In the heart of Kukui Grove Shopping Center, you will find a treasured restaurant that has been serving Kaua‘i since 2003. This well-known local spot is better known as Sone’s Deli & Catering, and it’s right next to the music
In the heart of Kukui Grove Shopping Center, you will find a treasured restaurant that has been serving Kaua‘i since 2003. This well-known local spot is better known as Sone’s Deli & Catering, and it’s right next to the music stage. As you walk in you will feel the Zen all around you and feel so peaceful during the lunch rush as you wait in line and read all the positive words on the walls. Owners Derrick & Cynthia Sone always greet you with a warm, friendly smile and fast, quality service.
At Sone’s, you never know what daily specials they have until you walk in or call ahead. “On Fridays only, we have our stuffed ono with crabmeat and we also have our stuffed chicken with mushroom gravy, which is a crowd favorite here,” said Cynthia. The ono (fish) just sounds ono (delicious), and of course you might find me there on Friday too, because they serve one of my favorite specials: pork & pumpkin. That pumpkin is hard to get here, but they get it from their local farmer’s markets, so I can depend on it being homegrown and fresh. I like how soft and sweet the pumpkin is and how well it is complemented by the salt in the pork.
If you only want to try a dish, just order the one choice plate, but remember you have up to three choices of dishes, and they have their bentos made fresh daily. Their Chicken Hekka is so delicious, I try to make it a point to get there first thing in the morning which is about 9:30 a.m. to get it right off of the stove. But I keep forgetting that even if I get tied up with school, work, or my kids, especially on Fridays, they make a new batch of everything to make sure they accommodate everyone’s schedule.
This restaurant is based on love, hard work and commitment. The hardworking couple makes it a point to praise God for what they have; you can sense it all around you with little messages posted here and there to boost your day and get you going on the right path. It gets tough day-to-day, but during lunch time at Sone’s, you can always find your mind and stomach in agreement. This family-based restaurant is committed to making Kaua‘i’s local favorite dishes, and you can sure feel the love in each dish.
There are so many different specials, you will have to try one every day. I say on Monday you start with the chicken katsu. Then when you come back on Tuesday, try the laulau plate lunch.
On your short Wednesday, go for a bento on the go, or the spam musubi with chicken that is packaged tight and on the side by the soda fountain machine. On Thursday, try the shrimp tempura at just 25 cents each. I can see all the high school students coming here after school or before their sport’s practice. But on Friday, make sure you try the stuffed fish or stuffed chicken, because if you miss out, you will have to wait another whole week.
Sone’s Deli & Catering is open every Monday through Thursday from 9:30a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Fridays they open from 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. The holiday season schedule is coming up, so call Derrick or Cynthia at 241-SONE (7663) to find out about the hours and daily specials. At Sone’s you can expect quality dishes and a friendly environment to capture a moment of peace.
