There are some good restaurants that would kick ass in Hawaii. In & Out Burger, El Pollo Loco, Del Taco, Claim Jumper, Sonic Burger...............
Remember that Trader Joe's in Redondo Beach? I think it was Riviera Blvd. or something like that? I'd go there pretty much every weekend and I once asked the manager there that since they all dress up in Hawaiian shirts and play Hawaiian music why don't they open a store in Hawaii. He told me that it was just too damn expensive. I figure it was the same way with those other places you mentioned.
Too bad. Trader Joe's was by far my favorite place to shop. And of course, those others you mentioned. Claim Jumpers on Crenshaw and PCH. That was the place. I use to watch Ray Mentzer down a whole chicken at the El Pollo Loco on Hawthorne and I think Del Amo Bl. I ran into him a few times at the 24 hr on Crenshaw/PCH. He was always a very nice and humble guy. Kind of low key. It sucked that none of the new generation even knew who he was. I remember telling my training partner, "Holy shit! That fuking Ray Mentzer!" He's just like, "Who?"
