Over the last 10 years, the dining options at the University of Hawai’i have been scant at best. Like most areas of American life, the food choices on campus have largely been co-opted by a major corporation (unnamed of course, I don’t want to get sued). They promote local ingredients and allow local vendors to use some of the dining locations, but for the most part they limit the choices and charge ridiculous prices. Last month they suddenly left Paradise Palms, the only dining space on the Diamond Head side of campus, leaving an even deeper void in food options for the people (like me) working in buildings in the immediate area. In a move to placate hungry students, faculty and staff, the university invited some local food trucks to set up shop along Maile Way between Moore Hall and Hamilton Library. I wasn’t too jazzed at the development at first, but I seem to be eating at them at least 3 times a week. What’s more, two of the trucks feature items with kimchi as a main ingredient. I have tried both; results follow.
Shogunai Tacos has a variety of geographically themed tacos, one being the Seoul Food Korean Taco ($7.00/$8.95 with the pommes). It’s a smart move considering the Korean taco craze of the past couple of years, and as far as I can tell, it’s a popular menu item. The thin slices of short rib meat (kalbi?), peppers, onions, and kimchi are all served on a warm tortilla with an ample bunch of (unadvertised) raw cabbage. I chose the combo, which comes with Moroccan-spiced pommes. I was most impressed with quality of the kimchi. A lot of the local, mass-produced kimchi is watered down and bland. Not sure where Shogunai’s getting theirs, but it fits the taco bill. That said, this was my first Korean taco and it was about what I expected it to be. As a fan of both Korean food and tacos, I was hoping there would be something more than just basic Korean ingredients on a tortilla, but that’s precisely what it was. Not bad, but not particularly original either. The major downside was the mess. By the time I took my first bite, the tortilla was saturated with the “Korean spices and sauce,” neither of which I could identify. Not that I wouldn’t try it again, but I haven’t had one since I tried this one about a month ago. On the other hand, the pommes were perhaps the best I had in years. The Moroccan spice and crispness of the crinkle cut fries were heaven. Top-notch.
Shogunai Menu
Shogunai Tacos.
Oh pommes how I love thee.
Today I felt a little exhausted by the food trucks, but because I didn’t feel like walking across campus, I decided on a veggie burger form Momo Burger. When I arrived I noticed a new menu item: the Kukui Kimchee Dog ($4.00). Served on a toasted bun, it features a kukui kimchee sausage, Asian slaw, and kochu jang aioli. I knew not what any of those things were, but they sure sounded good. I cannot help but jump ahead and say that it was absolutely delectable. I’ll have to ask them about the sausage, because I’m pretty sure it didn’t feature the inedible nut it is named after, but it did have a nice kimchi-inspired kick to it. The Asian slaw was just right, not too watery and its main ingredient was kimchi. The kochu jang was barely detectable, but the flavor of the aioli was, wow…perfect. I didn’t want the experience to end. The juiciness of the sausage coupled with the just-sweet-enough accompaniment of the aioli gives this dog the highest recommendation I can offer. Masshitda!
Momo Menu
Da Truck...Da Rain
Yum.
one scoop kimchi 