Zippy's Restaurant

Honolulu $ ****
I know, I know. It's a bit pointless to write about Zippy's; every Hawaii resident has eaten here and has formed their own opinions of this statewide chain. However, recently Zippy's has held a special place in my heart, and so I think it deserves to be on my blog.
Zippy's serves "local" food, whatever that is. From saimin to chili to teriyaki chicken, the menu reflects the diversity of our state. The quality of the food itself is nothing special. What I really appreciate about Zippy's is not its food but its convenience. In almost every neighborhood, you will find a Zippy's. At 2 am, when you are still out and about, you can always depend on Zippy's to satisfy your late night cravings. Unlike other late-night places in other cities, e.g., Montage, Hot Cake House, Zippy's is always dependable (not to mention not sketchy!). Clean, friendly, and cheap - what else could you want?

Zippy's Restaurants
Various locations
Open 24 hours

Koji Osakaya

Portland $$ ***
I come here when I'm in downtown, craving convenient Japanese, and not yet willing to settle for the food court variety. That's exactly how to describe Koji Osakaya - convenient Japanese. It's not the best Japanese, but it's decent enough for the price, and it's located on Broadway, my favorite street in downtown because it's actually busy - like a real city! It's a Portland chain, and I think there's even one located in Seattle now. The donburi is a good deal, and so are their lunches.

Koji Osakaya (downtown)
606 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205-3401