The Hofbrau Waikiki

Hofbrau German Restaurant was in Waikiki, Oahu, at the very fun and themed International Marketplace. Farrell’s was right about and the Hofbrau was on the bottom near the Pearl Factory, not far from the front door and the music from inside and laughter could be heard as people walked by. The place had a lighting that would be dark, the wood was a dark wood, some beers would be dark and some light. It would be what you would expect from a German restaurant in Waikiki and it would remind you of a German pub and the AC was cold and blowing. There was an abundance of cold beer and the names were in German with some German touches to the food. As a place that would try to make it feel like a person was transported to a place in Germany it was no surprise that teachers who would be teaching German class would take their students there to experience the vibe.

Uniforms

The waitstaff wore something that resembled something similar to German attire, but was a bit altered to look a little less authentic, but it could be for a variety of reasons most likely connected to service. 

“We shared a back stairwell with Hofbrau. We used to slip down there for a break when things were slow. We looked pretty weird there in our Farrell’s uniforms but we were regulars and we rarely stayed very long. We never got caught.” -Steve Lang

Stiff Competition of Entertainers and Food

Nearby was the Cocksroost (Spencecliff) another place where corned beef and pastrami was served, but it was Kosher-style, so many who were looking for something a bit more meaty or were too lazy to go upstairs would grab a bite at Hofbrau. But one thing that the Hofbrau would have was a man who would be rocking from a young age to make the place have a feeling of fun. That man went by the name of “Fat Eddie” (????-1993) who would be playing, swaying back and forth while singing, and was quite a funny guy. This entertaining man would sometimes yodel, and when he yodeled, he would do it better than many traveling Germans who came to Hawaii. Like many other people who were playing music at food venues they were a package deal entertainer. They had the gift of the gab and knew exactly how to attract a crowd and keep them. 

Popularity of the Carved Sandwich

The Carved Sandwich had reached its heyday on the route of sliced cured meats, sliced slow-roasts, and dips were found at any notable sandwich place on Oahu. The hint of tanginess from the natural acids make sourdough a sort of way to identify a Hofbrau or a German restaurant Sandwich where a person dips their sandwich. Looking at the R&R Special Sandwich it looks familiar as Waikiki would have places serving prime rib with au jus and when it took the form of a sandwich it was glorified by “Prime Rib Waikiki”. There was a move to a more affordable sandwich that used the prime rib and that would show as places like Hofbrau would make people rethink it as something they could get for lunch and not make an event of it. It is at this establishment that it was nicknamed the “Hawaiian Dip Sandwich”, but that was an innocent interpretation as a visitor as people who worked in the area just called it “The Special R&R from Hofbrau”. The Hofbrau way was a Prime Rib with a Sourdough bun that in Germany is used to dip with Au Jus for a “Prime Rib Dip Sandwich” and it was served with ice cold tossed green salad.

“Slices of Prime Beef Piled High on our own Delicious Hofbrau Bun. Served with a tub of hotau jus and you “Dip It”. Comes with Ice Cold Tossed Green Salad.” -Hofbrau, Special

Sandwiches served at lunch were: Deutsche Burger ala Lu Chow (German Hamburger), Sauerbraten (marinated slow-roast beef roast), Milwaukee Knackwurst or Bratwurst (Hot Dogs or Brats), Fleischers Corned Beef (Corned Beef), Baked Ham and Swiss Cheese (Ham and Cheese), Usingers Braunsweiger onion (Liver Sausage and onions), The Reuben (Pastrami, Sauerkraut, Cheese), U.S. Choice Top Sirloin (Steak).

Staff: Gordan Yoshida (Manager)