WE'RE CRAVING: DIM SUM

HAPPY DAY

It's 9 a.m. and you've got a mean craving for shrimp dumplings, pork hash and mochi rice. No need to head to Chinatown to satisfy your dim sum fix. Along with its dumplings, this Kaimuki institution attracts an eclectic crowd from morning to night for everything from pan-fried look fun to the house special noodles.

Happy Day, 3553 Wai'alae Ave., 738-8666

LEGEND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

It's Hong Kong-style chaos at its best, where you must compete with other tables for the attention of the ladies strolling by with their carts. Legend has a comprehensive dim sum menu, including dishes cooked tableside. Dim sum delights include taro puffs, steamed look fun, scallop dumplings and barbeque pork pastries.

Legend Seafood Restaurant, Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St., 532-1868

THE MANDALAY

The Mandalay is O'ahu's most elegantly modern Chinese restaurant. They've got daily dim sum, but instead of carts, they have about 50 different choices that are brought to your table from the kitchen. Definitely a step up from your typical Chinatown Chinese joint.

The Mandalay, 1055 Alakea St., 525-8585

MEI SUM CHINESE DIM SUM RESTAURANT

This popular spot offers a wide selection of Hong Kong-style dim sum. Parking for this little spot may be kind of tough, and the service may not be the most congenial, but it draws crowds for its dim sum lunch specials. Try the taro puffs, you won't regret it.

Mei Sum Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant, 65 N. Pauahi St., 531-3268

GOLDEN PALACE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

All the dim sum here is only $1.89. That's probably what keeps this place bustling all day long. If you don't want dim sum, you can order dishes like the taro basket seafood combo, whole crispy chicken or the popular cake noodle.

Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant, 111 N. King St., 521-8268

FOOD NEWS

The Oceanarium at the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki now offers a Mahalo Thursday Senior Lunch Buffet for $10.50 for seniors (65 and older with valid ID). The buffet includes local favorites, such as lau lau, poke, lomi lomi salmon, as well as fresh sushi items and assorted desserts. Call 923-4511 to make reservations.

Hard Rock Café Honolulu Is celebrating the company's 38th anniversary at 3 p.m. on June 14 with its first-ever Frank's Hot Sauce Chicken Wing Eating Contest. The contest will be held between the five military branches: Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army. The branch with the most devoured chicken wings will win four VIP passes to Hard Rock's grand opening party in 2010, two limited edition Treasure Books, as well as prize money for a charity of their choice. The cafe will also be collecting canned food for Hawaii Foodbank.

Plan for this: The Hawaii Kai Lions Club will serve more than 3,500 pancake breakfasts this Father's Day (June 21, 6:30-10:30 a.m.) to raise money to fund community projects. Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door. Eat-in and take-out service is available. For tickets, more information or to get involved with the Hawaii Kai Lions Club, please contact Scott Sakata at 228-4916.

SMALL BITES

KOREAN-STYLE COMFORT FOOD

Tofu patties aren't typically the sort of thing that sends us into rapture. But this version from Ono Kimchee (1225 Ke'eaumoku St.) made us close our eyes and think of Grandma in her apron. The patties were shaped by hand and tossed on a frying pan in sizzling oil. We were hooked, especially when we learned the price: $3 for two patties. — Mari Taketa

IN THE KITCHEN

Your Kitchen, a take-out restaurant that specializes in contemporary Japanese cuisine, opened last week in Kaimuki in the former home of Samira's Country Market. On the border of Palolo and Kaimuki, this tiny eatery cooks up gourmet plate lunches that are more Japanese than local. The beef steak bowl is a must-try. It comes with slices of tender beef cooked in shoyu and butter, with fried potatoes on the side. Also noteworthy are the grilled spareribs with an apple shoyu glaze. When Your Kitchen took over Samira's, it also took over making Samira's fabulous — and popular — shave ice. The ice is still super fine, and the syrups are still homemade and come in flavors like haupia and green tea.

Your kitchen

1423 10th Ave.

203-7685

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily