Here's some reviews of Kenny's you might be interested in.
This one appeared in the Star-Bulletin back in '96! Note that the fresh fish menu is going stronger than ever!
The Weekly Eater
By Nadine Kam
Star-Bulletin
Thursday, August 22, 1996
Kenny's reels them in
with fresh fish
HEY kids! Hang on to your old clothes. You never know when old is new again. Having grown up in the era of polyester and pointy-collars, I knew in the '70s that our clothes were as hideous as "Disco Duck." There was no way those clothes would resurface. Well, they're baaaack ...
What comes and goes in fashion seems to hold true for restaurants, too. Thus Kenny's Coffee House (sing it now, "at the Kam Shopping Center in Kaliheeeee") is trying on a few new menu items. Oddly enough, some of those items reflect a '70s flair, i.e. Shrimp Scampi. But hey, that makes Kenny's totally hip to the retro-a-go-go '90s. And as general manager Warren Matsunaga explains about the eatery's roots, "We don't want to get away from it, but more into it."
Kenny's is the quintessential local restaurant, a place to hang out, drink coffee, shoot the breeze, since 1965. The coffee house has managed to evolve, without losing sight of its no-nonsense family and community-sensitive dining traditions. It ain't haute, but customers appreciate what is honest, homespun fare.
The newest hit is Kenny's fresh fish, which is caught the eco-conscious way on hook and line. Some are fish only a local could love, such as the pungent opelu and taape, but there has been no shortage of customers. The first two weeks were sellouts.
There is one special daily. This may be fried akule, opelu, taape, aweoweo, nabeta or mamo; or mempachi, moana, mullet, to'au, a'awa or farmed moi prepared nitsuke-style. I sampled the nitsuke-style moi ($12.95), or Pacific threadfin, steamed and served with a sweetened soy, ginger and green onion sauce. The tender, juicy white fish is similar in texture to mullet...
...OTHER new items include a generous portion of scampi ($9.95). I counted 14 shrimp but I could be wrong, having devoured several before I started counting. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, retaining their crunch.
Neither do they skimp on hamburger-filled Stuffed Cabbage ($8.25), two hefty rolls baked in a light tomato-based Spanish Sauce.
These and other lunch and dinner entrees, such as the popular fried Korean Style Chicken ($7.95) and Baked Shortribs ($8.50) are served with a choice of rice, whipped potatoes or French fries, hot vegetables and a roll. Since Kenny's isn't exactly an a la carte sort of place, hungry types might go for the complete meal, which means adding $1.95 for a choice of soup or salad, dessert and a choice of a soft drink, coffee or tea.
Old-timers still swear by Kenny's Chinese Chicken Salad ($6.75), which is sculptural in dimension, piled as high as a bee-hive hairdo. And they also make a decent burger ($5.25 for supreme with fries and tossed salad - try the sweetened vinegar and oil). The burger is more dense than I like, but tasty and reminiscent of meatloaf with its herbed flavor.
Kenny's makes a stab at lighter dining by offering a fresh, though dry, roast Turkey Sandwich ($6.50) and a baked Eggplant Sandwich, both on rye with Swiss cheese, plenty of fresh sprouts, and accompanied with a crunchy pickle.
Desserts might be considered old fashion - hot fudge sundaes ($2.75), banana splits ($2.99), pie ala mode ($2.50). But they're also classics; you really can't go wrong with a classic.
Kenny's Coffee House & Deli
Where: 1620 N. School St. (The fresh fish menu starts Monday at the Kaneohe location, 46-023 Kamehameha Highway. Call 236-1464.)
Hours: Breakfast 6 to 11 a.m.; lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to close
Prices: About $15 to $25 for two
Call: 841-0931
Here's a transcript of one from TV this year.
Lyle, Russell, and customers rave about the fish!
May 6, 2004
Healthy Cheap Eats
A flaming wok ushers in some new healthy menu items . Lyle Galdeira and Russell Yamanoha: "Hey remember small kid time when it was all about Cheesy Gals and Porky Boys. Couple of Porky Boys right here but now, Lyle, it's all grown up. That's right, we're at Kenny's restaurant with a new menu.
"Yes, it's Kenny's at the Kam Shopping Center in Kalihi where people are lining up for their new sugar free entrees and seafood specials. I'm in the kitchen checking out the fish with chef Ernesto Yeeban."
Ernesto Yeeban\Chef: "We have the moi over here. And I'm cooking it Nitsuke style. And this big boy is a knife jaw fish. For this size, takes like 20 minutes to cook."
"He's cooking them sugar free using the sugar substitute Splenda."
Lyle and the Chef: "Can I have a little taste of the sauce. Yes sir. Okay, let's do this. Ooo. That's good chef."
"Other sugar free items include chopped steak, chicken sukiyaki, chicken or pork tofu, a chinese chicken salad and oyako donburi."
Russell and John Hiu of Manoa: "And what are you working on today John?" "
Oyaku Donburi."
"And how's that working for you?"
"Oh, it's excellent."
"Tell us what's in there."
"We got eggs, some chicken, some carrots, onions, shitake mushrooms, green onions. It's excellent."
"This low carb diet, is this a good way to go?"
"Oh definitely. Yeah, it's so good actually instead of using my chopstick, I'm using my spoon. So you can get every drop."
"Exactly. Ha, ha, ha."
Russell and Joann Honda of Ewa Beach: "We're here also with Joann who's enjoying the chicken salad. How's that working?"
"It's great, I love it."
"What do you like about it?"
"You can't tell that there's no sugar in there."
"Is this low carb thing just a fad or you think this is the way to go."
"I don't know but this works for me."
Lyle and Russ: "Russell, aren't you glad you came."
"Look at this spread Lyle. There's no way we're going to handle it but we'll give it our best shot. Let's dive in. We're trying a little bit of everything...including those giant fish."
Lyle: "I have never had knife jaw fish in my life. Here's a first. Mmm. Ooo. Knife jaw fish here at Kenny's. No sugar, who good." Just order your favorites without the rice...for a healthy alternative.
Russ: "Dr. Atkins would be proud."
It's Kenny's at the Kam Shopping Center in Kalihi.
Sugar free and this week's Healthy Cheap Eats.
