Nam Fong Deli and Little Village Noodle House - When Chinese Food in Hawaii Is As Good As It Gets

Being originally from Los Angeles, I tend to be a bit biased about who has the best Chinese food in America. With family members who live in Monterey Park, there is no limit to great Chinese food when I visit. And while I do like much of the Chinese food in Hawaii, it usually doesn't compare (Pah Ke in Kaneohe is in a different category, as the best dishes there are a hybrid of Chinese and Hawaii Regional Cuisine, and flat out some of the most delicious - and decidedly un-Chinese - desserts in the world).

But there are at least two places in Hawaii that rival L. A. Chinese food, and one place that both my wife Becky and I agree is the best anywhere.

Little Village Noodle House at 1113 Smith Street in Honolulu's Chinatown has some of the best Chinese food in Hawaii. On a recent visit, my companions and I enjoyed stuffed tofu with shrimp, Peking Duck, clams with black bean sauce, honey walnut shrimp. All were very good, with the stuffed tofu taking top honors. The service is good. My minor complaints would be that the portions are kind of small and the prices are a bit high.

But the top honors for Chinese food in Hawaii goes to Nam Fong Deli on Maunakea Street, across the street from Cindy's Lei Shoppe (maybe the most famous place to get lei in Honolulu's Chinatown). The roast duck is hands down the best I have ever had (Becky agrees). The skin is crisp and flavorful, the meat is tender and plump. The piece de resistance is the scrumptious sauce that accompanies your order. It definitely sets it apart from all others.

The roast pork is also terrific - almost as good as the duck. The char siu is fine and better than most, but getting char siu there is kind of like getting salmon at Lawry's the Prime Rib - I'm sure it tastes good, but the prime rib is the thing to get. Same thing at Nam Fong - get the roast duck and/or the roast pork first...try the char siu if you are so inclined.

One caveat: this is not a restaurant - it is take out only and no decor or pretensions at all. During one visit, I saw three big wheelbarrows laden with freshly slaughtered hogs come in - a little startling, but at least you know the pork is fresh.

Grace and aloha,

Tom

P. S. Sorry for the delay in posting. There has been a whirlwind of activity lately, beginning with the news that I've been appointed to serve as the district superintendent of the Hawaii United Methodist Church beginning July 1. I'll still be in Hawaii and will try to keep blogging, especially now that I will be traveling to L. A. a lot (planning a visit in March to Pizzeria Mozza, a joint venture of Italian superchef Mario Batali, and baker extraordinaire Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery).

I've also been focusing on the visit of Pastor Adam Hamilton of the Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist Church in America: 17,000 people. He was presented his take on church leadership, evangelism, and the future of Methodism.

Loved his stuff: inspiring, non-judgmental, inclusive, and emphasized balancing social justice with personal faith. He's also rare among mega-church pastors in that he is so humble, down to earth, and authentic.

Check out his church's webpage: cor.org. You can also podcast his sermons on iTunes.