This past Sunday, Panda Cuisine again (they’re still doing grand opening promotions). Their menu lists seventy-two lunch specials for $7.99, which includes soup of the day and steamed rice and The Cat is determined to try most of them if not all (she’s already gone through about a third of the list).
I’ve wanted to try one of the menu items, pork tongue, for a while. So with hearts and minds set on pork tongue we frequented the restaurant once again. The owner informs us no pork tongue. Major disappointment. A scramble for a substitute. The owner recommends pork intestines with preserved vegetables. We agree.
Pork Intestine with Preserved Vegetables
Since bell peppers and The Cat don’t get along, I start on the bell peppers. The Cat took one bite of the intestine and starts acting like she’s trying to cough up a hairball. Tells me to stop eating. (Readers with queasy stomachs may want to look away for a moment). The intestines were not clean. The Cat said there was a definite funky taste and texture going on. (I guess they didn’t use a garden hose (see Banner of the Pig) 😉
Okay, you can open your eyes now.
To the restaurants credit, they whisked the dish away, no questions asked. We substituted pork belly with preserved vegetables.
Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables
A sort of hit. I think any other day, I would have been pleased as punch. However, after not getting pork tongue and the intestines being what they were, the pork belly was just okay. Not a good sign. Sigh.
We also ordered steamed chicken with mushroom and red date.
Steamed Chicken with Mushroom and Red Date
The chicken was very tender and flavorful. I think the kitchen forgot the red dates though.
Braised Minced Beef with Spinach
This was actually very good. The minced beef over rice was comfort food.
So there you have it, another adventure at New Panda Cuisine (641 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu, Hawaii)
We should have had that guy that does Bizarre Foods as our guest. 🙂
Enjoy. Eat well.
The Mouse
An update: The Cat went back the next day and pork tongue is no longer on the menu. So sad. 😦
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[…] Cuisine, 641 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu, Hawaii). No excitement of pork intestines this week (see here if your morbidly curious). No trauma, no drama. You may think we wouldn’t go back after last […]
I’ve never eaten intestines in any form and after reading this post, I will go out of my way not to eat them just in case they haven’t been cleaned.
Heh heh. Thanks for visiting. The experience hasn’t scared us off yet. Just temporarily. Eat well.
That’s hilarious! Here we eat intestines, called ‘chitlins,’ and it’s ALL in the cleaning.
Haven’t tried “chitlins” yet. Don’t have much choice for Southern food here. Have to get to the source one day and fully explore. Have a Hoppy Easter weekend. Eat well.
Its always a hit and miss if you go try the exotic food but I would still try it anyway..Love your post..Happy Easter ahead..
Thanks, my aunties taught me well. Hoppy Easter to you too!
I mom was a good cook and I do not know what happen to me..
You can do it. I have faith in you. Took me a lot of practice, trauma, and drama. 🙂
Awe, well, that sucks. I won’t be going there anytime soon…maybe later on. There is a new restaurant on Waialae called Katsu that I’m thinking about checking out. I believe it’s a buffet, which (I’m guessing) has a lot of katsu. LOL
Just went there for lunch today. Post about it soon.
Cool! I can’t wait to read it. Depending on your review, I may go on Sunday.
Worth a try at least once. Have a Hoppy Easter weekend. Eat well.
You are a very adventurous diner. In the southern US the pork intestines are called chitlins or chitterlings. Not my cup of tea, even the “cleaned” ones reek.
Thanks! Taught by a couple of aunties to at least try most things once. Have a Hoppy Easter weekend. Eat well.
Oh my gosh they look amazing!
Thanks!