future locations are in the works. One in North Las Vegas and the other in Henderson.) "Hey Braddah Christopher...Much mahalos for the great food and experience and don't forget to let me know when you open up down in Henderson!" :)

Posted on September 7, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

There are two Aunt Emma's Pancakes locations, both in the South Bay area of San Diego. The first one right off the I-5 Freeway on E Street in Chula Vista as mentioned above and a second location in National City at 214 National City Blvd. Aside from their abundant choices of different kinds of pancakes and crepes, they also serve delicious omlettes and eggs specialities. My favorite breakfast menu items at Aunt Emma's is their Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs which is served with your choice of hash browns or fresh fruit or frijoles or rice and choice of toast or buttermilk pancakes. If it's too late for breakfast, Aunt Emma's also serves lunchtime menu items too such as soups, salads, specialty sandwiches, and hamburgers. All their burgers are 1/2 lb. and served with French Fries or Cole Slaw. Sure there are other breakfast restaurants such as Denny's and IHOP but whenever we're in this part of town, Aunt Emma's Pancakes is the place to go for us. Click here to see some photos from our last visit to Aunt Emma's with the family and our close friends the Torres Family.

Posted on August 25, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

The kids and I headed over to the MGM Grand to check it out and sure enough Project Pie was just like Pieology. The concept is the same as Pieology where you can either pick one of their 9 specialty pizzas or "Design, Build, and Eat) by totally customizing your own pizza with endless toppings of your choice. The size of their pies are about the same size of any standard medium size pizza. Once you're done customizing your pizza, you then pay for your meal while your pizza is placed into their hot (or as the sign says "Really, Really Hot") oven. Shortly after you sit down your pizza is served directly to your table. Having been to Pieology, the pizzas here at Project Pie are pretty much the same...Superb! The only difference is the price where Pieology charges $8.00 for a customized pizza and Project Pie cost a little bit more at $12.00 per pie. (Not a surprise since it's located on the Las Vegas Strip in a luxurious hotel where Las Vegs tourists will pay anything, especially if they win big.) The kids and I ordered two pizzas. One pizza my son Nico and daughter Kiana customized with the toppings they wanted and the other one was for myself and youngest daugther Nevaeh. On our pizza I mainly had all the meats as toppings and on the other half was just plain cheese since Nevaeh didn't want any toppings. That's the beauty of this pizzaria is that your pizza can be customized to your liking and whoever else you are sharing it with.

Project Pie is located in the "Underground" section of the MGM Grand which is the bottom level as you enter the hotel from the parking structure. Check out the photos from our first visit to Project Pie which will not be our last. And go check it out for yourself, especially if you haven't experienced Pieology in California. And if you have experienced Pieology and love it, now you know where you can go here in Las Vegas to get that same piping hot pizza the way you want it. Also for my San Diego foodie friends, stay tune for a Project Pie location coming soon to San Diego which will be opening in Hillcrest.

Posted on January 24, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

While the debate of the origin of the fish taco goes on, I actually would like to start a debate on who has the best fish tacos in san Diego. Although I love going to Rubio's (the originator of the fish taco restaurant), I have to say some of the best fish tacos I've had in town has got to be from TJ's Oyster Bar in Bonita, a community between the cities of National City and Chula Vista. To me Rubio's is a little too commercialized and the hole in the wall atmosphere at TJ's Oyster Bar kind of gives it that old taco stand feel just like the original stands in San Felipe or Ensenada. Also the fish tacos at TJ's are only $1 each. A great price for a great tasting fish taco if I must say so myself. But like I mentioned, it's a great tasting fish taco compared to Rubio's. Tj's also offers other types of tacos such as shrimp, oyster, octopus, and salmon tacos. But it's the fish tacos that we are talking about here.

For all my San Diego Foodie Friends or visitors to San Diego, if you haven't tried TJ's Oyster Bar, go check them out. Click here to see photos from our last visit to TJ's Oyster Bar. There are two locations in Bonita. The original hole-in-the-wall taco shop at 4246 Bonita Road and the newer larger restaurant at 4410 Bonita Road in the Vons Shopping Center. More info can be found on their website. If you don't agree the fish tacos here are the best in town and you know of a better place, do let me know! The search for the best fish tacos continues and you know I'm always up for a new food adventure :)

Posted on January 17, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

We've eaten at similar Cajun-style restaurants in California and here in Las Vegas such as Hot and Juicy in Chinatown and The Boiling Crab on the west side of town and were happy to find this new restaurant that is closer to our home. While we were there we noticed the employees that worked at the Filipino market that was here were now employed here at California Crab. Apparently the owners of the store had sold the market and had opened up this new restaurant. Like all the other Cajun-style seafood restaurants, the menu at California Crab was similar and they also offered sandwiches like their Fried Shrimp Po'Boy, Crab Cake and Fish Fillet Sandwiches and grilled menu items such as grilled salmon and teriyaki chicken served with rice. But I also noticed they offered a few Filipino dishes as well such as Lechon Kawali (fried pork), Crispy Pata (deep fried pork leg), and Sizzling Sisig (fried pork belly, bell peppers, onions, with their special seasoning). Not a surprise considering the owners are Filipino. You will also find on their menu their special "Sisig Burrito" which I will have to try some day. But on this particular visit the kids and I decided to go to town on some seafood and ordered 3 lbs. of shrimp with the Big Bang seasoning with medium spice. We also ordered sides of steamed rice and regular and sweet potato fries.

My son Nico who was allergic to seafood growing up but recently found out he was not allergic to shrimp also went to town with his own pound of shrimp which he ordered a little more spicier than the rest of us. And just like all the other similar restaurants, no table manners and no plates are needed here as you get down and dirty as you eat the seafood with your hands, straight out of a plastic bag right off the table. Click here to see more photos from our fingerlicking good lunch at California Crab. If you are ever hungry some seafood here in the Las Vegas area and don't want to travel to Chinatown or to the west side of town, give California Crab a try. They're located just off the 215 freeway at 9560 S Eastern Aveue in the Silverado Ranch area of Henderson/Las Vegas (in the same shopping center as BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse). Visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

Posted on January 11, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |

At any restaurant, you would typically pay a high price for lobster so it wasn't a surprise to me that the menu at Lobster ME was not going to be cheap. I went ahead and ordered the Original "Maine Style" Lobster Roll which was Maine lobster served with a touch of mayonnaise and lemon and topped with their secret spice blend on a toasted New England-style split-top bun. I ended up ordering the combo which included fries and a drink. My wife Carole ended up ordering the New England Clam Chowder which was served in a sourdough bread bowl. The lobster rolls come in two sizes - Large for $17.00 and X-Large for $23.00. When we received our food, I noticed the large size roll was not as large as I thought (about 6 to 7 inches) and wondered if I shouldn't have paid the $6.00 more for the X-Large. But despite the size, the lobster roll was piled high with big chucks of sweet, fresh lobster dressed in mayo and spices on a buttery toasted bun. I must say it was very tasty and satisfying and afterwards I really did wished I paid the extra money for the X-Large because I wanted more. Check out some of the photos from this food adventure at Lobster ME. If you're hungry for a great lobster roll and don't mind paying the high price for it, definitely check this place out. You might think it's an expensive price to pay for the world's best lobster rolls but if you think about it, it's still much cheaper than flying out to Maine for some lobster.

Posted on January 3, 2013 | Read Comments | Post Comment |