Lunch Ladies: Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill
The Lunch Ladies enjoyed jamming out to Jack Johnson while eating their tasty meals at Sweet's Hawaiian Grill.
Gabby was excited to try the chopsuey, along with sticky rice and pineapple. CREDIT: Gabrielle Harris
Lyndsi went for the teriyaki chicken, sticky rice and macaroni salad. CREDIT: Lyndsi Seltz
Sylvia couldn't get enough of the Kalbi ribs, green salad and pineapple. CREDIT: Sylvia Abbott
Jennette enjoyed the Fijian Curry with her Diet Coke and sides. CREDIT: Jennette Esplin
Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. Family, fun, food, football. It’s a definite win in my book. A time when the nation pauses, reflects and says thank you. Something that should happen far more often, but at least our efforts are renewed this time of year.
Our dedication to appreciate, our resolve to be more observant, and our commitment to gracefully give thanks are all heightened. Some say Thanksgiving is masked in gluttony, but I see it for more.
And that’s why the idealist in me, who I often shush the other 11 months of the year, is given center stage, to do a victory dance and shout hurrah with my fellow idealists who believe the holiday reminds us to appreciate one another more.
As your Lunch Ladies, we have been writing this column for over a year now. We have enjoyed the feedback, the kind letters, and the support. We have loved the various restaurant suggestions from readers, the friendly followers on Instagram, and the foodies who dive into our fun surveys online.
You have given us a fun sense of community and we want to say thanks! We also want to give a shoutout to the many great local restaurants in Utah County. You feed us, you serve us, and you do it with a smile.
Aren’t eateries really such a great setup? You want to celebrate, you’re having a bad day and don’t want to cook, you are feeling nostalgic for a region you’ve been, you want to gather with friends, or so many other reasons that lead you to an establishment. And when done right, these great places welcome you in, and you forget about life for a while.
So of course, we can’t help but to thank the wonderful restaurant staff, chefs, and servers that have impressed us at many of the restaurants we have reviewed, and that have given us memorable and flavorful experiences.
This last week we added yet another locale to our list of recommended restaurants, where we found friendly service, tasty grub at a pleasing price, and a relaxing inviting atmosphere. We went to Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill, knowing that in the coming week we would soon be filling up on turkey and mashed potatoes, we wanted to mix it up with some contrasting variety prior to that.
Here is what we ordered and how it went:
Jennette: Combo Plate (One Entrée+Two Sides) — Fijian Curry, Pineapple, Sticky Rice $6.99
I am very particular about my rice. I like rice to be sticky and moist, none of that dry, brittle rice that is sometimes served as a filler. Today the rice was cooked to perfection. It was moist and sticky and was deliciously paired with the curry that I chose. I had never had Fijian Curry before, but it was delicious. The curry included big chunks of chicken, potatoes, and onions. Quite scrumptious! My other side was the pineapple which was like candy. I think I will go back and just ask for the pineapple as my meal! Yes, Diet Coke is served; so that made my lunch pretty much perfect.
Lyndsi: Combo Plate (One Entrée+Two Sides) — Teriyaki BBQ Chicken, Sticky Rice, Macaroni Salad $6.99
I am an opinionated person, and I know what I like and don’t like. One thing that I don’t like is pineapple, which is the reason I was hesitant when we were planning on going to Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill for lunch. I know pineapple is a main ingredient in Hawaiian food and was worried I would not have many options. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived and I could get an entire meal with no pineapple. I ordered the one meat combo with the Teriyaki BBQ Chicken and had sticky rice and macaroni salad with it. The sweet teriyaki sauce that was on the chicken was also poured over the rice, and it was delicious! The macaroni salad was flavored nicely and was not too tangy; it was the perfect side. This is a great stop for lunch if you are dreading the winter and want a little island feel.
Gabby: Combo Plate (One Entrée+Two Sides) — Chopsuey, Sticky Rice, Pineapple $6.99
I was really excited to try the chopsuey after the server told me it was made with rice noodles. One bite and I was sold! This dish is a mix of very saucy rice noodles, lima beans, corn, carrots, onions, peas, green beans, large chunks of chicken, and great seasonings, especially pepper. It’s all thrown together, and it just works! The rice noodles were cooked to perfection in the most slurpable of ways. And the side of pineapple! Super fresh and super delicious — I think I could have eaten it by the bucket-full. And I also appreciated the price, considering a lunch under $8-$10 is more and more rare these days.
Sylvia: Combo Plate (One Entrée+Two Sides) — Kalbi Ribs, Green Salad, Pineapple $6.99
I had been to Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill for one of their luaus with my bestie Stella, so I knew the food would be ever-so-tasteful. I had forgotten though that the restaurant sells fresh leis, and the variety it offers will adorn for any occasion. For lunch I had the barbecue ribs, green salad, and pineapple. The ribs were smothered in this thick teriyaki gravy and the pineapple was sprinkled with Li hing mui which really brightened the flavor of the fruit. Though we were served plenty, I was wishing this was an all-you-can-eat buffet; I could have eaten a big pile of those ribs.
With a little island ambiance, the wonderful music of Jack Johnson soothing our cares away, and great food pushing away any remains of hunger, this lunch was just one more reminder that Utah County has given the Lunch Ladies a great number of things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
– Sweet’s Hawaiian Grill. 711 W. Columbia Lane, Provo. Open Monday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Sundays.