Lunch Break: Food, price are right at New Wave

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hazel Rilles (right) and Rosie Nimz are ready for customers at New Wave on Halekauwila Street. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

And the line actually moves.

It happens a lot at New Wave Kitchen, 568 Halekauwila St.

From 11:30 a.m. to noon — the big rush time — every weekday, regulars and hungry downtown prowlers patiently wait in line for the restaurant's ono-kine specialties.

The charm of New Wave, only 2 years old, is in its a la carte menu, which features about 60 items daily. It serves everything from local-style saimin ($3.95) to chicken katsu plate ($4.50) to miso-based eggplant ($1.35 a scoop).

Popular dishes include the garlic chicken ($1.70 for three pieces) and garlic potato salad (85 cents a scoop), made with baked potato chunks.

We could see why the garlic potatoes are so popular. Addictive and oh-so-worth the walk.

Another popular dish that we enjoyed, though were hesitant about because of its name, was the seafood dynamite ($1.60 a slice). A fish casserole of sorts, it has become a hit with the regulars with its combination of ahi, ogo, salmon, tomatoes and onions.

For veggie heads, New Wave also has a modest salad bar. Large plates are $4.95,minis $2.95.

Some advice: If you're in a hurry, a la carte is faster than ordering a plate lunch.

Our favorite part was the cost. What a bargain: For a plate of chow fun, eggplant with pork and miso and a slice of seafood dynamite, the bill totalled $4.11. That's what we call a complete meal.

Hours: 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. weekdays. Catering available. 540-1010.