Known for its vintage charm and handcrafted cocktails, Vintage Books Hawaiʻi opened its unique speakeasy in the former 3660 on the Rise restaurant space in December.
Since then, the biz has updated its dinner menu and, most recently, launched a new weekend brunch. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ask to see the “private collection” and you’ll be led into the speakeasy. Start with featured brunch beverages like sparkling mimosas ($12), White Sands Spritz ($16) and the Meet Cute ($16). The latter — a combination of Ketel One cucumber and mint, elderflower, mango lemon, absinthe and orange bitters — is an especially photogenic option.
Be sure to check out the rotating selection of house scones ($8) and other featured sweets. During our visit, we tried housemade mango scones with yuzu butter and a strawberry house bread ($8). The scones were nice and flaky with a distinctive mango flavor, and the yuzu butter gave it a refreshing zing.
One of my favorite dishes from the brunch menu is this curry egg salad sandwich ($18). It’s a unique twist on the Japanese staple, featuring creamy egg salad with a Japanese-style curry remoulade and tangy red pickles served on shokupan bread with a side of Island Farmer salad. The egg salad itself wasn’t too mayo-heavy with just the right amount of curry flavor. When paired with the fluffy shokupan from BRUG Bakery, it was a heavenly combo.
If you love curry, go for the bacon curry donburi ($18), which features Japanese curry with house-cured bacon, asparagus, hash browns, two sunny side eggs and fukujinzuke (Japanese pickled relish) over steamed rice.
The thicker curry has a nice flavor — you can taste the spices, but it isn’t spicy — and the curry and rice alone are a comforting combo. The house-cured bacon boasts an umami flavor and takes the dish to the next level. It’s savory, hearty and food coma-inducing if you finish the entire thing.
Other brunchy dishes include the Full Vintage Breakfast ($20) — a classic combo of two eggs over easy, house-cured bacon steak, Portuguese sausage and grilled tomato — ‘ahi Benedict ($24) and shrimp and grits ($24).
The left side of the brunch menu features shareable dishes that are some of the most popular options from the speakeasy’s dinner menu. You’ll find the cowboy beef salad with fresh arugula and crispy brisket ($17), a vibrant tomato salad with caramelized garlic ($17) and cold mushroom tofu ($18). I highly recommend the house karaage ($21), which was love at first bite from my first visit to the speakeasy.
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these generous chunks of marinated chicken are bursting with flavor. They’re served with house Japanese mayonnaise and ketchup spiked with kimchi for dipping. Honestly, though, the chicken is so flavorful that you don’t even need the sauces — we recommend first tasting them without, just to enjoy that delectable crunch.
CONTACT
Vintage Books Hawaiʻi
3660 Waiʻalae Ave. Ste. 101, Honolulu
808-739-9050
vintagebookshawaii.com
Instagram: @vintagebookshawaii
Brunch from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
