Favorite Lunchwagons

[MixedPlateBroker]

Although it's been discussed here before, I think this culinary niche is important enough to revisit. Plus we should take into account that the landscape of four-wheeled food service has changed a bit in three years.

My current favorite is Tani's. Their stop at Eki Cyclery is within walking distance of my office and the roast pork with mushroom gravy is a winner.

I'm attaching their June menu for anyone who's interested.

Full disclosure: The proprietor is a personal friend of mine, but anyone who knows me knows I put quality first on my list of prerequisites.

[Pomai]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

Funny this is brought up. Just today we were browsing through the winners of Star Bulletin's Hawaii's Best 2007, where in the Lunch Wagon category, the top three picks were:

1st: Tsukenjo's
2nd: Ige's
3rd: Yuki's

The third one had us curious, as we were fans of Yuki's Coffee House on School st., an okazuya who shut their doors years ago. So we called this Yuki's Lunchwagon to find out if they were the same owners, but they're not. The Yuki's Lunchwagon winning this 3rd place vote operates somewhere near the Board of Water Supply headquarters. Must be good to be a "Best of Lunch Wagon" finalist. Anyone ever try them? If so, what's good?

MPB, mahalo for providing the menu for Tani's. Looks good! How's that Teri Hamburger Steak? Maybe we'll drop by tomorrow for a try.

[Random]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

I remembered having ordered at Tani's when they only have Hamburger Steak as one of Friday's Lunch Special (the other being Kim Chee Fried Rice with Seafood Croquette). I specifically ordered the Hamburger Steak plate and requested they put teri sauce on instead of the gravy. It's a better alternative to their regular Teri Meat Loaf plate.

It's just one egg away from a loco moco (or a teri loco moco).

[Pomai]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

My current favorite is Tani's. Their stop at Eki Cyclery is within walking distance of my office and the roast pork with mushroom gravy is a winner.

Following your lead, my coworker and I stopped by Tani's today. Convenient, since we had to drop off a friend to pick his car up at Lex Brodie just down the road.

As suggested, I ordered the Roast Pork with Mushroom Gravy...


Tani's Lunchwagon Roast Pork with Mushroom Gravy (regular), $6

Braddah, this dish is indeed a winner! Tender "No knife required" slices of roast pork, smothered in a nicely thickened and flavorful mushroom gravy (the canned mushroom type), with just the right balance of salt. It reminds me of the roast pork from Kanda's "Kewalo" Lunchwagon. EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT.

My coworker ordered Friday's special, the Teri Hamburger Steak...


Tani's Lunchwagon Teri Hamburger Steak (regular), $6

He gave me a slice to try. The teri sauce was great. Slightly sweet and hearty and nicely thickened. The hamburger patty itself was rather plain, though it did have a nice char on it. The best part was the generous amount of sauteed onions on top. So sweet, I swear those were Maui onions. A bite of that, together with the burger and the teri sauce.. winnahz!

He tried a piece of my Roast Pork and fell in love with it. He's ordering that next time!

What initially stood out were the (2) sumo-sized scoops of rice. These things were as big as a baseball! Actually too much rice, but hey, some folks like that.

The macaroni salad was nice and creamy, with an interesting lightness to it that we couldn't figure out. Good though. They offer tossed greens as an option, which I normally go for, but because this is our first time, gotta' sample da' mac' sal'!

There were a couple guys in line when we arrived at 11:30. I figure the rush must hit around noon. MixedPlateBroker can chime in on that.

It was staffed (owned?) by a local guy and lady. Super nice folks. My friend thought they were part of Helena's, as that's where he seen the wagon parked, but they said they're not. Their base operation is next door to Helena's.

The wagon is located right in the front of Eki Cyclery (next door Ewa-bound of Checker Auto) on Dillingham Blvd.. can't miss it.



Now that "comfort food Friday" lunch has ended, I must dedicate Saturday at the beach to work that off. lol

[oceanpacific]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

TSUKENJO'S - lunchwagon on corner of Ward-Queen; M-F, 10 am - 2 pm; choice of salad: tossed greens, mac, or potato; regular or mini plate; laulau and laulau mixed plate; spare ribs (varies from day-to-day).

[Lei K]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

*longingly stares at those pictures while eating a small tossed salad*

I feel like I gained 5 lb by just looking at da pictures, so sinful. If I get a plate lunch like that I have to make it 2 or 3 meals. If I ate how I wish I could eat then I'd get the lovely gift of adult onset diabetes that my mother and those before her were blessed with, woohoo! Oh well, food porn is the next best thing.

Keep posting sexy pictures.

[tikiyaki]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

Drool Drool........

[cynsaligia]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

pomai--

i'll answer the questions you asked in my sweetie's stead and if i'm wrong, he'll correct me:

that was tyler and his mom whom you saw, owners of tani's. i've never gone to pick up from the wagon (eric is the one who goes), but we had the chance of running into tyler folks when they were loading up the wagon one morning. the kitchen they rent is next to helena's and helena's and tani's have no connection save that the lunchwagon is parked there.

as for the portions being generous, i'll say this--eric and i pass back and forth two MINI plates (most recently the five spice shoyu chicken and meatloaf, YUM!) and we're more than satisfied with that.

[Random]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

The macaroni salad was nice and creamy, with an interesting lightness to it that we couldn't figure out. Good though. They offer tossed greens as an option, which I normally go for, but because this is our first time, gotta' sample da' mac' sal'!

I ate tons of mac sal to last two lifetimes (and I got the clogged arteries to prove it). Glad they offer a healthy side order option.

Besides, I always go for their mini plates, which is just as filling.

[Pomai]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

EricnCyn, mahalo for the 411 about Tani's. So MPB is the "Eric" side of you, huh? Cool.

LeiKaina and Random, I totally hear your sentiment regarding those health concerns. That's why I said this was "Comfort Food Friday". A day I set aside to cut loose on whatevah 'kine ono grindz, from an otherwise "good boy" week of mostly cereal, ramen, sandwiches and salads with plenty of fruits and veggies.

Still, a local style lunch wagon GOTTA' HAVE those classic comfort food plate lunches, or it just isn't the same. If I want "health food", I'll go elsewhere. But when I want a really ono plate lunch, a good lunch wagon can't be beat! Oh my, that Roast Pork with Mushroom Gravy. Yum, yum, yum.

[MixedPlateBroker]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

Btw, attached is Tani's July menu. I would also recommend any of his pac rim specials. The man spent years honing his craft at Mariposa, among other fine dining establishments.

[Random]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

Still, a local style lunch wagon GOTTA' HAVE those classic comfort food plate lunches, or it just isn't the same. If I want "health food", I'll go elsewhere. But when I want a really ono plate lunch, a good lunch wagon can't be beat! Oh my, that Roast Pork with Mushroom Gravy. Yum, yum, yum.

My comfort food is the meat and rice. Period.

[Pomai]

Re: Favorite Lunchwagons

I just drove past the park between Pflueger Honda and the Chevrolet (former Honolulu Ford) dealership on Ala Moana Blvd. in the Kaka'ako area and spotted a lunch wagon parked on the side there called RONNIE'S EXPRESS LUNCH WAGON. Anyone familiar with them?

No one in my office heard of them, and I wasn't in the mood for a plate lunch, so didn't stop by to check it out.