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David's Hawaiian Drive Inn - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Hawaiian Hawaiian [Edit]
711 El Camino RealRedwood City, CA 94063
(650) 369-0396
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for David's Hawaiian Drive Inn
Review Highlights
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"...my wife or kids get the BBQ chicken plate, then I am always..." In 4 reviews -
"I am not a fan of the Mac Salad, but extra rice is always..." In 12 reviews -
"Loco moco." In 7 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Andrew B.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2010
If your not a quality-snob, neat-freak, scared of minorities type of person and you enjoy some flat out great tasting food, this is your spot. The portions are huge, the chicken or bbq mixed plates don't miss, and the macaroni salad came from heaven. I wouldn't be surprised if the macaroni had actual crack in it. When I'm in the Bay Area this is one of the first stops I hit. Me and my friends stuff our faces and leave happier than if we went to some clean, uptight, order off a leather menu type of establishment. The experience is awesome. It's all about parking in the back alley way and hopping the half-way house fence to get to the back door.
Stick to meat and don't skimp on the teriyaki. -
Review from Alice C.
12/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Cheap, good-for-lunch type of food.
The food itself was ok -- the fried items seem to be tastier, while the grilled items are not so great. The loco moco is good but the sauce feels a bit...watered down? I want a thick and savory sauce please!
I also ordered the spam musubi. Spam fail...the spam was like a teeny thin slice! I was expecting some spam juicy goodness...ah well.
So, overall, I enjoyed my meal but it's a bit short of your regular Hawaiian food chains like L&L. Being cheap is the key! -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2008 1 photo
It's a dive and it's on the block of El Camino with sketchy bars and adult stores (watch out for vomit on the sidewalk), but David's is actually a decent Chinese/Hawaiian place run by a cute Chinese couple (man and wife?). They have some Chinese dishes, including won ton soup, chow mein, chow fun, some Asian sandwiches, in addition to burgers and Hawaiian rice plates.
The place is much larger than I thought. The tables are sticky and they have way too many fake plants. The open kitchen looks clean enough. Meals are cheap and filling. There are plenty of Hawaiian plates for $5.35 and the most expensive is the $7.25 seafood plate. The plates come with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. I had the Hawaiian BBQ chicken plate ($5.35) which is CHEAP.
* BBQ chicken: You get two large strips that are tender and boneless, but too salty
* Rice: Big portion of warm, short grain rice
* Macaroni salad: Better than average for a Hawaiian joint because it's not as creamy and doesn't have as much mayo. It looked like it had barely visible carrot slivers in it. I'd like some larger carrot slivers. I wouldn't mind the crunch of fresh veggies in my mac salad, e.g., carrots, celery, onions.
* Shredded, boiled cabbage: Nice touch as it added a bit of crunch. I wouldn't mind having more of it but I like vegetables.
They don't seem to have sriracha but they do have Chinese hot sauce. You have to ask for it. The food is more like a 2.5 but it's a good value and mom & pop business.Listed in: Under $6 lunches in RWC
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Review from Dan B.
Updated - 11/10/2008 6 Check-ins Here
The BBQ chicken plate continues to be the best thing on the menu. I don't know how they make it, but the chicken is steeped in some kind of deliciousness sauce before being grilled. I have trouble not scarfing the whole plate down quickly, even when I'm not that hungry. (A nice alteration of this dish is to get the "brocolli plate w/ BBQ chicken" which turns out to be the same thing plus brocolli). I occasionally branch out to try other things here, but if my wife or kids get the BBQ chicken plate, then I am always jealous.
I'm going to have to dock a star for the depressing, rundown and filthy interior. It seems to have gotten worse over the years, and frankly looks a little unsanitary (though I truly don't have any doubts about food cleanliness here). It used to be kinda quaint, in a divey sort of way, but has slowly morphed into a turn-off for me. Good thing we always get take-out. We will return, as usual, for the BBQ chicken plate...to go.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2007
The BBQ chicken plate is killer. It's my standard order. If I get anything else, then I always have… Read more »
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Review from John L.
Redwood City, CA
3/16/2009
Original lunch plan was Formosa Bento House but it was closed today. In fact, it's closed Sunday and Mondays. Yes, any pro Yelper would've checked the hours of operation beforehand but I'm a n00b. Anyway, walking down the street I noticed Hawaiian Drive Inn. Since I was still in the mood for some type of variety/mixed lunch, I decided to stop in.
The layout is little odd, upon walking in the kitchen is on the left and walled 3/4 of the way up to the ceiling. Walking further in, the cash register is on the left. They have the menu on a plastic display above the counter. The setup seems like a old pizza/gyro restaurant that was never renovated. The decor is total dive but I've eaten at places like these before and the food is generally good.
After looking over the menu I ordered a BBQ Mixed plate ($7.62). It included 2 scoops of rice, and 1 scoop of macaroni salad. When my food came out it included 1 piece of BBQ Short rib, 1 large piece of teriyaki steak, and 3 pieces of BBQ chicken on top of a bed of sliced cabbage.
The food was definitely flavorful but also greasy. I actually like the macaroni salad the best as I finished it before any of the other items. The BBQ chicken was also good, tender and tasty. The BBQ short rib was good as well but a bit fatty. The teriyaki steak was the worst item, it was dry and a bit tough to chew. Overall the food and prices are good, just the layout and decor makes a bad first impression. -
Review from Steve L.
6/24/2008
For a while, this was the only Hawaiian plate lunch place between Daly City and Palo Alto. Trying to find parking in front is a pain, but there is a lot in the back, and you can enter through the back of the restaurant (past the overstock of drinks and water). Inside, the place is dark and, like what Lolia S. noted, tables (and seats) are a little sticky. Large projection TV playing in the back. Depending who has control of the remote, ESPN may on, or Cartoon Network.
Cheap and lots! Portions are big and cheap. Brown, black, and white, typical primary colors of a plate lunch (no green). Mac salad is OK, but too much mayo for my taste. Chicken Katsu is good, but you have to eat it fresh, otherwise it could be a bit too chewy. Short ribs are good, as well chicken teriyaki. Loco Moco is huge, and filled me up for the rest of the day. Consider this another plate lunch place in the growing number of Hawaiian plate lunch joints opening up along the Peninsula.Listed in: Local Eats Along the Peninsula
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Review from Matt G.
4/24/2008
I was back in Redwood City to take care of some business. Being a little busy and hectic, my lunch break must be cut short. One of my co-workers told me to check out this Hawaiian take-out place on El Camino between Broadway and Brewster St. He called and gave me a dub to pick up our meals. It sounds fair to me. I'm not complaining.
I know coming to Redwood City or any city, there are the nice and jagged areas. This Hawaiian takeout spot is definitely in a busy and rough part of town. I still would walk my kids here in RWC than my beloved Bayview/Hunter Points area back home.
My co-worker called and ordered the Beef Teriyaki meal and I ordered the Chicken Katsu meal. Both of our cheap meals at $5.25 had the meats, two scoops of rice and macaroni-salad. Those two lunches were the cheapest out all the "BIG MAN" Hawaiian meals for lunch
When I got back to my office; I saw the usual huge portion-size of Chicken Katsu in a Styrofoam container. I took a bite at the very first piece. The chicken pieces were paper thin, despite having a powerful crunch with the heavy batter. This place is kind of stingy with the meat. My co-worker's meat in his beef teriyaki plate was kind of tough and wasn't even that good after experiencing a bite from his.
This so-called Hawaiian place is operated by friendly Cantonese-speaking peeps. This restaurant also serves Chinese food as well. With the prices being reasonable, I came back later in the evening and picked up dinner for wife and kids and a quick snack for Matt. I ordered a plate of Beef and Chinese Broccoli over white rice for $5.25. (Yes, Chinese broccoli in a Hawaiian restaurant.) I also ordered a half dozen of Spam Musubi and Barbecue Chicken Musubi (3 & 3) at $1.75 each. I had one of the Spam Musubi and that sucker is equivalent of a cartridge of an AK-47. Nevertheless, it was fresh and tasty with a quenching $1.00 can of Hawaiian Sun: Orange and Mango Hawaiian soda.
My lunch was a disappointment, but my dinner wasn't too bad and faired better according to my family. With the "price is right", I might come here for just the Chinese food.Listed in: Hawaiian in the Bay Area
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Review from Victor C.
10/23/2007 1 photo
LUNCH REVIEW
Don't know if this place still belongs to David, or is still called "David's Hawaiian Drive Inn", as there was no mention or sign containing "David" (on the menu or outside). I guess there's a bunch of "Hawaiian Drive Inn" places in the Bay Area that were started (and sold) by the same couple... this is one of them.
THE FOOD
I ordered the Chicken Katsu plate. Decent-sized portion, was nicely coated and crispy. The macaroni salad was okay (better than L&L's which always tastes like its a cup of mayo seasoned with macaroni), but not very flavorful either (I'm not a big fan of mac salad period).
The food wasn't exceptional, but it wasn't bad either.
THE DECOR
Definitely "hole-in-the-wall" status, complete with neon side outside. Very basic set-up... I guess it would be on par with a "drive inn" in Hawaii.
I'd probably come back again when I feel like ingesting some deep-fried chicken again... it probably isn't quite as flavorful as the L&L that's closer to my work, but I'd mainly go here to support it as a local, "mom and pop" shop... less of a fast-food feel than L&L.
Note: the website on their menu doesn't work... but the OG Hawaiian Drive Inn site (complete with history) is available: http://www.hawaiiandri....
Also, menu stated $10 min for Credit Cards... but the people before me charged their plate lunches, so who knows... maybe they regulars. -
Review from Andrew Z.
Redwood City, CA
8/30/2008
This place towers in comparison to the other 2 Hawaiian bbq joints here in redwood city which are L&L at mervyns plaza off of Veterans and Kits on woodside road next door to "El greasy".
For the price of $6.85 i got the chicken bbq plate and a soda. The chicken did have the skin on it, but it was easy enough to tear off. It comes with the 2 scoops of steamed rice and they mac salad of course.
The inside dining was clean, but I was the only one inside eating. The phone was ringing off the hook for to-go orders. Back in the early 90's this place used to be called Romeo's pizza-by-the-slice, Its a few doors down from where the "House of Humor" is and always has been.
Now that i'm aware of some decent Hawaiian bbq i'm going to spread the word to my friends that also feel the other 2 are nasty. -
Review from Mark L.
Mountain View, CA
2/10/2009
This place is really funky and appears to be perpetually under construction
but aparently it has some good deals. I had the bento box for under 8 bucks I think and it came with mahi mahi, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki steak, spam, mac salad, & rice and my friend had a bowl of saimin. I used to love eating saimin on hot afternoons in Ala Moana Park. I like Hawaiian food but rarely go out specifically looking for it, nobody on the mainland seems to serve malasadas at all & what would Hawaii be without malasadas? :No Poi, either, said my friend, :What is poi, anyway?? Whereby I had to launch a small discourse on poi making, two and three finger pois, etc.
The place is funky but the food was good for the price and the meal itself filling. I would come again to sample something else I think. -
Review from Ed L.
10/1/2008
About half a decade ago, I had my first experience of Hawaiian fast food here at the Drive Inn. My football teammates and I would come after practice in the summer about once a week and get a nice large order of chicken katsu or beef short ribs with rice and mac salad then park at the table in front of Sportscenter and shoot the shit. I would do anything to go back to those fun days.
But now that my life is dull and suppressed by my job, I still love the Drive Inn. The portions are huge and the food is always hot and fresh. The restaurant is a little old and not aesthetically pleasing but for me it's all about the food. I can go for the styrofoam and plastics over silverware and glass.
A warning, don't come here weekly unless you run marathons weekly or you're on a mayo and carbs diet. -
Review from Miles C. H.
Redwood City, CA
12/31/2007
Great place to pick up a fast order of inexpensive take-out.
Tofu/BBQ chicken combos are good. Shrimps too.
Good alternative to ordinary Chinese take-out. Probably more healthy. Funky ambience. "Unpretentious" would be the word. -
Review from Beethoven C.
Palo Alto, CA
9/20/2009
This place strives to be a hole-in-a-wall Hawaiian food joint and does it ever succeed! Greasy yet yummy lunch plates filled with chicken, beef or pork katsu/teriyaki, side of rice and a scoop of mac salad confirm to you who dare order food here that the heart is about to get larded up Hawaiian style.
For a slightly less unhealthy (yes, the double-negative is intentional), try the saimin. Slurp it down quickly before it cools off because the oily broth doesn't taste so greasy HOT! -
Review from eric k.
Dublin, CA
7/21/2007
I'm with Greg O on this place being a dive. I went here one time for a mini party... maybe the take-out is more suitable... but this place is weird. It has that very 80's feel, with the flourescent lamps, stackable chairs that have the vinyl torn and the stuffing coming out.... yes... the impressions of the decor overwhelmed anything I can remember of the food. But I don't remember the food being bad either.
With so many other HI places popping up here and there, hopefully this place cleans up a little bit before they go out of business. -
Review from John W.
San Lorenzo, CA
8/19/2010
Went here for a few friends from work for lunch.
Pros: Quick service, lots of empty tables. Spam Musubi was okay.
Cons: Food just wasn't very good. I had the Kalua pork and cabbage, and while it wasn't horrible, it was pretty bland, and cooked totally differently than I've had elsewhere. It seemed like it was made in a thick corn starchy sauce, and there wasn't any of the usual savory flavor to the pork. My friends said their saimin was bland.
The place might be a bit run-down, but I really don't care about that, as long as the food is good. Unfortunately, it wasn't, so I doubt I'll be coming here again. -
Review from Greg O.
San Mateo, CA
7/17/2007
This place is a total dive place. Don't expect much. However, you can't go wrong with their food. To me their chicken teriyaki is just right. Their macaroni salad tastes right...and I normally won't touch this at 99% of Hawaiian places. Their other Hawaiian plates are pretty good as well. They offer smaller plates as well for those who aren't very hungry.
To me this is the best Hawaiian food in the peninsula that I've found. There is a place in SF that make great poki, but this is great for basic Hawaiian drive inn food. I've tried 2 of the new Hawaiian places in San Mateo on 3rd ave., and they are terrible in taste compared to this place.
Give it a try, ignore the ambiance as you'll be disappointed. Makes me miss Hawaii. Totally what you'd expect if you went to a Hawaiian drive inn in Honolulu.
...If anyone has a better tasting place, I'm all ears. -
Review from Simone G.
Palo Alto, CA
8/29/2008
I swear I wrote a review before... Infact that's why I opened a Yelp account, just to review my favorite place. But it's gone. So here I go again.....
I am not sure why it's called David's on here. The place as I know it, is simply the Hawaiian Drive Inn. Oh well, it's the place near house of humor, and it ROCKS!
I have been going here for the past 8-9 years, and absolutley love it. Even when I went away for college, no trip home was complete without a trip to Haw.Drive.Inn.
I must point out, I always get the same dish: BBQ Chicken and Rice, no mac-salad, extra rice. If you love this kind of chicken, you must try this! I promise you wont be disapointed. I have tried other Hawaiian Drive In spots in the area, and on my travels, and nothing has compared.
The chicken is lean, and well marinated. I am not a fan of the Mac Salad, but extra rice is always NICE.
The service years back left something to be desired. For 6 years I'd see the same lady every week, and she'd never even smile. But the new (over the past 3 or so years) woman, is so friendly. She makes the HD experience that much better!
Here are my final words regarding my favorite place: the decor is a bit old, if that bothers you, just get take-out (believe me, it's worth it). Definetly try the BBQ chicken. And if you don't like a lot of mayo, skip the Mac salad. Do this, and you will be in for a treat! -
Review from Simone G.
Redwood City, CA
10/13/2009
Hands down, this place is my favorite! I have been a faithful patron for at least 11 years... I get the same dish every time, so I can really only comment on the BBQ chicken plate, but seriously, it is heaven in a Styrofoam plate.... So good.
The service is quick, and friendly.... Food is cheap and delish.... Decor is not the prettiest, but for my favorite food around, really I cannot complain... Just take it to go, and enjoy it at home....
Oh Hawaiian Drive Inn, how I love you.... -
Review from Throckmorton F.
San Bruno, CA
1/8/2010
I'm generally a fan of "hole in the wall" places, but I have to say that cleanliness is an issue here. I'm not a germ-a-phobe, but when I went in and got a look at the place, I thought about turning right around. Instead, I decided to be brave and just tried not to touch anything, and washed my hands twice before eating my to-go chicken bbq plate. Just not a very appetizing place. Dim fluorescent lights, grimy walls with awful old paint, dirty looking kitchen, raw chicken in a bucket near the floor... it goes on...
The food was only so-so, and the meat wasn't as flavorful as I've had at L&L (teriyaki marinade was dull). I like to avoid chains, but L&L is predictably clean and tastier in comparison. I give it two stars because the food wasn't offensive, but the restaurant itself merits one star. -
Review from Kevin C.
Millbrae, CA
6/23/2008
This place is pretty good for the price, Parking kinda sucks around the area since its on El Camino. Great Hang Over food ! Try the moco loco....yes I know that sonds like some wicked snot coming out of your nose...but its great for you, if you don't mind going over you 2000 calorie limit for the day ! You can change up the order with any dish if you want. For instance if you want 2 scoops of rice instead of one rice and one mac salad you can do that. The place is a little run down on the inside but some what clean, don't go in there expecting a biohazzard clean room tho. They also have a big screen tv from the late 80's that usually has sports on. All in all this place is pretty close to authentic hawaiian food....Well thats what my friend from Hawaii said. So give it a try.
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Review from Vivian L.
4/24/2008
The meal started off with me burning the inside of my throat when eating a bite of my kalua pork and cabbage, great. Having been to Hawaii and eating my share of plate lunch, this place isn't very good. I haven't come back here for over 5 years, still surprised the place was still open and hoping, hoping it had gotten better. It was still a greasy dive. The pork and cabbage had a lot of gravy/corn starch to it, more chinese style I guess. The pork had no smoked flavor. It was no kalua pork. And being it's still Earth Day week, it was rough to see them using styrofoam containers and seeing the garbage. :-(
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Review from Ray W.
4/13/2010
disgusting. avoid at all costs.. not that good.. at all.. i dont mind hole in the wall places but this is just disgusting. dirty even by asian standards.
I MISS MY KIT'S ISLAND BBQ!
OR ONO HAWAIIAN IS WAY BETTER -
Review from Robert l.
Bay Area
11/28/2008
One of the original Hawaiian BBQ places, before all the chain ones started poppin up everywhere. This was the place where I had my first experience with Hawaiian BBQ.
First of all, parking here can be a pain, so I find it easier just to pay the $1.50 and park at the Caltrain parking lot behind the building. As far as the place, there is a huge TV there that keeps you entertained. I used to come here during the lunch rush and it was always a treat to watch All My Children while enjoying my Chicken Katsu. The food here is good and the portions are pretty big. It tastes more homemade here compared to the commercialized BBQ chains you find nowadays. Another big plus is the couple that runs the place. Very nice people. I hardly come around here anymore, but everytime I stop by, the couple still remembers me and the lady still remembers that I always want the gravy for my Loco Moco on the side after all these years. A big plus for me!! As far as the place, it does lack the bright colors and Hawaiian motiff of your typical Hawaiian BBQ. But the food and service makes up for the place.
A good note: The last time I was here there were some Tongan guys that ordered 120 meals for their church group. So that's another good sign for this place. -
Review from Annie L.
Updated - 7/28/2010
came here again because Femosa Bento house was closed. I got the loco moco mini-plate this time and omg i must say that thing was DELICIOUSS!!!! it was like meatloaf topped with an egg and lots and lots of gravy. can do without the potato salad next time. also tried the chicken masubi this time, i def like the spam one better.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2010
decided to come here to grab a quick bite to eat before my night class...
I must say when you first… Read more »
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Review from Joshua R.
Foster City, CA
3/27/2008
This place is awesome!!! It has the hole in the wall feel which gives you the island barefoot feel............ while still........... delivering huge plates of meat with rice and mac. You can't go wrong with the food and the $$$$.
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Review from Greg G.
4/25/2008
So i recently came here with friends after some volunteer work. So this was my first Hawaiian food experience at a restaurant. Basically the dishes looked like the Nick Tahoe's Garbage plates back home. However instead of home fries there is rice. I was quite excited as there is a dish called Loco Moco, which is common breakfast food I was told. Basically 2 burgers a fried egg, rice and mac salad. Sounded sooo good. But what I got was a cold fried egg, a 2 tough tasteless burgers. Man so disappointing. I think thought that I am going to make the same thing at home though the right way sometime. Sorry David's Drive inn, not so good.
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Review from Chris C.
San Mateo, CA
1/29/2007
Good place for spam musubi and loco moco. Cheap Hawaiian food (should there be any other kind?) and a decent attempt. Can't match the real stuff in paradise but the proximity to work makes it a winner for the once in a while heavy lunch that we crave. Helps me sleep through an afternoon of boring meetings.
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Review from Misha T.
12/25/2008
it's plate lunch. but not great plate lunch. and in the days of now accessible L&L and the such it just seems a little outdated.
My kalua pork came with hella sauce on it, which to me seems weird because normally kalua pork is sort of dry. it was aite, should have been cheaper though.
my buddy's katsu was alright but if you can't make that you probably shouldn't be cooking anything. -
Review from Rick S.
San Mateo, CA
5/13/2006
Chicken Katsu- Make sure you get the Katsu Sauce ask for extra if you have to... otherwise don't bother... The prices are insanly cheap. Get the mini meal it is plenty!
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Review from Thomas L.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2008
For all the hot food goodness this place creates, its like eating in a giant freezer. Despite that, my co-workers and I enjoyed everything. I ordered the BBQ chicken and it was awesome. Their teriyaki sauce was just right, not too sweet or watered down. The rice was awesome, and their mac salad was better than Onos in terms of less mayo overwhelming the salad. Totally affordable lunch meal. Next time, we'll do a picnic lunch and enjoy their food under the warm sun..
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Review from Mike S.
San Mateo, CA
2/10/2007
This place is cheap, and you get a lot of food. Not the cleanest place, but who cares with these prices.
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Review from Brian P.
Boulder Creek, CA
3/25/2009
really good....nice people who give you a good portion for your money. I like the mixed bbq plate, but everything else looks awesome.
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Review from Celso I.
San Mateo, CA
10/8/2009
Been going here for years! the food is good and inexpensive. The place is a hole in the wall and that's what it looks like inside. So don't be too surprised when coming in.
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Review from Adam R.
San Carlos, CA
5/24/2010
Pretty good!
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Review from James D.
San Ramon, CA
1/4/2011
I dont want to ruin anyones business or anything but I take YELP serious. The food is terrible, the chicken and beef bbq plate was awful. Will never eat here again. I want to save someone else from going here since the reviews are so good. I don't care that the place is dirty, i thought that would mean the food was good, NOPE. Tempted to give it a 1 star
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Review from Jake T.
Foster City, CA
2/23/2005
Fried feasts for cheap. The chicken katsu and short ribs are my favorite.
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Review from Daniel K.
Bay Area
9/30/2009
Loco moco. I tried eating a loco moco somewhere else, and it just wasn't the same.
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Review from Dank G.
Redwood City, CA
10/11/2008
this place rocks. the grease factor is perfect. let me say that again - the grease factor is perfect. the plate lunch is great - beats l&l hands down. the chow fun is perfect. you can't get better in this class. parking is difficult and the decor and location scars most off, but not me.
