Hawaiian Take-out for 40-50 People?

[pane]

A friend is having a Hawaii-themed party this Saturday, and the caterer she hired contacted her at the last minute to say that they can't do the food for her party (because of an illness).

Now the party is a few days away, and they need a Hawaiian restaurant that can do take-out for 30-40 people. They're willing to pick up the food, so they don't need a caterer, just a reliable (and tasty) restaurant that can handle that type of order.

The friend lives in San Francisco, so a city-based operation would be most convenient, but if need be they can travel outside the city to pick up the food.

Your recommendations?

Thanks!

[Melanie Wong]

Anything to report?

[pane]

I was in China (which I did report on, with great tips from Gary Soup) during this party. She went with Ono and said it was good and relatively inexpensive, but didn't get more detailed than that.

[lmnopm]

The place on the corner of San Pablo and Gilman in Berkeley (Island Hawaiian BBQ?) is perfectly not bad, and they do catering - the side wall has pictures and prices for large quantities.

[Melanie Wong]

Right, I forgot you were headed to China. I've just read your China eating report and I'm soooo jealous. Thanks.

[ML8000]

You might call Rick's on Taraval. It will be more expensive given it's a full service restaurant. The lau lau and pig should be very good catered, i.e., both stand up well to travel and reheating. http://ricksaloha.com/

L&L and Ono are both good and a great value. I'd go with Ono.

Re: Eva's...it's owned by L&L.

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Rick's Restaurant & Bar
1940 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116

[misterchinn]

We did Ono BBQ for our rehearsal dinner food for our wedding 2 years ago (about 50 people). It was fantastic. We had so much food left-over and it saved us a ton of money. We picked up from the Sloat location. They have a catering menu. Prices are so cheap! They had the food ready to go when they said they would. It was tasty... it's not fine dining... but it will set the mood. I highly recommend them... if only everything else went as smoothly with our wedding planning!

[lamster]

In June, I had Roy's Hawaiian cater a party for about 55 people. Surprisingly, their prices were pretty reasonable and they came with steam baths to do a whole set up, with orchids and all. I have to say, I was surprised but their food was amazing. We spent about $1300 with waiters, the steamers, orchids, and food.

[Melanie Wong]

I attended a wedding couple weeks ago that was catered by Roy's in an adjacent party space. About 100 guests, and some of the dishes were very good.

Here's a link to the thumbnails so you can go right to the food photos -
http://flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/...

[lamster]

Actually, we spent much less than that! I forgot, $1300 was with booze.

[alanbarnes]

Don't know about the other guys, but L&L has half and full hotel pans of just about everything on the menu. Good to serve to a crowd.

[kresge86]

I like the Hukilau on Masonic and have enjoyed some really good food there (truly delicious rice omelette); although service at times can be maddeningly slow. Hukilau catered food for our halau's ho'ike, and did a very nice job. Eva's Hawaiian Cafe on Clement Street is also quite good (I can't find a web address, but here's an earlier Chowhound reference - http://www.chowhound.com/topics/44613).

[kc72]

here you go

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Eva's Hawaiian Cafe
731 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118

[BernaDiva]

As a raised-in-Honolulu gal, I stand behind Hukilau - they have some of the best catered "island style" stuff in the city. Or, you can travel to Daly City and see if Hawaiian Drive Inn will do it, or L&L Drive Inn (Daly City also).

[jobostonisafoodie]

It depends if you want authentic Hawaiian food like the lau lau or if you want the more fused Hawaiian lunch plate food, like the chicken katsu and shortribs with mac salad.

[pane]

This late in the game, I think their main concerns are:

1. Reliability (a place that will have the food ready on time, to order)
2. Convenience (not having to drive out to San Jose on the day of their party)
3. Tastiness

I don't think they're concerned about authentic vs fused, so much.

[kc72]

You can try Hukilau, L&L, Ono, or Hawaiian Drive In

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Hukilau
5 Masonic Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
6893 Mission St, Daly City, CA 94014

Ono Hawaiian BBQ
1501 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132

Hawaiian Drive In
50 San Pedro Rd, Daly City, CA 94014

[pisang goreng]

Hukilau: feh. My husband and I didn't find their food to be that great. Good thing OP is asking about take-out because we found no aloha at the restaurant.

[jobostonisafoodie]

If you ARE going for lunch plate food, I would recommend Ono over L&L and Hawaiian Drive Inn. The cabbage they serve under the katsu is steamed, so it's meant to be eaten. The mac salad I had at Hawaiian Drive Inn the other day was watery and bland. Ono's mac salad has pieces of chicken in it. L&L used to be my fave until Ono came.

If I had to rank them:

1. Ono
2. L&L
3. Hawaiian Drive Inn - least expensive, but lacks...something

[Bodegadawg]

It's a little bit more work but... Andrea's Foods in Vallejo makes the best lechon, and they deliver. Their lechon (roast pig) was memorable.

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Andrea Foods
1109 Maple Ave, Vallejo, CA 94591

[muimi07]

Lechon's more Filipino rather than Hawai'ian though. Kalua pig and lechon have very different tastes. I will agree though that Andrea makes some of the best lechon in the Bay Area, though.

[baseballfan]

In San Ramon (not convenient I know) is Kilohana which is quite good. I think they have a location in Emeryville as well. You might try a search. Good luck!