Eating Local -

A REFRESHENED HANNARA . . .

Sometimes dining “local” pushes one into the same old grind, without the realization an eatery has gotten a bit ragged around the edges, so when a decor refreshening takes place, it's almost like stepping into a brand, new restaurant.

Such is the situation with the recently remodeled Hannara Restaurant, a long-time Waianae favorite, now under new ownership.

Situated just one block Makaha-bound (and the same side of the highway) from the Waianae Mall (where Long's drugstore is located), and sandwiched between the Tesoro gas station and Waianae's Seventh Day Adventist church, Hannara's was recently taken over by the former owner's younger brother.

The restaurant's interior, now upgraded with a combination of Asian, Hawaiian and tiki-like influences, prepares you for the large and varied menu, which features dishes based upon American, Hawaiian and Asian cuisine.

Hannara is an old-time, diner-type eatery (it even has a lunch counter), serving hearty dishes in a family-style environment. It's not an upscale, fancy-pants place, but a gathering spot where neighbors come for locally-familiar foods, eaten in a home-style ambiance.

Recently, a dining companion and I sat down, mid-morning, to order breakfast (which is served all day). Our entrees included an omelet, a hamburger patty with two eggs, a side order of pancakes, and coffee to drink.

As noted previously, the restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, with some containing a complex multi-culture combination of tastes, but for our meal we chose to stick with items likely to be found at eateries almost anywhere in America.

Although the egg entrees were rather average in taste (though the omelet was large), meaning neither regrettable, nor offering anything memorable, the pancakes were quite good – large and plate filling, but not too heavy, and were served with a large side of butter.

The coffee came nice and hot, its taste mellow, without bitterness.

To have really done it up right, however, we should have ordered Hannara's macadamia-nut pancakes, which locals constantly brag about.

If the restaurant's fare can be rather pedestrian, its service is top notch. The friendly wait staff is prompt in greeting, taking one's order and bringing the food to table.

Our visit, during an obviously busy portion of the morning (each and every table was in use), caused nary a delay in having us pick up our dining utensils to begin the meal.

Hannara Restaurant is open every day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (breakfast and lunch only, on Sundays). 808-696-6137.