Duk Kee’s Got a Deal—A Full Family Meal for $88

Photo: Alexander Pang

With the rising cost of eating out, who’s not looking for a good deal? So I’ll let you in on a scoop. Duk Kee, the longstanding Chinese restaurant in Kaimukī, offers a full family meal for $88, with a prix fixe menu that changes every month. To be clear, I don’t mean $88 per person; it’s $88 for a multi-dish feast that feeds six or seven people.

My family discovered the deal awhile back, and now on weekends, there’s a good chance you’ll catch us there devouring plates of crispy gau gee and yimin noodles. After all, there’s a lot to love: The food is delicious, the portions generous, it’s BYOB and you can either dine in or order the special as takeout. And if you’re wondering how they came up with the price, “88” is symbolic in Chinese culture for double happiness or prosperity, which is apropos for the money saved.

Duk Kee’s deal typically includes soup and rice, but aside from that, there are different Cantonese favorites every month. (Note: the price might be higher if there are more expensive dishes on a given month’s menu.)

The October menu included seafood tofu soup, crispy gau gee, steamed fish with ginger, onion and shoyu sauce, crispy skin roast chicken, pork with sweet sour cabbage, beef with Chinese broccoli and house special fried rice. In November, dishes included minced beef and egg white soup, chicken salad, shrimp with black bean sauce, beef eggplant, fish fillet with salt and pepper, mapo tofu and white rice. As of Dec. 3, while there are new holiday specials, a December menu has not yet been posted on the restaurant’s Instagram @dukkeehawaii.

SEE ALSO: What’s Up, Duk Kee? New Owners Take Over the Chinese Restaurant

Photo: Alexander Pang

I took my friends and family to try out the November menu. With eight of us in total, we decided to add an extra half-order of soup and a plate of crispy gau gee. If you’re part of a larger party, you can always upgrade the serving size on dishes of your choice.

With evenings finally cooling off, the hot bowl of minced beef soup with wispy egg whites really hit the spot. Then it was hit after hit—crunchy chicken salad with won ton strips and sweet-sour orange dressing; mapo tofu; and shrimp and veggies with black bean sauce. We all agreed the standout was the fish fillet, with a lightly crisp fry, a burst of salt-pepper flavor and juicy fish beneath. After the fish was gone, I shoveled all the crumbs of fried garlic onto my rice and wolfed down the bowl.

A full meal and five cups of jasmine tea later, I found myself packing leftovers. Nothing caps off the week like a Chinese meal with great company at a great price.

Duk Kee open daily 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., 1146 12th Ave., Kaimukī, (808) 734-1337, @dukkeehawaii

Alexander Pang is a contributor to Frolic Hawai‘i.