One of the best parts of beach vacations, besides getting a nice tan and getting away from daily stresses of life, is exploring the local restaurants.
On a recent trip to the Outer Banks, my boyfriend and I stopped by Mama Kwan’s Grill and Tiki Bar for lunch which is located at Kill Devil Hills between mile post 9.5 and 10.
Walking in, the staff was friendly and the atmosphere was quite inviting. I was expecting more Hawaiian food on the menu, but the selection was still good.
Of all things to order, the appetizer of choice was onion rings. Surprisingly enough, these onion rings had to be the best I’ve had. The thick batter was delectable. And even though I will probably never figure out the recipe, here’s a good onion ring recipe from AllRecipes.com.
For my meal, I chose their signature dish, Mama’s Hawaiian Pork Plate. I expected a more traditional Hawaiian Kalua pork which has a smoky/salty taste, but to my surprise it had a sweet marinade. The meal was served with Asian cucumber salad and jasmine rice. Even if I didn’t get my Kalua pork, the meal was still delicious especially since the pork had been marinating for two days.
Winning 10 awards, including Best Kept Secret Restaurant in 2001 by Coast Magazine, Mama Kwan’s is now on my list of places to eat at while at the Outer Banks.
-Chrisan Tolentino
