“Ocean Seafood” Chinese Restaurant, Kailua-Kona, HI

When in Hawaii, one is in paradise; When one is in paradise; one must try their Chinese food.  Following Mee Rich Yee’s footsteps, when he and his beautiful wife went to Hawaii, they dined at House of Noodles. So, when this Mee, and the Dumpling King, Mini Mee, recently went to Hawaii, on their second night in paradise (sorry, but the first dinner was at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (a first time for us), we sought out, and found, Ocean Seafood Chinese Restaurant.  At least it wasn’t their Last Supper, or Next to Last Supper.

Our table looked more like this: And, our table wasn’t adorned by take-out Chinese restaurant boxes, with many from Column A, and an almost equal amount from Column B.  We at far simpler.  Of course there were far fewer of us too.  So nu?  It was 20 minutes until closing, and most of their disciples had left for the night, for the surf will up tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow!  Here today; gone tomorrow (or later today). What was on our table?  Well, you’ll just have to wait but a few more paragraphs to find out. 

Oh, the suspense!  Almost like the bobbling Hawaiian Hula Girl, which one might have though would find a place on the shelf along with a few Maneki-Neko’s, who’s only suspense is when will she stop bobbling.  And if she did, would that be bad luck or just bad Ju Ju?  When, one thinks of it, one wonders why Meneki Neko’s?  Well, I wondered, so I found out for myself, and now for you too:

MANEKI-NEKO, a Japanese term, refers to the cat with the waving paw that’s so often seen near the entry of many Asian businesses…. particularly restaurants. MANEKI-NEKO loosely translates as meaning GOOD FORTUNE or LUCKY CAT. If the left hand is waving…it means good luck for BUSINESS.

The restaurant was in a sorta strip-mall?  I’m not sure how best to describe it. There were stores outside (which were all closed for the night, which nearly made us seek out other, decidely not, Chinese restaurants, and some were inside.  Thankfully(?), we parked and went on an adventure (we has low expectations at this point… that they were open).  But they were.  This is what we saw (kinda like a lighthouse): I have digressed long enough. Though when in paradise, what else is there for one to do?  Certainly, all forms of digression are the manna of paradise. And speaking of manna, we had to eat!  Being in paradise isn’t as easy as it looks, and it can sure make one hungry.  So we perused the plastic covered menu pages, and this is what we came up.  Mini Mee, I must say, made a truly inspired choice.  I’m so proud of him!

Sweet and Sour Pork – This truly was an inspired choice.  It tasted like candy, and the pork (that other white meat) was cooked to perfection.  It’s moistness conspired with the sweet and sour sauce, to make one hell of a dish.  Oops.  Sorry.  I used a bad word in paradise.  I hope no one noticed. 

I, however, made a disappointing selection.

Jumbo Shrimp with Honey Walnuts – The first bite was excellent.  It should have been my last.  But, I was hungry.  Remember what I said?  I gave it the old college try.  I should have studied harder.  The shrimps were belly bombers and they rapidly filled me up.  The honey roasted walnuts were more like pebbles, and would have had the same affect as them if I kept on eating them. Not surprising, Mini Mee declined my offer to try my dish.  Being the find Mee and he is, he offered me some of this sweet and sour pork.  Immediately, I had buyers remorse.  His dish was much better than mine.  The dish on the other side of the table truly is greener.  Or, redder.

…

But, after a while, his very own dish started to betray him too.

Finally, it truly was, time for our rating:

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

—Mee Magnum  (“Chop!  Chop!”)

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