StarBulletin.com

The best deals around


By

POSTED: Thursday, January 07, 2010

With the holidays behind us and our wallets in recovery, restaurant chains are cutting prices or taking other steps to keep customers taking steps through their doors.

IHOP, KFC, Kincaid's, Old Spaghetti Factory, Papa John's Hawaii, Pizza Hut Hawaii, Ryan's Grill and Taco Bell Hawaii are examples of chains working different angles to keep clientele coming and the cash registers ringing.

IHOP Hawaii is offering a tiered, all-you-can-eat pancake deal starting at $4.99, as well as seven dinner items for $9.99.

The pancake deal, with larger choices including eggs and two, four or six meats, will be offered through Feb. 21, while the dinner deal will likely end Feb. 14, said Sarah Espino, president of Union MAK Corp. It operates five Hawaii IHOP restaurants, four on Oahu and one in Hilo.

Hawaii locations of national chains often charge higher prices than are advertised nationally, but that is not always the case, as with the “;Buck-49 Grinds”; promoted by Burger King for the past several months. Its $1.49 menu comprises 27 items including, since November, the double cheeseburger that formerly cost $3.39.

KFC Hawaii last month lowered the price of its 3 Strip Meal, including boneless chicken strips and a choice of two sides, to $4.99 from $6.49. In the run-up to the Super Bowl, it has also introduced Fiery Grilled Wings from $4.99 for five pieces to $27.99 for 30, said spokesman Rob Deveraturda. Burger King and KFC Restaurants in Hawaii are owned by Kazi Foods Corp. of Hawaii.

Taco Bell's tack is pushing seven “;Fresco”; items for fat- and calorie-conscious resolution-makers. Its “;Taco Bell Drive-Thru Diet”; will be integrated with other marketing moves including a partnership with the NBA and its registered dietitian, according to Nation's Restaurant News.

“;It's not really a value promotion. ... We're basically advertising a healthy option,”; said Henry Katsuda, president of TD Food Group Inc., which owns Hawaii Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Long John Silver's restaurants.

Pizza Hut Hawaii is offering a medium one-topping pizza that is a beefed-up, heavier-laden pizza than its Pizza Mia predecessor. It is $5 on Oahu and $6 on the neighbor islands due to freight and handling costs.

               

     

 

ON THE 'NET

ihophawaii.com

       

www.kfchawaii.com

       

www.kincaids.com

       

www.osf.com

       

www.papajohnshawaii.com

       

www.pizzahuthawaii.com

       

www.ryansgrill.com/page/home

       

www.tacobellhawaii.com

       

 

       

The competing Papa John's Hawaii has partnered with First Hawaiian Bank and KFC Hawaii in a promotion offering free food for customers who open a new checking account. Papa John's has no neighbor island restaurants, so those residents will get KFC comestibles.

“;Because of the economy, it's a time when companies will partner with each other to help each other and so that's kind of what we did,”; said spokesman Patrick Bullard.

Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House at Ward Warehouse and sister restaurant Ryan's Grill at Ward Centre are also offering new or continued values.

Kincaid's is called “;3, 4, 5, 6, til 7.”; It begins at 3 p.m. daily with $4 well drinks or select draft beers, $5 specialty cocktails or house wine and select appetizers for $6, ending at 7 p.m.

Ryan's, also owned by Seattle-based Restaurants Unlimited Inc., is continuing to offer 50 percent off “;pretty much our entire pupu menu”; as well as drink specials as low as $4, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily, said Paul Dexter, general manager.

The 41st anniversary of the Old Spaghetti Factory will be observed with 41 percent discounts on selected pasta dishes Tuesday and Wednesday at Ward Warehouse, and the 300-plus seats will be filled, if last year's anniversary was any indication, said general manager Kenji Bek.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Bek anticipates it will go through 60 pounds of mizithra cheese and up to 500 pounds of pasta during one dinner service.

During the last anniversary deal, the restaurant served 1,000 dinners in one evening, or 200 dinners an hour, or three or four dinners every minute, Bek said. “;We're excited about it. It's going to be an all-hands-on-deck operation.”;