 FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COMA fire this morning damaged Kaimuki Chop Suey on Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki. Christine Tong, an employee of the restaurant, stood in the doorway. The restaurant will be closed for about a month, disappointing loyal customers. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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Fire damages Kaimuki Chop Suey
Smoke damages six other businesses in the same building
Jayson Lee walked up to Kaimuki Chop Suey restaurant yesterday because the phone had been busy. He was surprised to find it closed because an early-morning fire destroyed the kitchen.
"It's our favorite spot," said Lee, a retired Palolo resident. "This is about the best place, reasonable, and they serve a lot of food."
After speaking with employee Christine Tong, he added another compliment: "super-friendly."
The fire started in the restaurant's kitchen about 5:40 a.m. and was under control at 6:19 a.m., said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Earle Kealoha. The cause of the fire and a damage estimate were still under investigation.
Smoke from the fire affected six other businesses in the Waialae Avenue building.
Azteca Mexican Restaurant sustained smoke damage and closed yesterday. The owner hired a company to clean up smoke residue on the walls, tables, utensils and take-out plates.
 FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COMA fire yesterday morning damaged Kaimuki Chop Suey on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. Standing water on the floor was evidence of the blaze from the front of the building. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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"The smoke got into everywhere," said Isaac Sanchez, the son of the owner.
Sanchez expected the restaurant to reopen for dinner today.
But it will take about a month before Kaimuki Chop Suey re-opens, said owner Victor Lau.
The restaurant is known for its low prices and generous portions of Cantonese food such as its $4 plate of oyster-sauce chicken cake noodles.
With the front door gone, Lau sat in the restaurant and spoke with customers who dropped by. While fire damage was contained to the kitchen, brown water formed puddles on the restaurant floor.
Next door, BC Burrito owner Tony Kawal said he was doing paperwork about 5:30 a.m. when he smelled smoke. Police officers arrived and told him to get out because a fire was burning above.
"I saw smoke, black smoke, coming out," he said, from vents on the roof. His business escaped damage and was open yesterday.
Tong, Lau's sister-in-law who helps at the restaurant on the weekends, waited for the insurance adjuster.
"I was really shocked," she said. "You don't expect this kind of thing. Sad, but I'm happy that nobody got hurt. You work the past 13 years, now it comes to this."
She added: "We just have to clean up everything and open again. We'll open soon."
Tong waived at customers who pulled over to ask what happened or were walking along the street.
"I know them by now, ever since we've opened till now," she said. "It's like a gathering place."
