The Cat Dish

Tag Archives: pho

I prefer breakfast at night

by Catherine Toth on March 19, 2013 in Food

As I was browsing through my regular read of blogs this morning, I came across my traveling pal Melissa Chang’s post on the best eateries that serve breakfast all day long.

Her list included the usual suspects — Liliha Bakery, Eggs ‘N Things, Anna Miller’s Restaurant — and some unexpected names — Giovanni Pastrami, Downbeat Diner & Lounge and Sikdorak.

I was keenly interested in this list mostly because I love breakfast — but I hate eating it in the morning.

I prefer savory meals in the morning, like bowls of chili or beef stew. I’d rather eat a chicken salad sandwich for breakfast than a plate of buttermilk pancakes.

And I have no idea why.

It’s not like I grew up eating savory breakfast dishes. Like most kids, I started my mornings with bowls of cereal or scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast or syrup-drenched waffles.

But as I’ve gotten older — and, to be honest, since I moved out on my own and had sole control over what I ate every morning — I’ve realized I prefer leftover pizza to Cap’n Crunch.

So thanks, Melissa, for this list! Looks like I know where to get my 8 p.m. breakfast fix!

Got any places to add?

Comments { 6 }

FUUD: Pho 27 on Waialae

by Catherine Toth on March 23, 2012 in Food

Five years ago I wrote a story for the now defunct Honolulu Advertiser about Columbia Inn closing in Kaimuki.

Its closure was a shock to regular customers and employees, many of whom found out by reading a note taped to the door.

The space sat vacant for a long time, and I always wondered why a new restaurant didn’t move into that huge space in the Kaimuki Shopping Center.

Then I got conflicting reports about restaurants that had moved into the space. One was a drive-in serving unique plate lunches; the other was a traditional Vietnamese restaurant dishing out bowls of pho.

So which was it?

Only one way to find out!

Here’s what my recent dinner looked like:

Where am I?

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 14

A group of ex-Advertiser reporters wanted to meet up for dinner. One of them suggested Fairwood Drive-Inn on Waialae, a new restaurant the opened in the space vacated by Columbia Inn.

Pho 27 Vietnamese Cuisine, 3221 Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Phone: (808) 738-0027.

Comments { 8 }

FUUD: Mama Pho in Aina Haina

by Catherine Toth on October 28, 2011 in Food

Finally.

We have pho.

A few of us living in East Honolulu have been waiting waiting waiting for Mama Pho to open in the Aina Haina Shopping Center. To the point where we’d pass by the shopping center just to see if the new eatery was open.

It’s our first Vietnamese restaurant (that I can remember) in our ‘hood — and we didn’t wait to try it.

I had been craving phở — pronounced “fah,” people! — mostly because I was sick and this traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish is what I like to eat when I’m sniffing and sneezing.

But this eatery, right across from Encore! Espresso (which will be neighbors soon with a Dave’s Ice Cream), has more than just pho. Its menu features rice plates, grilled meats, cold noodles and desserts that aren’t served every day. (We know.)

Here’s what we ate this week:

Outside Mama Pho

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 11

We have been waiting for this eatery to open in Aina Haina. The nearest restaurant serving pho in East Honolulu is Kaimuki — and on some weeknights, even that's too far to drive.

Mama Pho, Aina Haina Shopping Center, 820 West Hind Dr. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone: (808) 373-8887

Comments { 6 }

Sick? Eat pho

by Catherine Toth on October 6, 2011 in Food, Happy Shots

When I’m sick, I tend to skip meals, sometimes going an entire day on just a bowl of rice.

But for the past few days, I’ve been battling a cold. Sore throat, coughing, congestion and a headache. And I’ve been craving one thing: pho.

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, usually served with raw beef or chicken and a plate of fresh basil, mint leaves, lime and bean sprouts.

It’s really the warm broth and easy-to-eat noodles that make this my go-to dish when I’m sick. (And one of my favorite bowls comes from Saigon Restaurant Vietnamese in Chinatown.)

What’s your go-to dish when you’re not feeling well?

Comments { 24 }

FUUD: Your favorite pho

by Catherine Toth on December 17, 2010 in Food, Musings, The Daily Dish

The other day I had lunch with HAWAII Magazine editor Derek Paiva and the acclaimed food critic (and Scorpio) John Heckathorn.

They took me to their favorite Vietnamese restaurant that they said served the best pho around.

I love pho. And I trust Derek and John. There was no convincing me to go.

So we headed to Saigon Restaurant Vietnamese in Chinatown for what they say is the best bowl of pho they’ve ever had. (Or something to that effect.)

I had been to several restaurants in Chinatown, all claiming to have the best pho. I hadn’t tried the one at Saigon, but after experiencing some mediocre bowls in downtown, I didn’t have the highest of expectations.

But I have to say, this was one good bowl of pho.

Like most restaurants, the pho here was served with the traditional white rice noodles — that weren’t soggy — in a clear beef broth. The broth is typically made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onions and spices (including star anise) for hours.

What makes the dish — and it’s probably the same for ramen and saimin — is the broth. It has to have strong flavors that aren’t overpowering. It can’t be too oily or salty. It has to be perfect, allowing the flavors of the other ingredients — raw meat, tripe, meatballs, rice noodles, fresh basil leaves, cilantro, bean sprouts — to peek through.

And it did.

A friend of mine asked me why I like pho so much — and whether I’d choose pho over, say, ramen.

That’s a tough one.

Sometimes I prefer pho over ramen — which I love — because the broth is cleaner the flavors crisper. But ramen is a hard dish to beat, with its robust and flavorful dashi and noodles that melt in your mouth.

But there’s something refreshing about a bowl of pho. As one blogger wrote, “Take liquid soul from Heaven itself, add rice noodles and raw flank steak strips … and put it in a bowl.” That’s pho.

I’m always looking for the best bowl of pho. I posed the question to my Twitter friends — a great bunch of foodies — and got various suggestions from To Chau Restaurant on River Street to Pho 97 on Maunakea Street to Hale Vietnam in Kaimuki.

I don’t think I’ve found it yet — but I’m willing to keeping looking!

Got a favorite pho? Share it here. Maybe your suggestions will turn into a future blog post devoted to one of my favorite wintertime meals.

Saigon Restaurant Vietnamese,, 164 N. King St. Phone: 808-599-1866.

***

CAT’S GIFT IDEAS

SHOPPING DAYS LEFT: 8

TODAY’S GIFT IDEA: Eco-friendly T-shirt from Blue Planet Foundation

Got a gift idea? Send ‘em my way at cat@nonstophonolulu.com.

***

To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@nonstophonolulu.com.

Subscribe to Nonstop Honolulu on YouTube »

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Sign a friendship contract?
Cat Chat episode 6: iPad, iDunno
Your favorite Christmas flicks
Pampering your pets
FUUD: Inferno’s Wood Fire Pizza in Kalihi
Nook or Kindle — or not
Cat Chat episode 5: Scarfing
Gifts for the ‘Hawaii Five-0′ fans
Don’t judge me by my Christmas playlist