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What Should Be The Next Grinds Challenge?
 
WOW Grinds Challenge - Fried Rice Final Results & Rankings Print E-mail

The Fried Rice Fiesta took place on June 5, 2008. Nelli778 issued a WOW Grinds Challenge and put her homemade fried rice up against 4 fried rices from some of the so-called best places. It was our closest scoring WOW Grinds blind taste test yet and was truly a battle between the best of the best.


Click on a Judge to see their profile. Hover over each Judge's score to see their comment explaining that score and a score breakdown. A complete list of judge's comments is located below the results table.


Rank Name Judge 1
Judge 2
Judge 3
Judge 4
Judge 5
Judge 6
Judge 7
Average Score Out of 10 Normalized Score
#1 Kapiolani Coffee Shop (Kalihi)
9.5Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 9. Striking Taste! After checking 2x, this taste stood strong. Next best taste category. 8.3 Taste 8...Texture 9...Presentation 8. Grilled or little smoky, nice, more green onion. What is the meat? 5.7Taste 6...Texture 7...Presentation 3. Enjoyed the spice. 6.4Taste 6...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Lots of shoyu, not my preference. Texture is fine, not enough big chunks to chew on. OK presentation. 7.8Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 7. Flavorful. Looked a little dark and not too exciting. 9.7Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Color and texture was good. 9.8Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Yummy after taste. 8.17 100%
#2
tie
Nelli778 Homemade (Hilo)
8.5Taste 9...Texture 8...Presentation 8. No comment. 6.7Taste 7...Texture 6...Presentation 7. Good meat flavor, but what is it? 8.3Taste 9...Texture 8...Presentation 7. I liked the noticeable chunks of meat and the crunch of the onion. I really think this was my favorite. 7.5Taste 7...Texture 10...Presentation 5. Love the big onion chunks. Sausage is a nice touch. Texture is fine. 8.8Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 8. Moist and tasty. 8.8Taste 8...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Love the egg, big chunks of meat. 8.0Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Sausage and onion were a plus. 8.09 99%
#2
tie
Side Street Inn (Ala Moana)
8.1Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 10. No comment. 7.7Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 8. Taste fresh! Little too much veg for me. 7.5Taste 7...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Liked the char siu. 6.4Taste 6...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Was just ok. Char siu was too fatty, greasier than others. 8.1Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 10. A little dry. 9.5Taste 9...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Good color, taste, texture. 9.2Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Enjoyed the taste. 8.07 98.8%
#4 Kakaako Kitchen (Kakaako)
9.2Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Not because it was first in line but stood out the best appealing presentation. 6.9Taste 7...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Liked the fish cake, initially had a slight sour taste. 7.4Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 5. Exceptional smell and taste. One of my favorites. 10Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Nice light flavor. Really taste the char siu. Some fatty meat, not my favorite. Best looking. 9.8Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Great colors, very moist and so tasty. Overall da best! 5.6Taste 5...Texture 7...Presentation 5. Good texture in rice. Spam hit the spot. 7.0Taste 7...Texture 7...Presentation 7. Enjoyed the bit of fat that was put in! 7.99 97.7%
#5 Sam Choy's BLC (Nimitz)
9.1Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 7. Long lasting aftertaste. 7.0Taste 7...Texture 7...Presentation 7. Could taste the pepper, I like! 5.6Taste 7...Texture 5...Presentation 3. Nice subtle taste. Pleasant. 10Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Very interesting with the furikake and packaged peas and carrots. Great mix of chunks and rice. Loved all the colors. 8.0Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Not too impressive. 7.6Taste 9...Texture 7...Presentation 5. Love the spice. 7.6Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 6. No comment. 7.84 96%

Judge's Comments


#1 Kapiolani Coffee Shop

Judge 1 - Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 9. Striking Taste! After checking 2x, this taste stood strong. Next best taste category.

Judge 2 - Taste 8...Texture 9...Presentation 8. Grilled or little smoky, nice, more green onion. What is the meat?

Judge 3 - Taste 6...Texture 7...Presentation 3. Enjoyed the spice.

Judge 4 - Taste 6...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Lots of shoyu, not my preference. Texture is fine, not enough big chunks to chew on. OK presentation.

Judge 5 - Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 7. Flavorful. Looked a little dark and not too exciting.

Judge 6 - Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Color and texture was good.

Judge 7 - Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Yummy after taste.


#2 Nelli778 Homemade

Judge 1 - Taste 9...Texture 8...Presentation 8. No comment.

Judge 2 - Taste 7...Texture 6...Presentation 7. Good meat flavor, but what is it?

Judge 3 - Taste 9...Texture 8...Presentation 7. I liked the noticeable chunks of meat and the crunch of the onion. I really think this was my favorite.

Judge 4 - Taste 7...Texture 10...Presentation 5. Love the big onion chunks. Sausage is a nice touch. Texture is fine.

Judge 5 - Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 8. Moist and tasty.

Judge 6 - Taste 8...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Love the egg, big chunks of meat.

Judge 7 - Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Sausage and onion were a plus.


#3 Side Street Inn

Judge 1 - Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 10. No comment.

Judge 2 - Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 8. Taste fresh! Little too much veg for me.

Judge 3 - Taste 7...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Liked the char siu.

Judge 4 - Taste 6...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Was just ok. Char siu was too fatty, greasier than others.

Judge 5 - Taste 8...Texture 7...Presentation 10. A little dry.

Judge 6 - Taste 9...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Good color, taste, texture.

Judge 7 - Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Enjoyed the taste.


#4 Kakaako Kitchen

Judge 1 - Taste 9...Texture 9...Presentation 10. Not because it was first in line but stood out the best appealing presentation.

Judge 2 - Taste 7...Texture 6...Presentation 8. Liked the fish cake, initially had a slight sour taste.

Judge 3 - Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 5. Exceptional smell and taste. One of my favorites.

Judge 4 - Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Nice light flavor. Really taste the char siu. Some fatty meat, not my favorite. Best looking.

Judge 5 - Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 9. Great colors, very moist and so tasty. Overall da best!

Judge 6 - Taste 5...Texture 7...Presentation 5. Good texture in rice. Spam hit the spot.

Judge 7 - Taste 7...Texture 7...Presentation 7. Enjoyed the bit of fat that was put in!


#5 Sam Choy's BLC

Judge 1 - Taste 10...Texture 9...Presentation 7. Long lasting aftertaste.

Judge 2 - Taste 7...Texture 7...Presentation 7. Could taste the pepper, I like!

Judge 3 - Taste 7...Texture 5...Presentation 3. Nice subtle taste. Pleasant.

Judge 4 - Taste 10...Texture 10...Presentation 10. Very interesting with the furikake and packaged peas and carrots. Great mix of chunks and rice. Loved all the colors.

Judge 5 - Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 8. Not too impressive.

Judge 6 - Taste 9...Texture 7...Presentation 5. Love the spice.

Judge 7 - Taste 8...Texture 8...Presentation 6. No comment.

Comments
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Other future contenders
chibi (64.65.113.xxx) 2009-04-17 05:36:32

This was a yummy challenge and I agree with the results. I would recommend you also try Mililani Restaurant, Liberty Grill, Ezogizu and CGee's. Maybe they could be included in the next Fried Rice battle. :)
ilikegrind 2009-04-17 07:39:36

Thanks for the suggestions Chibi. Hopefully we can do fried rice challenge round 2 soon. I never heard of Liberty Grill.
shinchan (71.197.172.xxx) 2010-07-03 21:49:17

Rainbow's Drive Inn- they make a pretty good one too with an egg on top...if you can get it before they run out in the mornings...
sweetly (66.91.35.xxx) 2010-12-19 10:03:11

Shiro's Waimalu has winnah fried rice!
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