Eat Sleep Play: Roy's Hawaiian

Leiwei got very hungry one time, and it just so happened that there were reports of a restaurant week going on in town, so what better place to eat than at a fusion restaurant. Figures, there might be some bamboo included as an ingredient in the human food. So off to Roy's Hawaiian Fusion because they have to have bamboo. It's fusion! Panda logic going on

It's rare when pandas and humans really enjoy edamame beans. You know? Really really really enjoy them? These green beans are typically just plain boring, but at Roy's Hawaiian, these boring pods delighted Leiwei's senses. They tingled on his tongue and the saltiness made him salivate for more. What mystery evoked these senses out of the panda tongue? Supposedly sea salt and peppers. People should try sprinkling them onto edamame beans at home. It's delightfully refreshing.

Then these five angry oysters came to the table and shouted at Leiwei.

"Don't eat us you dumb bear! We're like you! Animal! We live in the ocean of course.."

Leiwei looked at these five oysters in and said, "But you don't eat bamboo. You not panda. You food."

So in haste, Leiwei gulped down one of the screaming oysters. Leiwei felt sick. They were mean oysters. Or maybe it's because Leiwei never liked shell fish to begin with.

The horrible oyster that met its doom. Notice the yellow funky sauce on it. Tastes like chili sauce. Leiwei will never eat another oyster again. They scream too much. So much so, that their screaming created echoes in Leiwei's stomach in which occasionally the panda's stomach would make noises, which in turn echo down to his rear end creating a much louder sound that mimicked the sound from a trombone or trumpet.

A pretty field of greens. It was a refreshing taste after the horrendous disrespectful oysters. At least vegetables don't scream and banter about their demise. This was a really pleasant dish. However... no bamboo!?! WTF? Angry panda.

The beef carpaccio. It looked scary at first, but upon landing its way onto the panda taste buds, it could only be described as divine. Smooth, silky, tender, and flavorful to say the least. It is raw. Like the oysters too. Except, they didn't scream and cry for mercy. Still ... where's the bamboo? High hopes... High hopes...

This was some dish not worth mentioning. Evidently, there was no bamboo on this dish. It was very tasty however, though since it wasn't bamboo Leiwei has completely no recollection what this abomination of a dish was. Where's the bamboo!? It's a fusion restaurant! Bar!

This was an excellent shrimp risotto dish. Leiwei believed it was tiger shrimp, but it danced so beautifully on the panda tongue. The dish was truly divine. It was as if these heavenly shrimp came back from the afterlife, sang tunes of joy, and danced gracefully for the panda to welcome them into his tummy. That's how magnificent this dish was. On a side thought, the risotto did taste like something from Marie Calendar's. It must've been the herbs. The shrimp however ... much better than bamboo.


Since no bamboo was really around the whole evening ... Leiwei succumbed to dessert. It was the only other alternative.

A chocolate souffle and vanilla bean ice cream with what is believed to be strawberry jam of some sorts. The vanilla bean was really good with the souffle. A great match.

Surprisingly, the pumpkin "pie" was really really really really good. The almond whip cream on top and the brittle made it a very fun dish to eat. Panda took his time eating this one.



Ultimately, Leiwei found no bamboo at this place. It was disappointing. However, the food, atmosphere, and presentation made up completely for the lack of bamboo. Although the meal was short, it was most due to the fact that the dishes were in small quantities. Roy's would be a place more suitable for dates or a business casual dining experience, otherwise it's definitely not something for a bamboo-craving panda or a hungry hungry human. The food was also pricey too, being close to $90-200 after tips for a dinner for two, the latter price being with wine by the glass. However, be as it may, it delighted the panda tongue and panda tummy. Leiwei gives Roy's a 4.5 out of 5 happy panda tummies.



Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
641 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101-2005
(626) 356-4066