Hawaiian Joint in San Francisco, CA

EATERY: Island Cafe in San Francisco

LOCATION: 901 Taraval St., San Francisco, CA 94116

I was told this place was known for good food, and killer pancakes.  I did not expect much from the interior, so I got what I expected.

We started off with what they called "Beef Mini Tacos" which were in reality ground beef filled turnovers deep fried and served with a mexican (chile style) dipping sauce.  They were served hot and we were hungry, so they got eaten before I could take any shots.  Moving on swiftly...

For personal reasons and personal reasons only, I have a thing against kimchi.  But one of the girls I was with was totally sold on the kimchi fried rice so we went ahead and got it.  Thankfully, the dish was just perfect and got me back on the kimchi note.  Small chunks of sautéed  kimchi were tossed throughout the fried rice with bits of Hawaiian sausage and chili flakes.  

(Thanks Carissa, good call).


We were torn between fried Mahi Mahi and this pulled beef dish that came over a bed of pickled cabbage served with steamed rice and macaroni salad.  Now, my vote went to Mahi Mahi (probably because I like to avoid red meat as much as I can) but the girls beat me out so we went ahead with the pulled beef.  The meat was seasoned well and served semi-warm.  The rice, cabbage and macaroni salad were okay on their own, but for some reason when you scooped them all into one bite (including the beef of course) they made for a tasty mouthful.  I'm still curious as to what the Mahi Mahi was like, but hey we asked for a democracy and we got one.  

So from the minute I got into town I had my ear filled with nothing but outrageous propaganda for this Hawaiian place in town that has the "greatest pancakes ever."  The exact nomenclature was Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Coconut Sauce (as it appeared on the menu).  The pancakes (to me) seemed like your everyday pancake mix, just with small bits of macadamia nuts thrown inside.   when topped with this killer coconut sauce, they became out of this world.  Probably the best pancake pairing I have ever had; simple, easy to eat, and perfectly balanced.  I cannot say they were the best pancakes ever, but the combo was definitely one of the best I have had.  If I am not mistaken the sauce was coconut milk and sugar thickened by a corn starch slurry - served hot.

OVERALL REVIEW:  It was a little bit heavy for my taste - especially as a first meal of the day.  The food was good for Hawaiian standards and the prices were ultra reasonable.  I definitely liked the fact that everyone who worked there was family.  At one point a little girl with braces (probably no older than 13 years) came to check up on us and get us refills of our drinks.  Minor details like that go a long way with me, so I tip my hat to that.  Any family working hard for a cause (especially feeding people) is commendable by me.  If you like Hawaiian food and are looking for a casual bite with comfort food varieties, I would definitely recommend it.