Fantastic, five-star food from Chef Ron Simon of OlenaHi! Run, don't walk, to this unassuming cafė,…read morelocated in the Dole Cannery Food Court, just across the street from Regal Dole Cannery Movie Theatre! Yesterday, our family was super-hungry after the movies and thought we'd give the place a whirl. We arrived 20 minutes before closing time, but Rose, the chef's wife, graciously took our order anyway and treated us like long-lost family! Delectable Southeast Asian and Filipino-inflected food, skillfully crafted to highlight the fresh ingredients! Check the menu for daily specials; ongoing offerings include bowls with different protein options, pickled veggies, salad, and rice; banh mi, beverages, and various desserts. We sampled a wide assortment of food and unanimously agreed everything was delicious: banh mi with lemongrass tofu, banh mi with tender, flavorful brisket, crisp truffle-parmesan fries. I loved my lemongrass chicken bowl: extremely flavorful and bright marinade, moist chicken, topped with (I think!) crispy shallots, and served with a generous helping of Vietnamese-style do chua: pickled carrots and daikon, on a base of pristine mesclun greens with a side of wonderful tangy, creamy Asian-style dressing (had turmeric, sesame, rice vinegar, and maybe a touch of miso in it?) and aromatic, mouthwatering `olena rice: coconut rice seasoned with turmeric, cinnamon, lemongrass, and cloves. The plantation iced tea and Filipino lemonade were wonderful, but for something even more special, try the refreshing Royal Filipino Lemonade, made with caramelized diced fresh pineapple, calamansi, and butterfly pea: beautiful to behold and to sip! As a family that loves to cook, we're super-picky about our banana bread, but the banana-poi bites were splendid: not overly sweet and perfectly springy, with just the right hint of vanilla to complement the fresh banana and taro flavors. We took home a delicious vegetarian soba salad for later!
Food is available to take out or eat in the A/C food court, and OlenaHi also does catering. We'll definitely return and enthusiastically recommend this business. Hawai`i and the world need more restaurants like OlenaHi, where you can enjoy fabulous food and outstanding, personable service, served up with a generous helping of warm, local-style aloha: a rare gem!