Yes, there are roadside places in Hawaii. It’s not all four-star resorts, ersatz tiki bars and national franchises. There are roads, after all; along the roads, away from the tourist areas, are many places to have a genuine roadside experience.
The Hawaiian Style Café, in the town of Waimea (also known as Kamuela) on the Big Island, is one of those places. Double screen doors open onto a horseshoe-shaped counter and about a dozen booths and tables, almost always fully occupied from opening to closing (7:30 till 1:30 seven days a week).
Breakfast is served any time and the “specials” board lists a dozen or so items daily. Though much of the menu is typical diner fare, items such as banana macadamia nut pancakes and Kailua pork-sweet Maui onion omelettes tell you you’re not on the mainland.
The food is very good and the portions are huge — almost legendary, in fact.
Above: a typical lunch for two. On the left, a fresh grilled mahi mahi sandwich, a scoop of macaroni-potato salad and a huge pile of fries, about $9; on the right, chicken katsu (two chicken cutlets, breaded Japanese-style with grilled onions and gravy), Korean barbecued steak, two scoops of rice and one of mac-potato salad, about $10. Hungry yet?
