Pork Chops first drew me to Pinky’s. Not the pupu, silly — the mascot.

While driving down North Kalaheo Avenue in Kailua one day, I spotted the pink pig who works for Pinky’s Pupu Bar & Grill out in front of the neighborhood sports bar, on his hind legs, holding a sign announcing the daily happy hour. Pork Chops is usually out waving to people along Kalaheo on Friday afternoons, a part of the kitschy fun of this longtime neighborhood spot next to the Mokapu Canal.

The experience

Servers are friendly and the interior is spacious, with plenty of tables and chairs, a generous bar and separate lounge area that can host special events.

This spot is laid-back, and you don’t have to dress up to come here and hang out with friends. Sports lovers will like it here, as there are 11 large-screen TVs. On the recent Friday evening that we went, a team from Susan G. Komen’s annual Race for the Cure was hosting a fundraiser called “Defend the Boobies,” with a portion of all food proceeds going toward the nonprofit. The place is also family-friendly (kids get crayons and an activity page, and there is a keiki menu).

The plus here is free parking, but it’s not a big lot.

Live music by local artists begins at 6 p.m. Fridays, as pau hana winds down, and the music is nice; the sound system here doesn’t ricochet or echo off the walls.

The food

Greasy, loaded and filling. That pretty much sums up the happy-hour pupu menu at Pinky’s. As a health-conscious person, it was too much for me, but it might be OK for those who want to indulge once in a while.

The Kailua nachos ($13, $1 off during happy hour) come loaded with kalua pork, tomatoes, black olives, jalapenos, sour cream and cheese drizzled over a bed of chips. The serving of kalua pork is generous, and the jalapenos give it a nice zing, but I would have appreciated a better-quality cheese than the liquid stuff that seemed to be poured over the nachos.

The Drunken Mushrooms ($11, $1 off during happy hour) offer another carb-heavy load: a basket of beer-battered and fried mushrooms served with a honey-dijon vinaigrette.

If you want simpler pupu, you can order hand-battered calamari, Southern-fried wings, goobers (boiled peanuts), steamed edamame with a barbecue glaze or french fries, Cajun or garlic style (all $6).

The regular menu offers Southern-style smoked meats and Creole classics like a Deep South Pork Pull or Kalua Pork Sandwich (both $14), both featuring smoked pulled pork shoulder topped with coleslaw and house barbecue sauce. Those are worth checking out while you’re enjoying pau hana if you’re really hungry. But the Kailua nachos alone will fill you up, for sure.

The drink

You have your basic selection of house wines ($5), bottled beers and draft beers ($3-$5) with brands including the local Kona Brewing Co.’s Longboard Lager, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Light. A cocktail of the day is also available. On the evening we went, it was a fruity and deep-pink Lychee Lady ($6) to support the Susan G. Komen fundraiser.

The verdict

Happy hour is a good time to swing by Pinky’s with a group of friends, and if you go on Fridays you can say hello to Pork Chops. You can also bring your family, and that’s a plus for Kailua. If you live in the neighborhood or happen to be hungry after a day at the beach, check it out.