My uncle Richard and Henry opened Forty Niner after returning home from WWII (they were both with the decorated 442nd Regiment) and my aunty Jennie still cooked and helped the new owner with the transition in the beginning. Thank you for highlighting this establishment so near and dear to our family’s lineage. Btw, I think you meant to say it’s off Kamehameha, not Farrington, Highway 😉
I cried when Dillingham Saimin, Patti's Chinese Kitchen, Libby Manapua and Like Like Drive-in closed. So many others too. I hope people keep going to these old school places to keep them alive. Natsunoya Tea House and Waioli Tea House deserve some love too.
Great video! My wife and I love watching your programming! Ok I am old (mid70s) but when the lady at “Jane’s Fountain” had to show Amanda how to use the jukebox and “where the sound comes out” - well that made me appreciate how old I really am! 😂
Omg. I used to walk to Forty Niners with my Mom as a child to buy Saimin and Hamburgers. So many memories. So nostalgic. All the food that you ordered looked so yummy. Thank you again. Take care and blessings. 💖💖💖💖🙏🙏💖🌺💖💖
Reminiscing about your dad being a cook at Sekiya's was SO sweet Amanda!!! I always learn so much about Hawaiian and Japanese food/culture from your videos. Loved the Kenan and Kel reference and I totally said it with you...I do I do I do I doooooo 🤣🍊
Great episode! Some of my absolute favorite places! Whenever I go to Jane's Fountain, I can't help myself and I always get a deviled egg sandwich on the side with whatever main dish I end up ordering. Childhood memories I guess :)
I remember walking with my grandfather to Sekiya's to get wonton min takeout. He lived two or three houses away on Kaimuki Avenue, and he would take a metal soup pot to Sekia's. They would fill his soup pot with the ono wonton soup, and we would take it back to his house to eat for lunch. This was in the 1950s. Wonderful times! Mahalo for taking us back to Sekiya's!
These are gems. Gotta eat there before they are gone. I know they don’t have a modern taste, but it is history…. reminds me of my grandparents and that’s always a good thing!
I absolutely love your guys channel. Born and raised here on Oahu over the weekends I find myself going to some of the food places that you mention. Thank you for doing such a great job and taking us on a journey. I am going to Janes on Sunday.
Love ALL those hole in the wall restaurants! Nostalgic and it brings back memories of my Hana-buttah days! Loco-moco, saimin, bbq stick, won ton min, etc.. I’m so grateful they are still around.
Sekiya's used to have a juke box and you could use the "song selector list/box" that was attached to the wall next to your table. Very old school. 🤪And that fishpond has been there from forever.
In my small kid time in the ʻ60s, Sekiyaʻs was about the only Japanese restaurant in town, so our family used to eat there often. I still remember the saimin and barbecue stick, shrimp tempura, the Orange Freeze, and of course, the take-out okazu, which I continue to get every so often today. They even had mini jukeboxes on the side of the tables against the wall and we could play music for a nickel or dime if our parents let us. I think everyone who knows how to use a jukebox can recognize "Sukiyaki" ("Ue o Muite Arukou"). I didnʻt eat at any of the other places you visited except for Palace Saimin. My favorite float is kona coffee ice cream with rootbeer - though I used to just make it at home. Itʻs good to know that these old local businesses are still surviving!
Thank you guys for sharing! All these places take me back to my childhood days when my parents would take us to one of these places. Nothing but good food, good times & great memories! So Awesome! Thanks again! Aloha! 🤙
49er's was a staple for me when I used to come and visit my grandparents in the 80's and 90's. The saimin and grilled cheese hit the spot. I am glad they are still open.
As a kid, they had A&W drive Inn's. The staff would be on roller skates & take your order from your car. You would roll your window down and they would attach a tray to put your order when it was delivered. Cash only, the waitress would have a change belt around their waist. All this ono food brings back a lot of memories. Keep up the great videos.
When my Dad lived in the area, we'd go to Jane's for saimin or beef stew, then across the street to Liliha Bakery for coco puffs. ❣ If it was a hot day, we'd go to Shimazu for giant shave ice.
Thanks for all the tongue twisters in the outtakes lol. You brought a lot of happiness to so many people watching this episode! Wonderful description on each dish! Still the cutest couple on RU-vid ❤
I ate dinner already, but this episode had me wanting to jump on a plane and visit all those OG dining places! They all took me back! Very iconic eats! Great job! Amanda, you look amazing! Whatever u r doing…💕 I am so gonna hut some of these places next time! Mahalo always!!!!
Memorable Yummy Goodness !!! I remember the orange freeze ! Love the yummy haupia pancake ! Old school & no frills Jane's fountain !!! We neva miss eating at Palace Saimin when we visit home ! So nostalgic !!! Mahalo Foodie Ohana for taking us back ! OG memories !!!
I'm feeling old 👵...u are showing all the places I ate at growing up and they've aged way more better than me😂. I love oyako don, but it always reminds me of the trauma I experienced when I realized I was eating a parent & child. Back then I thought they were really related and I cried and cried🤦♀️. Mahalos for another great episode
That song at Jane's Fountain was "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto. The real name is "Ue o Muite Arukou". "Sukiyaki" was used for its American release as it was a word that was more familiar to Americans (popular Japanese food dish) but has nothing to do with the meaning of the song.
Wow, talk about nostalgia! Sekiya's, right across the street from my high school. Then you played Sukiyaki on the jukebox. I remember listening to that song as a young kid. If I'm not mistaken, it was #1 on KPOI for a very long time. That was the original KPOI, an AM station. I'm old, but I think the wonton min at Tanoue's was less than $2 back in my day. Mahalo for this video!
Yummy to all. I ate at all those places with my parents. I remember the cheeseburger at Jane's Fountain was good. Oh, I need to go. Thanks for the video. ❤❤
The places I went to when I was growing up in Lanakila. Original Liliha Bakery, the Okazuya across the street, Jane's Fountain, L&L before it was L&L, Shimazu before it only sold shave ice, Dairy Queen, the movie theater on Liliha and School Street where the freeway is now. The bakery across the street from Lanakila park for butter rolls and old saimin place down that lane for 25 cents. 30 cents for won ton min and 5 cents for a cone sushi. Went to these places either by walking or riding my bike. Oh, St. Teresa's Church for Sunday mass.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ love this!!!!! Its great seeing new evolving cuisine, but its also wonderful to see where hawaiis massive food history came from. Okazuya. Saimin. Ty so much for bringing back memories ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Wow, another great nostalgic video. I'm sorry to say that I recall seeing Seikiya's and Forty Niner all the time, but I have never been. Next time in town, I have to patronize! Thanks for planting the seed... Nooo, not Sukiyaki! 😂
Love theses hidden jems old school restaurants. Everything you guys ate look so onolicious. You guys are the best. Your episodes on all your utube channels are my #1 to watch. I definitely support all the local small mom and pops restaurants and stores. Thank you so much for sharing. Aloha Amanda and Felix
Thanks for this. First time I've ever watched you guys, but I'm glad I did. I'm always a fan of folks who go to local food places rather than touristy venues, and help to keep the local culture alive in the age of internet and bland content. Reminds me of the old days back in Honolulu (and the Big Island).
I miss eating a good saimin and hamburger. Love the video, just discovered your channel, great content look forward to seeing what other places you recommend.
I can't believe these places have been around for so long and I've only been to one of them (Sekiya's)! Man, the food looked ono in that comfort-food kind of way. Thanks for sharing these great places and giving us the history on all of them. You guys are so entertaining and informative at the same time. 🥰🤙
You didn't disappoint! If Palace Saimin was excluded from this list, I would've been sad . Palace Saimin has been my fave since hanabuttah days. Mahalo for making me hungry. 🍍😎🤙🌴🥥🌺🌈
I used to stay a couple houses up from Jane’s in 90’s. They had OX tail soup on one day of the week and loved it. There were Makisushi in tin foil at the showcase facing the pedestrian. I loved Saimin n BBQ stick eating together. I noticed the old Pepci clock by the wall menu is gone😢 I just love Jane’s, please don’t change ❤
I remember when on my first visit to Hawaii years ago, I tried saimin for the first time at McDonalds. That led to chicken long rice, Portuguese Bean soup, malasadas, haupia and the list goes on. The saimin I make at home and I throw lots of different things in. You are both so lucky to have a fusion of ethnic dishes in Hawaii. Love being one of your foodie ohana.
Loved this post...Hard to beat those Ohana eateries that have stood the test of time....Janes Fountain & Sekiya's is a must, and 49'ers, I've been dinning at 49'ers since elementary school days back in the 60's, when the former owners retired, Will, the new owner continued there legacy and added wonderful recipes to the menu....Mahalo's yet again Amanda & Felix....
This coming October is going to be my fourth visit to Hawaii and keep missing your recommendations. This time no more failures due to friends and families. Your channel made me realize that food is more important than friends and families lol. This time go for broke!
Thank you for this video. I loved it when Felix describing the orange freeze: "This concoction arrived before the Orange man." I thought thats what you said.
Thank you so much for showcasing such iconic OG restaurants in Hawaii. I will definitely visit such restaurants! BTW, Felix's way to drink a Root Beer Float is the Correct way.
I highly recommend Adela's Country Eatery if you guys have not tried it yet. Their noodles are delicious but the best plate imo is their Adobong Lechon Kawali (Pork belly with garlic rice)
Thank you for showing these original places I've only heard about. Need to get there before they're gone for good. That's the OG Sukiyaki by Sakamoto, right?
Sekiya's still serve Green River soda at the fountain last time I was there. Gotta go Jane's Fountain one of these days. Small kid time, I remember the beef cutlet plate. Good video guys.
Sukiya's food across from Kaimuki High School where I graduated '1973' Go Bulldogs! 😂 is so ono kine perfection!! Used to cut out from 5th period just to chow down...Really happy you guyz reviewed them..Can not go wrong!! Shaka
