When my wife and I moved from California to Louisiana six years ago we really didn't realize just how many of the things we truly loved that we would be leaving behind. One of those things was really good Asian food. If you travel anywhere in So Cal you can find any number of restaurants featuring Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine. If you are craving a Spicy Tuna Roll or a steaming bowl of Phở all you have to do is just jump in your car and drive (or possibly even walk) a short distance to get it. One of the more unique dining experiences could be found at a Hawaiian BBQ restaurant, which were a little harder to find, but well worth the hunt.
Alas, it had been well over six years since I had last tasted any Hawaiian food, that was, until last Thursday.
Will sitting in the waiting room of my wife's hand doctor in New Orleans we began to search online for something to eat for lunch in Baton Rouge on our trip back home. I began searching through Google and I found all the usual seafood and Cajun eateries, but Terri and I really aren't into that kind of food. I was looking for something different, something reminiscent of our days out west.
Strangely enough something divinely inspired prompted me to search for Hawaiian food, and much to my surprise, I actually found one. Up popped the listing for The Cove Hawaiian Grill, and the first image I saw brought a smile to my face. It was a plate fried Katsu, white rice and macaroni salad. I promptly stuck my phone right into my wife's face and she made a very sentimental sighing sound and promptly directed me to plug the directions into Google maps asap.
To be honest, there is nothing more satisfying than a great plate of Pork Katsu, Teriyaki Chicken, white rice and macaroni salad, and The Cove serves it up in a way that makes my heart sing. The pork is fried up to perfect golden perfection and the sauce that you pour all over it just takes the experience to another level of island inspired flavor. If you have never experienced the combination of meat, rice and macaroni then you will be in for a real treat.
The Cove has all the staples of any West Coast Hawaiian restaurant including island inspired burgers, Spam Musubi (essentially a Spam sushi roll), homemade Kimchi and our favorite Katsu Pork.
We had a short talk with the owner, who explained that he and his family were also California transplants. We spent some time sharing some memories of life on the West Coast before the little lady and I had to get back on the road. Apparently there isn't another traditional Hawaiian restaurant like this anywhere in the region. The owner explained that the only ones he knows of are in Texas and Florida, so if you want to experience some real island cuisine you need to take the trip down to Baton Rouge and savor a meal at The Cove.
Aloha!
Check Out:Some West Coast Flavor: Ono Hawaiian BBQ
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