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Cheap Eats: Ethel's Grill

with Lyle Galdeira and Russell Yamanoha

HONOLULU (KHNL)- Ever since Lyle and Russ came back with Cheap Eats, the popularity has really taken off. Every day they get calls and emails from people who want to be part of the Cheap Eats wave, and this week that wave brings them to Ethel's Grill in Kalihi.

It's a little place, with a big bunch of loyal customers. One of them, you may have heard of... Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann is riding shotgun on this week's Cheap Eats. It was his call that led them down to Ethel's.

"I like to pick places that remind me of my ‘Hanabuda' days, and I discovered Ethel's many years ago. And I've kept coming back" said Hannemann.

But on this trip back, things will be different, because Mayor Hannemann will become chef Hannemann.

" So the kitchen's tight quarters, do you think there's enough room for you to get back there and mix it up with the cooks?" said Russ to the mayor, who stands 6'7". 

"Well, they going to have to make room. Ha, Ha, Ha! Ready or not, here I come!" said Mayor Hannemann.

The mayor and owner Ethel Ishii worked on a house specialty...

"Japanese hamburger steak, that's what we're doing here."

And the mayor is quick to find out that keeping tabs on the city and county is one thing, but keeping up with Ethel, that's a whole another ballgame.

When the votes are counted, Mufi's Japanese hamburger steak wins in a landslide!

"Shredded daikon, and ponzu sauce..." said Ethel.

"That's what makes it very special!" said the mayor.

Here at Ethel's Grill with a table full of food, it's a meal fit for a king, or a mayor any way.

Spare ribs saimin, mahi-mahi, and mochiko chicken. Russ and Lyle have pork chops and the Japanese hamburger steak, both fan favorites.  

"I'm doing the healthy stuff. Tataki, always a crowd favorite here. I'm getting my greens in and of course, my miso soup. It's all good" said Hannemann.

Ethel's Grill, if it's good enough for the mayor... it's good enough for us.

"Mmmmm! Tataki, awesome! That's your appetizer when you eat at Ethel's" said Hannemann.

"You know what, the mochiko chicken over here has a funny way of disappearing, like this..."  said Lyle, putting away a big bite.

On the corner of Kalihi and Kahai streets, a couple of blocks makai of Nimitz, it's Ethel's Grill. A mayoral stop on this week's Cheap Eats.

Ethel's Grill
232 Kalihi Street
847-6467