Brunch at Ethel's Grill could be a regular thing

Well, maybe not so soon.

But judging from how people were rolling out of our Super Secret BRUNCH Club, there’s an undeniable craving for the Urquidis’ off-menu dishes. Robert was slanging crab and Boursin omelettes, mortadella katsu sandwiches and country fried steaks left and right while Minaka turned us all onto haupia pudding with matcha granola and pineapple compote.

“I’m going to make this the new acai bowl,” she says half-jokingly. It was seriously delicious and made for the perfect ending to such an incredible brunch made for the fat kids in all of us. Everyone even left with a baggie of sata andagi – something that Minaka seriously has on her mind.

For the record, we vote yes for andagi pop-ups!

Sumo Guy is the mascot of Ethel’s Grill.

Ask anyone that lunches in Kalihi and chances are Ethel’s Grill is one of their regular spots. It seats 23 eaters to whom they serve up local-style-Japanese plate lunches on actual plates. Okinawan taco rice, mochiko chicken, fried turkey tails, hamburger steak, sukiyaki – they’re all sumo sized and come with ice tea or fruit punch, miso soup and a salad coated in that addictive dressing. A side of ahi tataki is obligatory. On their busiest days they’ll power through 128 cups of rice.

And as you would expect, it’s cash only.

They’ve kind of served dinner but never officially. In other words, not much has changed in 42 years.

So when Robert and Minaka said they wanted to flex their brunch muscle, they really meant it. They sent us a menu, we told you about it and it sold out.