About two weeks ago, I mentioned that Mo was back with Homestyle Hawaiian. So here's the second part….sorta…..
Two weeks is but a blink of an eye for a new business, and Mo's still making adjustments, some long term, some like this temporary(click to enlarge):
The good thing is, you can kinda keep up with things with Homestyle Hawaiian on Twitter.
It does look like the menu is pretty much set, but it's just like Mo to keep his "old time" customers happy.
One of my favorite things are "mixed plates" aka "combo plates", after all everyone loves variety, right? It does run two bucks or so (depending what you get) more, but the portions are slightly larger, and like I mentioned before, you get variety. Like this Chicken Katsu, Korean Chicken mixed plate:
As with Mo's Island Grinds, our favorite overall dish is the Korean Chicken, and the Missus loves the sauce aka Korean Sauce that Mo uses for that dish. Mo mentioned that while on hiatus, several other Hawaiian BBQ joints actually offered to but his recipe.
Those that know me are also aware that I love my Katsu…. in all forms. Breaded and served with Katsu Sauce, Mo's is almost "local kine" which is more ketchup based, than the "Bulldog" and other similar Japanese sauces. At Homestyle Hawaiian, add some Korean Sauce, and you have Lava Chicken, and even though it's not on the menu, you can request a Chicken Cutlet($5)…… in this case it's Katsu covered with gravy:
A nice touch was the gravy on the rice, and the scoop of rice under the chicken smothered in gravy.
Even though Mo wasn't born and raised in Hawaii he seems to understand the changes in tastes. We once had a discussion of "Local Kine Plate Lunch Kalbi" which tends to a more sweet flavor, probably because many of the early Lunchwagons and "Drive-Ins" that served this in the Islands were of Japanese ancestry. My tastes have changed since moving to the Mainland, but if you enjoy a sweeter Kalbi, you'll love the version here.
That's not to say that things always stay the same. I've never been a big fan of the Macaroni Salad at Mo's, and now at Homestyle Hawaiian. On my last two visits however, the salad is less heavy, and has more flavor:
And then there are the "works in progress" such as Meat Jun.
Apparently, it's still being developed……. I haven't found anything close to decent since leaving the Islands. Meat Jun is pretty much a Hawaii thing (BTW, my favorite was from Choi's Family Kitchen), so it'll be interesting following the progress of this dish.
And then there's this:
Need a closer look?
Recognize it? Probably not, since it's not served at Homestyle Hawaiian…. well not really. I've always joked with Mo, telling him that the Missus's favorite thing is the Korean Sauce, and it seems that She relishes the drippings from Korean Chicken on the cabbage garnish on the bottom of the plate! When I've mentioned this to Mo, he's always laughed and shakes his head. And though it's kinda embarrassing, I always ask for some extra sauce when I order Korean Chicken, and Mo being a nice guy, will always give it to us. So we saved up our Korean Sauce, until I had enough. I shredded some cabbage, sliced some cucumber, and topped with some mint. I heated the sauce to wilt the cabbage a bit……. and I had that! Of course it was missing the nice protein-fatty flavor from the chicken, but the Missus wiped the whole thing out. I normally wouldn't mention this except…… on a recent visit, I was sitting and eating my plate, when a couple came in to order some food for a small catering thing. During the discussion, the gentleman also wanted to get an order of "coleslaw". Mo told the guy he "doesn't serve coleslaw"….. Like a schoolkid trying to score points with the teacher I raised my hand, "oh-oh Mo…. I know exactly what he wants, Exxxx-xactly what he wants…." When I mentioned this to the Missus, She gave me the ultimate "I told you so look".
As I write this, Homestyle Hawaiian is still sorta a work in progress; it's still cash only, the hours are changing from week to week, etc, etc….. So I guess we'll need to follow things on Twitter for a bit. Hopefully, it'll all be worth it in the end.
Homestyle Hawaiian Island Style Food
7524 Mesa College Drive
San Diego, CA 92111
It’s really good to have Mo’s back again.
You’re right about the work in progress thing, he was totally scrambling (and running it by himself) to get everyone’s order last time I went in. And he forgot my musubi.
But I can’t really hold it against him, his stuff is toooo damn good.
Hi Holly – That’s not good… did you mention that to him???
crossing my fingers that it works out for him & you this time, the food sounds so good there!
Kirk, most of us have never lived in Hawaii so what we know is from vacation photos and what we see on TV and Dog the Bounty Hunter. I’ve been watching a lot of Magnum PI lately and watching the show, Magnum, TC, Rick, Higgins… they never eat Loco mocos, korean chicken, katsu. They are always eat at fancy country clubs, and posh cuisine back at the Robin Master’s estate. I know it’s just a TV show and they were selling stereotypical glamorized island life, but was this cuisine around back in the 80’s? If it was, I wish I had seen him and TC eating authentic food.
and one more question… in Magnum PI, every Hawaiian girl is a young beauty dressed in a bikini top, grass skirt or sarong, and has a flower in her hair and doesn’t look a day over 25. Please tell me that’s true.
This is quite strange for me that Hawaiian cuisine is mostly meats and rice.
I had expected more fruits and seafood that is typical of tropical islands
Thanks for the Twitter info, Kirk. I’ll keep an eye out on the hours so I can swing by for lunch.
From what I have seen, Hawaiian food seems like real junk. Fried, heavy, starchy, gobs of crap. Am I wrong? I would never spend a dime any SD joint serving what looks like blobs of puke.
I’m not Holly, you must have me confused. Yeah, I mentioned it but he kept forgetting. Again, I won’t hold it against him; he looked overwhelmed. We’ll just see if I can get a free one off him next time.
His mac salad would be a LOT better if he properly salted it, I think.
ahhhh, more gravy shots! I love mac salad and rice with gravy… katsu with gravy! hopefully your special coleslaw will show up on the menu one day.
Hi Kat – I hope so too.
Hi Andy – First off, what this is plate lunch, not Hawaiian Food. It is in essence it’s “Creole Food”, influenced by all the various races that have hit Hawaii’s shores. You rarely see those things on TV, because well the folks making the shows aren’t really Local.
Hi Mr Z – There’s lots of fruits, mostly for breakfast. What you’re seeing not Hawaiian Food per se, but plate lunch, what we call “local food”.
Hi Carol – Yes, with all the changes, the Twitter thing helps us keep up.
You are mistaken Starving Man, nothing was gloppy, perhaps you’ve been eating too much cheap Chinese Food? It is carb heavy, and there’s a good deal of history behind what you’re seeing. Perhaps reading Rachel Lauden’s Food of Paradise will help. It’s a fantastic read. You realize that “abnormal attitudes and behaviors in regard to food” is one of the main symptoms of Starving, man….
Hi HB – Sorry, my bad, there’s another HB named Holly who comments once in a while. Mo has changed up his Mac Salad recipe over the last week, I asked because the last time I had it, it was much improved.
Hi FH – Katsu w/Gravy = Chicken Cutlet! ;o)
Posted Via Mo’s Twitter
LOCO MOCO CHALLENGE
$18 and 1 hour
Loco Moco Patty, Kalua, and Katsu on a hawaiian plate of 6 eggs, 9 scoops of rice, 3 scoops of Mac salad, and covered in Mushroom Gravy.
My Goal is to be the first to conquer the plate. I was going to go eat it today but Mo ended up not opening because of a wedding. Oh well, a new week is coming!
Kirk, interested in meeting up and taking photos along with trying to finish the Loco Moco Challenge yourself?
Hi Derek – Mo’s asked me about that…… but there’s no way at my age I’ll be able to do it. BTW, when I was younger, I did finish the Challenge at Beth’s Cafe. Tell you what, finish the challenge, and I’ll, ummmm, buy you lunch! ;o) Good luck!
Haha, and hey, at least you have your tale to brag about 😉 I’ll take some pictures of the before and after and send it your way =)
Hi Derek – I’d love to see the photographic evidence.
Kirk, I know that his hours are fluctuating based on demands placed upon him, but do you know what his weekday hours will be?
Hi RCLC – Right now, it’s Tuesday to Friday 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 8pm. I believe he’s closed on weekends for Sept. You may want to follow him through Twitter. I’m guessing you’ve gone there and the place has been closed? That happened to me one /monday.
This site has been a lifesaver! I lived in Hawaii for about 2 years up until 2008 and my girlfriend was born and raised there but now lives here with me in San Diego. We are always trying to find the best places to eat any hawaiian style food because you definitely miss it after leaving the island. So i found this article yesterday and immediately went to Mo’s and have to say it was really good. Also Mo was really cool too. I ordered the Korean Fried and the Lava Chicken. Everything was really good. I hadnt had Korean Fried Chicken quite like this but it was defintely good. The only time i had chicken labeled “Korean Fried Chicken” was in this Foodland in Lai’e in 2007. I called them up yesterday finally and just asked them what their sauce was and i guess its teriyaki based and it was marinated for hours and hours. I wanna try to find that style too. I also once had Char Siu fried chicken? Gotta find that too. But i’m getting off track. Thanks so much for the site. Gonna check out every place you review!
Hi Montrey – Thanks for the kind words. I’ve actually made Char Siu Chicken, it’s not very hard. BTW, you may not want to try every place I’ve posted on….some of them were not that great! Thanks for reading, and especially for taking the time out to comment!
Matthew and I were really happy with our meal at Mo’s. Mo is so nice and works so hard, how could we not be. =)
Hi Lynnea – I’m glad you enjoyed Homestyle Hawaiian. I think Mo will be needing a bit more help.
Oh, boy. Thanks, Kirk. Man, this is way closer now. Wow. I’m excited.
Btw, i just found Kayla’s Island Grill right behind Corner House Cafe (the yellow house at the corner) today. Not bad for their BBQ (they mostly serve that – kalbi, chicken, beef). No loco-moco or lau-lau. There is chicken katsu on the menu for $5.99 and there is Saimin and good musubi (two slices of spam and two layer of rice) for $1.75 which was not bad. The combo plate lunch was not bad for the price but no way compared to Mo’s. The mac salad is light with some shredded carrots which I’ve never had at Hawaiian place before.
Worth checking out for quick lunch. I’d rather go here than Da Kine’s.
Oh, and Leilani’s at PB is still open. I went two weeks ago for lunch.
Boy, oh, boy, Mo’s again…i mean Homestyle Hawaiian.
Thanks, Kirk.
Hi Didi – Go check them out, I think Mo will be happy to see you!
Kirk,
Have you found any good meat jun in San Diego. When I lived on Oahu I used to visit Tasty Korean BBQ twice a week for Meat Jun. I really miss it.
Hi Louie – I’ve never had decent Meat Jun on the mainland, period. Sorry to say most place deep fry the meat jun which makes it kinda oily. I’m looking for the stuff made on the griddle.