Christal P.
Yelp
I was told by my mother that in Chinese culture, the number 8 is a very lucky number. She said that it was a good thing that I was born on the 8th and that both my first name and last name has 8 letters. At the time, I did not understand why, but I knew walking by 8 Fat Fat 8 that it was probably owned by a Chinese person. What I did not expect was to find some of the best Chinese food in Honolulu at an inconspicuous run-down dive bar far from the glamour of touristy Waikiki, Chinatown, or Ala Moana neighborhoods.
8 Fat Fat 8 is a diamond in the rough among authentic home-style Chinese cuisine in Honolulu. The story of 8 Fat Fat 8 is described on its menu. It was established in 1989 by a man named Sai and his friends. The number 8 (baat) is a lucky number because in Chinese it rhymes with Fat, which means to develop and to prosper. The best example is the saying "Kung Hee Fat Choy" at Chinese New Year.
Frankly, I am not the type to step foot into a dive bar like this, so the food has to be excellent. I always walked by this bar, but had no reason to believe that I'd like the food or atmosphere there. I only found out how good the food is after ordering delivery from Bite Squad. After realizing that the food is immensely better than most Chinese restaurants I've tried so far in Honolulu, I made the trip over to 8 Fat Fat 8 to have a dine-in experience.
As I expected, the atmosphere really isn't my style, and I didn't enjoy the rowdy people playing pool and watching football. But I wasn't there for the football game on the widescreen television, or the beer, I was there only for the food! I sat at the bar where the waitress/bartender was very nice and accommodating. From my seat I saw one Chinese chef in the kitchen doing all the cooking. The owners of 8 Fat Fat 8 really are lucky to have such a talented chef, and I hope he is appreciated for his good work.
I ordered the Salmon Belly, Shoyu Pork Belly, Ginger Noodles, and Crinkle Fries. The last time I ordered through Bite Squad, I also tried the Fat Fat Special Chicken, the Crispy Gau Gee, the Lup Cheong Fried Rice with Egg, and the Cold Ginger Tofu. I recommend any one of these dishes to try - they are all excellent. The portion sizes are also quite large so that I always have leftovers for several days. 8 Fat Fat 8 is a prime example to not always judge a book by its cover - sometimes the best food is where you least expect it.
I will have a hard time not stopping by 8 Fat Fat 8 to order food regularly. Next time I'll probably call in my order for pick-up, but for those who like dive bars and sports, this is a good place to stop by for good food while watching the game.