“Want fries with that?” Is a question you’ll never hear at Ono Fries, in Shirokiya Japan Village Walk at Ala Moana Center. Instead, different kind of fries form the basis for fully loaded, potato-centric meals, each capped with a fried egg.
Owner Theresa Pierce said she always wanted to be involved in food service and for her first outing, chose a dish almost everyone loves, though with some serious upgrades thanks to consulting chef Jeffrey Vigilla.
Dishes can be enjoyed solo or in the company of friends who just want to pick and eat while enjoying happy hour brews in the food court.
Seven selections range from Hawaiian poutine ($13), topped with pulled pork, cheese curds and scratch gravy; to Hot Hawaiian Heat ($18), a combination of natural fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots and waffle fries, topped with Portuguese sausage, Spam, pulled pork, chili, curds, gravy, sambal ketchup and more.
My favorites are The Big Cheezy ($10) and Thai wings ($13). The first features natural and waffle fries and tater tots topped with cheddar cheese, garlic Parmesan, curds and the piece de resistance, a hot, melty cheese sauce of Parmesan, cheddar and pecorino. The Thai wings go atop a bed of sweet potato fries, with a sprinkling of nam prik pla (chili sauce), fish sauce and spicy mayo, finished with chopped scallions and rice paper crisps.
Also available is the South Korean street food of spiral — or Tornado — potatoes on a stick ($9), deep-fried and sprinkled with your choice of 16 spices, sauces and cheeses, such as furikake, wasabi cream, honey mustard or sour cream and onion.
Look for food stall No. 18.