Luau Beef

When you talk Hawaiian Food Helena’s will always be mentioned in the conversation. Helena’s Hawaiian Food won a James Beard Foundation award in 2000 and has been featured on just about every cable TV food network ever since. But the nearly 70-year-old Honolulu restaurant earned its place as a much-loved local comfort food institution long before. Helen Chock, Katsuyoshi’s grandmother, opened the first location of the restaurant in 1946 at the suggestion of her brother, naming it after herself and adding an “a” at the end of her name to make it sound, in her opinion, more Hawaiian. Helen’s grandson Craig Katsuyoshi can now be found running this iconic restaurant on school street in Kalihi. I have been going to Helena’s since I was a kid and it’s always refreshing to see the plates and bowls have made it this far. Craig and his staff have done an amazing job keeping Helena’s consistent and packed to the gills. Parking is hard to come by so get there early. The community is happy that the place has expanded recently with more tables. If you haven’t been there yet some of my favorites are the pipikaula short ribs, Salt meat water cress and the squid luau. This week where lucky enough to have Craig in the kitchen sharing his Luau Beef.