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W and M Burger, a closer look
Aloha!
1/19/08 - It was actually during the infamous, island-wide blackout that we went out hunting for something to eat and found W&M Burger open. It was mid-morning of the day after it all started, and Hawaii Kai, Kailua, and Kaneohe, though usually first in line when it comes to everything else, can always count on the short end of the stick when it comes to the electricity grid, as we are located the furthest away from any major power plant. Our potholes may get fixed right away, but we've gotta stock up on candles and flashlights more than anyone else!
With McDonald's in Palolo looking like a wait at a State Office, we slid on into the small W&M lot about 10 minutes before they opened - it's a good thing, too, as the crowds that normally fill this small lot began arriving en masse, but only after we were already beating a hasty retreat! Being a take-out only establishment, cars turn over quicker than most places, but that doesn't mean service is fast. Though you'd think such meals would get whipped up in a jiff, you may be surprised at how long the wait may be. The best thing to do is call in orders, then stop by with at least two people - one to wait in the car if there are no slots available in the lot, and one to jump out and grab lunch! And remember, they are only open daytime, with both Monday and Tuesday closed.
They are located right above City Mill and across from Fresh Catch Poke Stop near the bottom of Waialae Ave., in a lot that you'll miss if you're not looking.
Pic of lot - coming soon!
This super-casual, super-island-style burger house is very popular with locals, all coming for old-school, teriyaki-infused-patty burgers, as well as also-teriyaki-infused sliced meat burgers. They also have a small handful of other humble offerings, but there's no need for many extra's, as they've carried these same recipes for over 50 years and definitely do a brisk business without having to expand the menu! Keep it simple, do it consistently right, and people keep coming back all the time!
The relatively small, very tasty burgers come with your choice of familiar toppings - lettuce, tomato, onions, etc., and also have a standard bun - but it's the teriyaki patties that make it all worth it. A bit on the sweet side, but not overly so, these are not sandwiches you wanna buy in bulk and save for a later meal - all that delicious teriyaki sauce may just turn your bun into a soggy mess when left sitting for too long.
Wifey ordered a Royal burger, which is basically a Deluxe anywhere else, meaning with all the veggies, cheese, and condiments included. It is the most popular burger here, and the perfect choice for those not wanting to get nit-picky with a this-or-that-fussiness - don't you hate it when the person in front has a whole list of demands? Unless you have a rare immune disease or allergies to certain items that make you break out in a head-to-toe rash, just order a Royal, will ya?
This particular Royal burger looks very much free of any soggy-bun complexes, but did get a bit messier later on, believe me!
The obvious burger partner, french fries, also comes simple, old-school, and without any flash, but does come in large portions and easily big enough for two. Nothing fancy or different here, but still pretty darn good, and a burger is never the same without it, anyway!
The other popular side-dish here is crab macaroni salad. Billed as special because it contains real crab, along with a scattering of peas, you'll be hard-pressed to find much of any crab at all, with either your eyes or your tongue! Personally, with that much of a weak crab influence and a price tag of over $2, I think it'd not only taste better, but also be much easier on my wallet if they just dispensed with the real stuff altogether and simply put in lots of imitation crab, instead! But that's just me.
Nevertheless, as far as macaroni salad goes, it's not bad...
Hotdogs are also done differently, coming grilled with bbq sauce and slivers of onion. Dogs here are just about as large as any Eisenburg, Woody's, or Costco-bought Hebrew National dog, but the taste and softer texture is very much the same as the old-fashioned Oscar Meyer's we all grew up with and loved as kids. I'd never order an Oscar Meyer for the prices typically charged at modern hotdog stands, but this one, with its array of kicked-up dressings, makes it all worth it for me. Does look intriguing, doesn't it?
No need for a pic of mom's burger, as we ordered a Royal for her, too. Me, I had a Hal Special, which is the same as a Royal, except with the added bonus of thin-sliced bbq beef. Actually, this was the first time I've tried any of their sliced bbq meat burgers, and was honestly surprised at how good it was! Next time I think I may even forego ground-beef patties altogether!
Here are a couple of different angles from my burger, one from the side where the patty is visible, and another from the sliced-beef side. As you can see, some of the teri sauce is spilling over to the bun, but at this point, the mushiness hadn't quite set in yet.
Aaah, W&M, one of the truly classic, old-school, local haunts that have survived through the years. With legions of devoted patrons who rave about this place, as often happens, there's a tendency for hype to get blown way out of proportion. Just keep everything in perspective, allright? We're talking about a meal comparable in price to a McDonald's or Burger King, so don't expect the whole world!
However, for a great-tasting, every-day kind of burger that carries with it a little large slice of local nostalgia, there's plenty to be excited about at this tiny shop in Kaimuki. It's just a good, honest burger, is all, and one that may not highlight your day, but will satisfy the need, every time!
Hope you've all had a truly wonderful weekend, and may this coming week be full of pleasant surprises!
Take care and Aloha till next time!
Aku
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