Elena's Filipino Restaurant

At the corner of Desert Inn and Eastern Avenue, you'll find Elena's Filipino Restaurant.  This little hole in the wall restaurant is owned by the same people who own Elena's Filipino Restaurant in Waipahu, Hawaii.  Yes that's right, Hawaii.  We guess they're the second generation found it's way up to the "9th Island" and expanded the family business.  Here at Elena's you'll taste like you're back home in Hawaii...well at least that's the case for us.  Never the less, the food is tasty and will leave you with what people back home call a "Kanak Attack."

Open 10a-8p Monday-Saturday & 11a-6p Sunday

We came in around lunch time to eat.  It was a Tuesday, and I guess it was slow.  There were only two ladies at one of the restaurant's tables.  The entire restaurant has tables, no booths and can seat large parties with no problem.  The interior is orange and brown across the walls and has the occasional decorative butterfly which coincidentally matches the orange on the wall.  The restaurant plays local Hawaii music, usually Braddah IZ aka Israel Kamakawiwaole.

We walk up to the counter to order our food.  Allan selects the Lechon Special.  The Lechon Special is fried pork with diced tomatoes, onions, and green onions.  This is a pretty popular dish considering it has it's own picture sign on top the counter.  I go ahead and order the Lunch Special.  The Lunch Special starts off with Chicken Long Rice soup, then on the main plate of the Lunch Special you get Rice, Pancit, 2 Shanghai Rolls, and a choice of ONE of the following: Pork Adobo, Pork Gisantis, Chicken Adobo, or Dinuguan.  I chose the Pork Gisantis to go with my Lunch Special.  I also ordered the Pork Adobo Fried Rice on the side and Halo-Halo for dessert.

The Chicken Long Rice came first.  The noodles used in the Chicken Long Rice are Cellophane Noodles.  The chicken is boiled soft.  The noodles are cut small.  The ginger used are soft as well, but you may sometimes find yourself mistaking it for a piece of chicken.

Chicken Long Rice

The food arrives and we both are excited to jump in.  Allan's Lechon Special tastes amazing as always. If you decide to order this, it is a salty dish, but the rice served with it balances out the salty taste.  My Lunch Special looks promising.  The pork, peas and tomatoes in my Pork Gisantis is soft...just the way it should be.  The Pancit noodles are soft and are well seasoned.  The Pancit comes with diced vegetables which depend on the cook.  The Shanghai Rolls consist of Shitaki Mushrooms and diced vegetables.  The Pork Adobo Fried Rice arrives and is wrapped completely in a scrambled flat egg.  The fried rice and pork is soft...perfect.  Allan and I ate in almost complete silence...which means that the food was delicious.

Lunch Special $7.77

Lechon Special $9.95

Pork Adobo Fried Rice $7.95

The Halo-Halo dessert followed.  Halo-Halo has vanilla and ube ice cream, shredded ice, coconut shavings, evaporated milk, and mixed fruits.  This dessert varies depending on where you get it or by who is cooking it.  I had high expectations for the dessert, but was sadly let down.  The Halo-Halo lacked flavor.  I couldn't taste the coconut and the fruits had no flavor.  I only had vanilla ice cream and didn't have the purple ube ice cream.  What is ube?  It's purple yam.  But like I said earlier, the ice cream flavors vary depending on where you go and who is making it.  I saw ube in the picture, so I had my heart set on it.  So basically my Halo-Halo dessert tasted like milk with vanilla ice cream and mixed fruit.

Halo-Halo $4.99

Overall, Elena's isn't a disappointment like the Halo-Halo.  The dishes are well made and full of flavor.  If you have your cravings on Filipino food, Elena's will satisfy your cravings.  I don't know if it's Braddah IZ playing or the smell of fish oil but Elena's makes me feel like I'm back home in Hawaii.  If you're from Hawaii and you've been searching for a Filipino restaurant that tastes like home, Elena's is the place to be.  No matter it's always a KANAK ATTACK after you eat here.

Overall rating: 8 out of 10