There have been few sectors hit harder by the COVID-19 pandemic than hospitality and restaurants. Last month, DRC launched its “Treat Yourself and Eat Local” challenge to its employees to support local restaurants that we regularly frequent both near our office and where we live. Through the campaign and efforts of its employees, DRC provided just over $4000 in support to the restaurant industry in Hawaii and Philadelphia.
One of the surprising reminders of this challenge was just how many different cuisines and restaurant options we have. Participants patronized a wide range of tried and true favorites as well as sampling somewhere new. Employees filled their cravings with cuisines from Asia to Europe and everywhere in between at restaurants near them including:
| La Tolteca | Chipotle | MW Restaurant |
| Zippys | Himalayan Kitchen | Viman Thai Cuisine |
| Kitty Knight House | Mediterranean Kitchen | Sugoi |
| Pho Saigon | Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine | MW Restaurant |
| Machete Mean Sandwiches | Odoriko | TEX 808 |
| Mediterraneo | Mini Garden | Golden Eagle |
| El Tapatio | J.B. Dawson’s | Zena’s American Mediterranean Cuisine |
| Carollo’s | Coconut Breeze Jamaican Restaurant | Oahu Mexican Grill |
| Olive Garden | Goma Tei | Asahi Grill |
| Little Village Noodles House | Panda Garden | Pho Saigon |
| Amma’s South Indian Cuisine | Tony’s King of Pizza | Italian Delite |
| Pho Time | Ripple of Smiles | Machetes’s Mean Sandwiches |
| Shaloha | Yanagi Sushi | Farmhaus Burgers |
| Cajun King | Doraku Sushi | Sansom Kabob House |
| Cafe Sitaly | Karma | PJ Whelihans |
| Mexico Restaurant | Mitch’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar | Kau Kau Grill |
| Soon’s Kal Bi Drive In | Maguro-ya | La Pizza Rina |
| Bettys Burger Joint | Vons Chicken | HiBlend Health Bar and Cafe |
| Osaka Teppanyaki Kawano | AROMA King of Prussia | Kosmos Pizza |
| Dino’s Pizza and Pasta | Hana Sushi | Sushi King |
| 9Bar | Machete’s | Alejandro’s |
| Pho 97 One | Loco Moco Drive In | Leonard’s bakery |
| Olay’s Thai Cuisine | Julie’z Restaurant | Bareburger Philadelphia |
| Spassos Italian Grill | Songs Korean BBQ Restaurant | Highway Inn |
| Navesink Fishery | Cafe Maharani | Thai Terrace Cuisine |
| El Burrito | Shanghai | The Other Place |
| Maggiano’s | Shokudo Japanese | Siam Garden Cafe |
| La Cucina | Peppe’s Mexican Grill | Oscar’s Mexican Food |
| Jollibee | Thai Bistro | O’Kims |
As we continue to make our way in this new normal, please remember it couldn’t be less normal for local restaurants. Stay safe and continue to support your local communities and organizations like the Hawaii Agricultural Foundation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and local restaurants in Hawaii and Philadelphia.
