Puka Plate Lunch PRIDE

One of the highlights of my recent trip home to Hawaii was visiting (and eating at) my family's new restaurant Puka Plate Lunch, which opened in Kalihi Valley last November.  Puka Plate Lunch has been open for almost two months and already feels at home in the friendly, family-oriented Kalihi Community.  During my 2-hour cashiering stint on my last day in Hawaii, a man walked in with his order memorized, "hamburger steak with one scoop rice" (usually comes with two), and when I gave him his plate lunch he said "this is the best hamburger steak I've ever had."  At that moment I thought, all the long hours and hard work my parents and family friends have put into this place is definitely worth it.

Puka's mission is to serve delicious local food and I can say first hand that they have succeeded.   Everything I had was delicious: Chicken Katsu, Mochiko Chicken, Garlic Chicken, Walnut Shrimp, Chili Cheese Fries and BBQ Kalbi.  Puka is also gaining buzz on the interwebs with some early reviews on Yelp and positive posts by local Hawaii bloggers like Eatizen Jane and SideCulture.

The restaurant is small but has that hole-in-the-wall charm you look for when craving a place for comfort foods.  Seeing the restaurant finally in person made me really proud of the branding work I did on the name and logo.  I truly appreciate everyone who stopped by Puka to support my family and please visit Puka's Facebook Page: Facebook.com/PukaKalihi

Don't forget to pick up a loyalty card

The logo looks sweet in this custom-made stamp

Special thanks to all my friends who checked out Puka Plate Lunch

View from behind the counter

I could really go for some plate lunch right now.  Boo for long distance.

Puka Plate Lunch, Now Open in Hawaii!

I'm really proud to announce that my family and a family friend have opened up a small restaurant named Puka Plate Lunch in Hawaii this week.  "Plate Lunch" is a local Hawaii dish which consists of a protein such as BBQ Chicken, Mahi Mahi Fish or Shrimp, scoops of rice and side salad.  The restaurant also serves other local favorites like Saimin (ramen with fish cake and spam) and Loco Moco (hamburger patty, sunny-side up eggs over rice and gravy) and a variety of comfort foods like Burgers, Sandwiches and Hot Dogs.  Family-runned and located in the lush Kalihi Valley across from Kalihi-Uka Elementary, Puka Plate Lunch is truly a neighborhood restaurant.  "Puka" which means "hole" in Hawaiian perfectly captures the hole-in-the-wall charm of the restaurant that's dedicated to serving quality local comfort foods.

I am sad that I could not be home for the Grand Opening this past Wednesday, but in exactly one month I get to eat all the foods that remind me of home!  Even from 5,000 miles away, I have been extremely close to the development of the restaurant name, logo, white papers and digital strategy.  You can say that Puka Plate Lunch is my first-born branding baby. 

For everyone who is in Hawaii, visit Puka Plate Lunch in Kalihi and "Like" us on Facebook!  Or check out the Full Menu, Catering Menu and Photos at PukaPlateLunch.com. 

Chicken Katsu Plate

My adorable siblings Zadrian & Zoe at Puka Plate Lunch