Andy Gross - The Garden Island
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NAWILIWILI — There are family businesses, and then, there are the Abrigos.

Ramon and Charito Abrigo saw the opportunity to invest in something very special — their family. Most specifically, their son Reynaldo.

The Abrigos are the new owner-operators of Kauai Chop Suey, a Chinese restaurant in Harbor Mall that has been shuttered for nearly a year since the Lau family gave up the space due to a family member’s illness.

The Abrigos took over the lease March 1.

The Abrigos came to Kaua‘i from the Philippines almost two decades ago, or about as far back as Reynaldo Abrigo discovered his passion for cooking.

The new Kauai Chop Suey has been open almost two weeks.

The restaurant plans to offer free menu samples and live music for several hours.

“I wanted to pass a business onto them,” said Ramon Abrigo, surrounded on a Saturday by various generations of Abrigos. “It’s for my son (and) the family.”

Younger son Niño Abrigo is a waiter. Daughter Maribel Abrigo, who works at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, helps out with logistics, and provides support as needed.

Young waitress Ranelle Jacinto is a cousin.

As Reynaldo put it, “cooking keeps the family together.” Virtually everyone who works at the restaurant is an Abrigo or a relative. But, Reynaldo pointed out, “they’re all on payroll.”

As to whether Reynaldo feels any pressure, he laughed and said, “I guess I’ll be in here seven days and nights a week,” he said.

“My father saw I had potential for cooking, and this is doing something very good for the family,” he said.

The Abrigos’ confidence in their son is not without merit. Reynaldo has worked at Gaylord’s Restaurant and Roy’s Poipu Bar and Grill, among other restaurants, and has learned things about cuisine and management habits during his career.

Reynaldo said he is still putting the finishing touches on the menu, a more detailed version of which will be unveiled today. He said more dishes will be added as more equipment comes in.

Reynaldo said he picked up some recipes from Stanley Lau, and devised some himself.

But what are the recipes for success in the restaurant business which is notoriously tough on startups?

In addition to the restaurant’s excellent location at Harbor Mall and its proximity to cruise-ship passengers, the Abrigos feel they will be successful because of a careful business plan, their devotion to the food they prepare, their collective experience, and careful service.

Reynaldo cooks everything to order in a wok, and uses only fresh ingredients.

Charito, a server and restaurant veteran on Kaua‘i, makes sure everyone is well tended to.

“We have the experience to succeed,” Charito said, adding that business was pretty steady the first week.

Also, the prices are very inviting. Most menu items are under $10. The biggest challenge the Abrigos faced was restoring the site. “We lost two months’ rent just getting it ready,” Charito said. The family cleaned up the space, repainted, laid new carpeting, and made costly plumbing repairs. Family members estimated they spent more than $10,000 getting ready to open.

“We’re learning day by day,” Charito said, adding that there are plans to begin serving breakfast in the near future.

Kauai Chop Suey is open daily for lunch daily from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m., and for dinner from 4:30 p.m. till 9 p.m. The phone number is 241-7447.