Dennis Fujimoto the garden island LIHU‘E — After the doors were open just a week, word of the good food had spread throughout town. “Did you try Randy’s?” asked Ron Wiley, the KQNG Radio Group on-air personality at the Kaua‘i
Dennis Fujimoto
the garden island
LIHU‘E — After the doors were open just a week, word of the good food had spread throughout town.
“Did you try Randy’s?” asked Ron Wiley, the KQNG Radio Group on-air personality at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair. “The food is delicious, and we need places with good food in Lihu‘e.”
Chef Rafael Camarillo, the executive chef at the Courtyard by Marriott at Coconut Beach, had also heard of the new eatery located on Rice Street near the intersection with Kalena Street.
“Randy? He used to work with me,” Camarillo said. “He and Marla are good people.”
Randy and Marla Soliven are the owners of the new box lunch place at which the prices are more in line with lunchwagons and sporting arena food booths.
But beyond the affordable pricing and great food, the mission of the couple is to offer fast, convenient and good food for people looking for breakfast or lunch.
“Randy is the brother of Clyde Nada’s wife, Lota of Aloha Sweet Delites in Kaumakani,” Marla said.
“We carry some of their baked goods and cakes, but Randy makes a breakfast sandwich using their pan de sol.”
She said that is available from 6 a.m. “until we run out.”
Additionally, Randy’s offers cinnamon rolls, scones, croissants, tiramisu, pumpkin rolls, cheesecakes, red velvet cupcakes and brownies, as well as cakes by the slice, including chocolate dobash, chantilly and guava.
Weekly dessert specials are also offered, and a dessert comes with all lunches.
“People ask me why I don’t bake,” Marla said. “But I don’t need to because Lota does a good job, so I worry about the food.”
Doors open at 6 a.m. and the eatery is open until 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
“It’s been pretty busy this whole week,” Marla said. “The hardest part is trying to find helpers.”
In addition to the variety of baked goods, a selection of bento is also available, centering around the “Randy’s Regular Box Lunch” which includes rice with furikake nori, fried chicken, teriyaki meat, mini BBQ pulled pork sandwich, panko shrimp, pineapple coleslaw, macaroni salad, purple potato and a dessert.
In addition to the bentos and centerpiece box lunch, Randy’s also offers a poke bento when fish is available, and a house Caesar salad, with or without herb-marinated chicken.
Joining that offering of lunch-to-go, a daily selection of hot dishes are also available. The daily specials are posted on a large whiteboard.
Other services include a lunch delivery service to the Puhi and Lihu‘e area on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a “bring your own bag and bottle” (up to 32 ounces) for a fill-up of a six-time filtered water by Flow Water for 50 cents. Catering is also available for special occasions.
On a recent day, the excitement didn’t stop just because lunch was over as Sharlene Steuri of the Kaua‘ibots, a FIRST Robotics program, dropped off a display of special Thunder Chicken coffee which benefits the robotics program.
“Randy’s is just one of a few places where people can get these,” said Steuri.
Touted as “coffee worth crowing about,” the 10-ounce bags, a partnership with the Kaua‘ibots and Lappert’s, are available in regular or French roast in either ground or whole bean bags.
Call 212-9147, or email randysboxlunch@gmail.com for more information.
Visit www.kauaibots.com for more information on the robotics program.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
