Ryo Hanalei Z.
Yelp
While visiting Fremont with family, we hit that point where everyone was hungry. Since it was my nephew's birthday, he got the deciding vote. His pick? Chinese food.
Luckily, I knew just the spot nearby--Lanai Express, tucked inside the Fremont Hotel (which, by the way, has definitely gotten a nice facelift). The restaurant itself has been refreshed too, with a clean white look replacing the old yellow vibe.
The menu hit the mark right away. Everyone went with the 2-choice plate option, while I went for Spam musubi (had to!) and the chicken wings. The General Tso's, orange chicken, and Mongolian beef were crowd favorites. My musubi was solid, but the chicken wings? Excellent--crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. I made everyone try one, and they agreed. Big hugs to the chef for that one!
On a past visit, I also tried their oxtail soup, and it was pretty good--hearty, flavorful, and a nice surprise to find at a quick-serve spot like this.
On top of it all, the service was warm and friendly. The lady behind the counter had such a pleasant vibe, which made the experience even better.
If you're downtown and looking for a quick, affordable bite with both Chinese favorites and some island flair, Lanai Express is definitely worth a stop.
Njoy