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By:
Kevin McQuarrie “Good ceiling, bad floor,” remarked my
companion as we entered Pah Ke’s in Kaneohe. The ceiling has an ornate
tile pattern with a dragon design, while the floor is a simple,
plain-white linoleum. But it is just this mix – the utilitarian blended
with sensory delight – that makes Pah Ke’s such a favorite among many
area residents. Pah Ke’s has very inexpensive prices, with
many dinner entrées ranging around $6. It’s an even better deal when
you consider that the dishes are meant to be shared. Pah Ke’s is very
friendly-family and caters to groups – so it’s only natural that the
place is We started off our dinner with Shrimp Won
Ton Soup, Hong Kong Style ($6.95). Plump won tons, stuffed with whole
shrimp and mushrooms, bobbed in a huge, steaming bowl of broth. The soup
is family style and would have been enough for up to four people to share
as an appetizer. The broth warmed us and was perfect for a cool (well,
cool for Hawaii) winter evening. Next, we tried the Squid with Salt and
Pepper ($6.25). The calamari had been battered in a light, salty, almost
cakey batter and then deep-fried. It was served over sliced cabbage and
with a dipping sauce. This dish is definitely a standout – I was
daydreaming about eating more of it the next day. While we were tempted to order one of the
house specialties, Crispy Kaneohe Taro-Stuffed Duck, we decided to sample
a classic, the Peking Duck. A half duck is served with nine steamed buns
($13) or you can order a whole, which is served with 18 buns ($26). The
duck was delicious – rich, tender and coated in a hoisin sauce. A word
to the wise: Even the half-order was an enormous portion. Chicken, beef and pork were other meat
options and you can choose from the casseroles section, sizzling platters,
eggs, rice soup and noodles listings. If you’re a vegetarian you will
discover many meat-free options, including Braised Black Mushrooms with
Vegetables ($6.95) and Steamed Soft Tofu ($4.75). On the seafood side of the menu, we found
dishes such as Fresh Scallops with Black Bean Sauce, Steamed Fresh Fish,
Lobster Tails with Curry Sauce, Sautéed
Oysters with Ginger and Green Onions, and Abalone with Black
Mushrooms. We settled on Shrimp with Ginger and Garlic ($8.50). It was
served piping hot, with the shrimp swimming in a fresh, not-too-garlicky
sauce. Snow pea pods, straw mushrooms, carrots and scallions rounded out
the dish. Even the steamed rice accompanying the meal was perfect: hot,
soft and delicious. Dessert did not appear to be a big focus at
Pah Ke’s and that was fine with us, as we were stuffed, but we did buy
an almond cookie (a huge one runs a whopping 62 cents) from the take-out
counter on our way out the door. We
nibbled on it the whole way
home, enjoying the slight sweetness and satisfying crispness. Overall, Pah Ke’s reminds me of how it
feels to eat at your auntie’s house. The staff is happy to see you, they
stuff you full of hot, nourishing food, and they send you on your way with
a cookie. It’s not a fancy establishment, Pah
Ke's Chinese restaurant |
