Aku Eats Oahu : a closer look : Chilis, a closer look

Chilis, a closer look

Aloha out there!

10/13/08 - It was a lazy Saturday afternoon that wifey and I decided, quite spontaneously so, to jump in the car and take a spin around the island. I had just woken up, feeling very much groggy from all the overnight and overtime shifts I've been putting in at work, and felt the urge to grab a mind-awakening, heart pumping caffeine blast, in the form of a Starbucks coffee frappuccino, along with a nice, leisurely tour out to the country with my special girl.

Before we managed to take a dip into the picturesque waters of Sunset Beach and soak up some rays on the soft sand, however, we had to take care of a most immediate and more pressing need - lunch. It was already an hour past noon and we were both starving. The North Shore could wait! Mindful of our $25 gift certificate from Chili's restaurant, it was all the added incentive we needed to stop by their Waikele branch on the way out. You know, the one with Lowe's, Border's, K-Mart, and the premium outlet stores? We were wondering why there were so many Japanese tourists so far out west, but the easy answer lay in the many trolleys that shuttle in direct from Waikiki, all headed to the outlets. The surrounding stores and restaurants all benefit immensely from such traffic, big-time. Clothes shopping and Japanese tourists? A most natural fit, indeed.

A trio of American starters - mozzarella cheese sticks, boneless buffalo wings, and hot spinach/artichoke dip, from another outing a while back.

Wifey's gotta be really hungry to tackle an American food place, whether it be fast-foods or sit-down restaurants, and whenever she's in the mood, I usually jump at the chance. I gotta get my sneaks in whenever possible, because she is normally the buffer that keeps me from overloading on such calorie-laden overtures. Otherwise, who knows? I may just get carried away. Loaded fries, heavily-battered onion rings, juicy burgers, cheesy nachos, chicken pot pies, and a whole list of other dangerous elements sure do their part in helping make America one of the cardiac arrest and obesity capitals of the world. Oh, so bad, it is! But oh, so good, at the same time...

It was a bit overcast that day, but it did clear up by the time we got to the beach a couple hours later.

And what's with all this bad economy doom and gloom? One reading of the New York Times, and you'd think it was the end of the world! I feel like crawling under a rock and dying every time I read that paper. I sure didn't see any sign at all of a weakening market out here, with diners and shoppers anywhere and everywhere. We were lucky to find a spot without having to catch a trolley from our car to the restaurant ourselves!

Crowds can be a bit inconvenient, yes, but in ways, a lot more fun. Sometimes I kinda wish we were super-crowded like in Asia - it just adds a whole 'nother level of excitement to everything, is what it does. But then again, I did say sometimes, as actually living in that kind of hectic environment is another matter altogether.

Anyhow, wifey was off that day so she started with a Presidente Margarita, made with Sauza Conmemorativo Tequila, Cointreau, and Presidente Brandy. Kicked up another notch with both chunks of salt rimming its edges and a slice of zesty lime, this fun drink was super-refreshing on such a muggy day. The triangle-coned glass was small, but the rita was actually contained within a much larger shaker that made for several glass-loads in this single order.

Myself, I had to work later that evening, so I didn't order any drinks. Of course, that didn't stop me from having a couple of sips!

Wifey then went on to order a simple bacon cheeseburger. Only here, it wasn't so simple. In fact, I gotta give it to Chili's, Outback, Ruby Tuesday's, and just about all the American Chain Restaurants out there - they got some real good burgers! Yeah, sometimes items at these chains can have that out of the freezer look or taste, I guess from having to have consistent-tasting dishes shipped to their different outlets all over the world, but one thing that can just about always be counted upon is a good burger. And why not? It's as American a creation as can be, so they'd better get it right!

This juicy patty had to be at least a half-pound's worth, and came with bacon slices that were, truly, the thickest pieces I've ever seen on a burger. Not that I necessarily liked the applewood-smoked slices this thick, as it was a bit on the tough and chewy side. I'd give 'em an A for effort and originality, but personally, I'd rather have the normal, thin, wavy slices that are not quite as intimidating as the beef jerky-looking strips brazenly protruding from the burger like a steroid-armed octopus.

No, wifey wasn't able to finish off this monstrosity. I, myself, had a beast of my own to contend with, as well...

As I was saying, my single entree order was no pushover, either, and came with three separate plates of goodies. That covered blue plate in the foreground held five warm tortillas to make the fajita wraps you'll see in just a little bit.

The main plate was festive, indeed, with a whole mess of colorful ingredients and flavor combinations. The main players were a citrus margarita grilled chicken breast and grilled shrimp pieces. The chicken was decently moist, with a slight citrus touch, but it was the shrimp that stole the show, coming with a South American-type marinade I've tasted many times before. I believe it's the garlic/cilantro/lime/olive oil base of chimichurri, but I'm not exactly an authority on south of the border foods. Whatever it was, those flavors were deliciously concentrated in the pan-grilled edges of the shrimp, making it so delicious that I chose to eat it alone instead of placing it inside the warm tortilla wrappers provided.

Not only was this a pretty decent dish, it was also quite healthy, as well. Both chicken and shrimp are low-fat, high protein choices, and the rest was a collection of different veggies. The bottom layer of green bells, red bells, and onions were sizzling as loud as a Mongolian beef platter at Little Village Noodle House, and made for a hearty blend of vegetables that were thick enough to maintain the integrity and taste of the vegetables themselves, while also capturing the highly-flavored, pepper-spiced sauce, as well. The plate was finished on top with a pico de gallo of tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, and cilantro. I guess you could argue that both the amount of salt used and calorie-counts may not exactly be health food territory, but I usually concern myself more with just getting an ample amount of vegetables down the hatch. All that other stuff should be burned off if we're working up a good sweat at least semi-regularly.

Another plate came with the same pico de gallo, along with shredded lettuce, grated cheddar and mozzarella cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.

And finally (yes, we're still on my single chicken and shrimp fajita order!), let's put it all together! Aaah, just throw whatever you want inside the warm tortillas, and no need to keep things fancy or with any semblance of order whatsoever. It all went in, with the exception of the shrimp, which was so good I had to enjoy it alone, without the cluttered confusion of so many other different ingredients. And, of course, wifey stole a couple while I wasn't looking, too...

Both of us were well-stuffed, and both not able to complete either of our meals. American restaurants, you know. No time for lightweights around here...

There are many things that I love about American Chains, not the least of which are the great atmospheres. Casual enough for shorts, t-shirts, and rubber slippers but cool enough for dates and qualified enough for Sunday dinners for the entire family, including Aunty and tutu. Most also have a separate, self-seating bar area that boasts a wide variety of cocktails and, more importantly (to me!), draft beer. They just make for great all-around dining experiences that fall somewhere in-between solidly upscale and plate-lunch-casual.

Here's a shot of the dining room, with its fun, contrasting designs that somehow incorporate red brick, stained wood, vintage lamps, colorfully-tiled tables, and porcelain fish!

Besides having all the dishes mentioned earlier, Chili's offers a whole slew of other items that mix classic Tex-Mex with standard American-style. There are mesquite chicken salads, loaded mashed potatoes, cheesesteak sandwiches, grilled salmon, cedar-plank tilapia, grilled shrimp alfredo, steaks, baby-back ribs, and even a guiltless set of items that list the exact counts of calories, carbs, fats, saturated fats, and fiber for each item! A little something for everyone, there is.

In parting, I'll leave you with another shot of the inside, taken from the vantage point of my seat, and again, typical of the kind of bold, fun atmospheres I love so much in these types of restaurants.

Y'all take care of yourselves and make this particular day a mighty fine one, will ya?

Easy,

Aku

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