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Crepes No Ka Oi, a closer look
Don't just take my word for it!
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Aloha!
1/4/10 - The action behind the counter here at Crepes No Ka Oi in Kailua runs hot 'n heavy, but the actual results coming out of this particular open kitchen are airy-light and fresh as can be! We were actually planning on another excellent breakfast house right down the road, but the line there was longer than the unemployment office is these days! I'm sure you already know where that other breakfast house was, the one that's been generating so much attention with their larger, brand-spankin' new facility, the one with that lusciously sweet, very original sauce over their pancakes? The one finely decored with Wheatie's boxes, Denver Broncos jersey's, giant drummer-boy's, expensive sports memorabilia, and other whimsical furnishing's?
Not that Crepes No Ka Oi hasn't been generating their own excitement, as well, as we were lucky even there to find a table for four, just before the line started forming outside. Kumi's friend's from Kyushu, Japan have been staying with us the last few days, so I guess it's good for them that I know a few good places to eat! BTW, we did find a table at that other place down the street, the very next day, since our guests had requested at least one sunrise during their short time in Hawaii, and we made it out to Kailua before the bigger crowds began arriving - you'll see our trip there soon, too!
Here's a couple of shots from that particularly gorgeous sunrise (isn't it gorgeous every day?), from the vantage point of Sandy Beach, near the southeastern tip of the island, where the suns' first glimpses are best seen:
A couple of cutie's, they were, and as sweet as could be, both of them super-stoked and happily impressed with the innate beauty of the islands:
Yoga? Tai-chi?
Along with my wife, they've sure been turning a bunch of local boy heads these past few days, that's for sure! I was also thankful that they came along to our trip out to Crepes No Ka Oi, as crepes are popular in Japan, so they'd be a good judge of a type of food I don't really know much about. We'll see what they have to say soon enough...
The popular eatery is located on 131 Hekili St., in the long row of one-story shops and eateries, right across the street from the now defunct Pali Lanes Bowling Alley. But in order to get there, most of you will be coming down from the Pali, which becomes Kailua Rd. From there, turn right just after the canal (Hamakua Dr.), then hang a left just after Foodland into Hekili St., then follow the bend, and Crepes No Ka Oi will be on the right (mauka) - you can't miss it.
Your best bets for parking are from metered slots along the street, unless risking it at wherever you so choose. At least in my past experiences, however, not only here but at other restaurants in the building, it hasn't been too difficult finding a good spot reasonably close-by. There are also a few spaces behind the building, as well, with a small alley-way right next to the restaurant, which you'll have to access to reach the entrance out-front on Hekili St.
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I kinda expected this operation to be a stricly breakfast/lunch thing, as so many classic breakfast joints are, but they are actually open for dinner (except Sunday's!), as well, albeit with rather early closing-times - 8pm weekdays and 9pm Friday-Saturday. Check out their website (link above) to see their specials, which come out only in the evenings, when they try to drum-up more business with live music on Saturday and no corkage fees nightly. Yup - byob.
The scene inside is modern, simple, and contemporary, with a trio of beautiful orchids to greet you upon entering. A long lauhala-decored counter, tropical palms, and Hawaiian paintings hanging along a light, pastel blue, sky-like wall all contribute to the relaxing, laid-back island motif.
There are several crepe-making machines behind the open counter for everyone to see, with one person often manning two or three machines at a time. Looks like a lotta work, as these thin cakes cook super-fast and need to be tended-to with care. But no worries, as the main guy you see here looked very much like a seasoned pro! He was the only one to have never left the station, always busy flipping and turning batter with confidence and ease, making everything look simple.
In case you were wondering, no ka oi is Hawaiian for the best, number one, ichiban daisuki. Not sure how these island crepes compare to those in places like France, Belgium, Australia, or Japan, where creperies are commonplace, but as far as Hawaii goes, I think it's pretty safe to say this particular Kailua nook is truly no ka oi, as no other crepe house on the island has risen to quite as much prominence and popularity. But the only thing concerning me on this particularly fine day was - what would our cutie-pie friends from Japan have to say on the matter?
Beginning with this basic crepe (yeah, that's the actual name) shown above, let me begin by saying it was a different experience for them, mostly because they weren't used to savory crepes, but sweet. They also said that these crepes were much thicker than in Japan, but I'm guessing that's only because these particular versions are entire meal-in-one breakfasts, not merely a sweet snack, housing items that are oftentimes bulkier than just sweet chocolate or fruit fillings. In this case, we're talking scrambled eggs, honey ham or oven-roasted turkey, and melted Jack and cheddar cheeses.
Not sure what she meant by it, but our friends' first reaction was hmmm... be-sic tes-toh (basic taste). I couldn't help but wonder if she expected something else, when the title and description was listed right there on the menu? I did sample a piece myself, and found it as good a dish as the ingredients could possibly merit. I mean, all's you needed was an infusion of Hollandaise, bechamel, roux, fancy cheese, or even gravy or other ingredient to create something a little more exotic and haute, but then again - title and description, folks, title and description - exotic is not quite what they're trying to capture in this particular dish, yes?
But all in all, and despite the differences and first reaction, I'm happy to say that our first guest enjoyed the crepes very much! And she wasn't merely being polite, too, as Kumi and I could both sense - something you just learn to read being around Japanese culture after a while, I guess.
There's actually something on the menu even more basic than the $7.50 basic. At $5.50, the Say Cheese is simply filled with Jack and cheddar cheeses. It is the cheapest savory variety by two bucks, and also shares the most inexpensive title of any crepe with the sweet Hawaiian, which comes with melted butter, raw cane sugar, fresh lemon sprinkle, whipped cream, and powdered sugar.
Our next visitor ordered a Godfather, at $8.50:
I also managed to sneak a small slice away from this crepe, as well, and found it fresh, refreshing, and very feminine, its ingredients very Margherita pizza-ish, with Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, and a touch of extra virgin and baslamic vinegar. The mix is very popular in Japan, and a classic combination on just about any type of bread. Our second guest was even more happy than the first!
Actually, this Godfather was my personal-favorite crepe of the day, even though our two friends both concluded that my order, which you can partially see in the background of the next shot and which you'll see in full soon, was their numbah won choice. Hey, I offered them both the big switcheroo if they wanted to, but I guess they were too shy, or perhaps too polite, to accept.
Here's a shot of the insides:
Kumi's choice was called a Healthy Alternative, listed at $7.95. Hidden inside this golden square was non-fat plain yogurt, honey, all-natural granola, strawberries, and banana. Me, I'm not a big fan of yogurt, for some reason. I guess the taste doesn't really hit my spot, and I've heard too many stories of supermarket varieties being almost nothing but sugar, fat, and cream, with very little in the way of the helpful pro-biotic cultures that are so beneficial, and the main reason people eat yogurt in the first place. And yes, I have tried the real thing, straight from the farm, even, which I'd be more inclined to partake of, if anything. I guess I just don't trust what's out there on the regular market today, for the most part. However, here at a place like Crepes No Ka Oi, where the vibe is modern, healthy, and stylish, and where I'm happy to say they were using fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs in all the crepes sampled today, I could only expect the yogurt, as well, to be of a more natural, much healthier variety than normal.
Kumi sure enjoyed her plate, as did our guests.
Now, I gotta say, I was kinda surprised that none of the three females in our group ordered something from the sweet side of the menu. I mean, there's lady-killer treats like Temptation's in Paradise (cinnamon apples, brown sugar, and whipped cream, at $6.95 ), S'mores (graham crackers, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, whipped cream, and powdered chocolate, at $7), and the new Berry Heavenly (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar, at $8.95 ). However, there were no taker's, so I was forced to step out of character and pursue a dessert-like item, something I rarely do when out for a meal.
That being the case, I had to ask our kind waitress for her recommendations on a sweet crepe, and she referred me to the Lover's Delight. Listed at $7.50, I actually very much enjoyed the dish, which consisted of thin, fresh slices of strawberry and banana, a chocolat'y Nutella, and a topping of whipped cream and powdered sugar.
Pretty dish all the way, and I can see why both crepes and the sweet, creamy Nutella are so popular in Europe! It's much more eater-friendly than a typical, overly-sweet chocolate syrup, which you probably love more on the first bite, but end-up temporarily hating on the last!
Again, in my limited experience with crepes, I can't go comparing with established markets outside of Hawaii, but our two friends from Japan both thought they were well-made, and for what it's worth, I, personally, loved all the slightly salty, slightly sweet shells tried today. I found them a great medium, less intrusive and much more delicate and versatile than, say, a tortilla, naan, or chapati, while on the other hand being more substantial than an Asian-style rice or soy wrap. They are a natural with sweet dessert items, but still work well with savory meal components like meats, eggs, cheeses, and other such filler's.
With the popularity of crepes all over the world, I've been hearing of crepe shops being the next big thing in Hawaii for the last 20 years! However, Crepes No Ka Oi seems to be one of the few to capture any kind of lasting success. In fact, are there even any other crepe houses out there who have made it into an actual brick 'n mortar property? I'm not even sure.
Nevertheless - there's some good stuff out here in Kailua, so do check it out.
Hope you're all having a great week! Next time, we'll hit one of the biggest little secrets on the island! And for such a caliber of cuisine, the prices will blow your mind!
Till then, take care and Aloha till next time!
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