Have a hankering for Hawaiian food, but don’t have the time or money to travel? Then you are in luck!
The Honu restaurant in Dunedin serves up Hawaiian specials daily.
Honu owners Kimberly Platt and Lisa Platt met fourteen years ago, but didn’t begin dating until after Lisa returned from the Army, where she served in Germany for five years.
The two reunited in Paris six years ago and spent their first official date atop the Eiffel Tower.
In 2011, Kimberly Platt started culinary school, and together, the two began collecting over 2,000 hand-written recipes.
Inspired by their love for Hawaii and food, the Platts opened a food truck business four years ago and named their truck “The HONU” (meaning the turtle) after a turtle they had brought back from Tulum Mexico years prior.
A short while later, they opened the funky little Taco Shack in Largo, Florida.
However, the food truck became the mainstay and their visits to Dunedin’s weekly market made them realize that they were destined to be a part of Dunedin’s downtown dining experience.
Although they eventually closed Taco Shack, The HONU officially become a full-service restaurant in February 2016.
Decorated with beautiful Hawaiian photos throughout, the Dunedin restaurant is now a favorite among locals eager to experience Hawaii without traveling nearly 5,000 miles and spending thousands of dollars to do so.
My colleague and I had the opportunity to sample several menu items during our recent visit to The HONU.
We started with the Poke, which was presented in an adorable wooden bowl and topped with a vibrant purple orchid. The marinated ahi tuna, green onions, black sesame seeds, and sticky sushi rice combined for a tasty Asian-inspired appetizer.
For our main course, we sampled THE STACK and the pork special of the day. Both of the dishes featured sweet-and-savory, tender, slow-cooked, agave pork.
THE STACK was presented exactly as the title describes with a bed of rice, a mound of pork, a topping of slaw and micro greens, and a sprinkle of green onion. The sweet, crunchy, spicy, and salty flavor blend created an out-of-this world Hawaiian experience.
The daily pork special offered a more deconstructed presentation and was just as tasty.
For dessert, we shared the chocolate mousse, which was rich, velvety, and delectable!
And the fresh orange drink served reminded me of the childhood favorite, Tang.
The HONU even has a menu for our favorite furry friends!
Now married three years, the Platts continue to visit Hawaii, returning with new ideas and recipes following each visit.
The couple invites everyone to experience their “lei’d back café and Aloha spirit,” not to mention their delightful food.
The HONU is located at 516 Grant Street, Dunedi, FL 34698.
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