I’m a pescatarian, and I think burgers are magical. There! I said it. I know it seems contradictory, but what other meal allows you to truly customize every component, so everyone can be happy? Protein, veggies, bread type, sauces, toppings…oh the toppings! Burgers are both satistying and beautiful. Read on to find out about a recent visit to The Counter at Kahala Mall.
So what does a pescatarian like me, eat at a restaurant like The Counter, a place known for their custom burgers? I recently had lunch with my sister at The Counter and was pleasantly surprised to find that there were a lot of options for me.
They’re serving the Impossible Burger, a patty made from vegetables. They’ve also got grilled mahi mahi on the menu and several salads. I opted for the Impossible Burger, as I had never tried one before. You can customize a burger, but I decided to order the Impossible Burger off the menu as suggested. It was topped with herbed goat cheese, mixed greens, tomatoes, grilled red onions, avocado, and garlic aioli on a brioche bun. It was delicious and filling. Again, if you’re not a fan of the goat cheese, veggies, or toppings, it’s all customizable.
My sister decided to build her own burger. She opted for the all natural beef, jalapeno jack cheese, garlic aioli, roasted peppers, lettuce, tomato, and dill pickles on a brioche bun. She also got the shoestring fries. I snuck a couple of fries and have to say that the crispy potatoes were delicious. I ordered the sweet potato fries with mine and they were also really good.
Side note: I found out during our visit that they offer 21 sauces and 18 of them are made in-house daily. Imagine the dipping possibilities for your fries and burgers!
I can’t forget the drinks! My sister had the PomBerry Lemonade which had sparkling lemonade, pomegranate and blueberry. I had the Peach Mint Fresca which had fresh mint, peach, lime, agave, and soda. We both thought they were refreshing and tasty.
Of course, they serve beer, wine, and cocktails, too. They’ve got Happy Hour from 3:00-6:30 pm Monday-Friday.
My sister and I were able to split the Chocolate Mint shake for a sweet ending. It was basically like drinking mint chocolate chip ice cream blended with a brownie. So good! Their menu of shakes also included flavors like Banana Split, Birthday Cake, and Smoked S’mores. 
We were able to meet Jon Muranaka, the new owner of The Counter. I had to ask him what his favorite orders were from his restaurant. He said he enjoys getting the Grilled Cheese Trifecta, which is cheddar, provolone, and American cheese on grilled sour dough and he adds a beef patty to the sandwich with ranch on the side. It sounded like the best way to marry a grilled cheese and burger into one!! It’s not on the menu, but you can place a custom order.
He also mentioned the Nashville Hot as being another favorite. It’s southern fried chicken, buttermilk brined, lettuce blend, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, mayo, and nashville hot sauce on a brioche bun. Phew! The options are truly endless!
Open for dine-in or take-out, The Counter is a great place to satisfy your burger cravings. I’m looking forward to going back and trying the Sprouted Veggie Burger or Grilled Mahi Mahi Salad.
How do you like to build your burger? Let me know in the comments!
- The Counter at Kahala Mall
- (808) 739-5100
- IG: @thecounterhonolulu
- https://order.thecounter.com/menu/counter-kahala
- Hours are posted on their website
- Casual, clean, and great customer service
-
4211 Waialae Ave, E-1, Honolulu, HI 96816
