Our Top 5: Brian Yang’s favorite local eats
Over the past few years, while starring as Charlie Fong on “Hawaii Five-0,” Brian Yang has come to embrace life in the islands, especially on the food front.
“I grew up in California, so we’re exposed to dishes from Hawaii,” says the actor/producer, who has appeared on the hit CBS series since 2011. “I love food in Hawaii, because to me, it’s the ultimate fusion food blending flavors of the West, East and Pacific Islands. You take fish or meat and put it over rice, which sound so Asian, but you have flavors that are distinctly island. Spam over rice? I take for granted that it’s just a staple as so many people around the world still don’t know what that is. I’m like, duh! It’s the greatest culinary comfort food there is!”
As far as his career, Yang is in the midst of producing a feature film, called “Snakehead,” to be shot in New York next year, and a series about undocumented immigration called, “Annie Undocumented.” And after working on the Jeremy Lin documentary, “Linsanity,” he has some new sports-themed projects in the works, including a piece for ESPN about an American female basketball player who plays overseas in China and a documentary about Chloe Kim, an American snowboarder who likely will be competing in the 2018 Olympics. Plus, he’s directing a documentary about baseball in Taiwan.
Anyway, back to food… In the gallery below, Yang describes some of his favorite local eats and what he loves about them.
No. 5: Ahi & Vegetable
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Fresh, simple and healthy. Sometimes you just need the basics and Ahi & Vegetable’s spicy ahi, ahi poke bento box ($11) is off the charts. I can’t believe I only found this place recently in all the years I’ve been coming here. Goes to show you that you can keep finding new stuff on this island!
Ahi & Vegetable
1126 Fort St. Mall, 808-599-3500
1210 Dillingham Blvd., 808-845-3500
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