machi
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Posts posted by machi
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#5: Tokkuri-Tei. This place is the best izakaya EVER. It's straight-up authentic. You cannot go wrong, and every time I manage to make it back home I head straight there. I miss it on the mainland, and even the izakaya in Manhattan don't do this place justice...
Like I said, 6:44 am and grumpy. I have been "supposed to" write this article for a magazine for about six months, so I quit and will just post my list here.These are 10 of my prefered restaurants in Honolulu, as requested by a mainland editor who said those death-knell words (the contract is in the mail) in June. They are not in any order:
1. Ono Hawaiian Food: Cheap, informal dining surrounded by pictures of local celebrities. Specializes in Hawaiian favorites.
2. Legends Vegetarian Restaurant: Informal vegetarian Chinese dining in Chinatown. Specializes in non-meat versions on popular Chinese cuisine. There are spareribs on the menu—and they really do look and almost taste like spareribs. Actual meat dishes and dim sum are available from the sister restaurant next door.
3. Mariposa: Resort-like upscale dining, centrally located in Ala Moana, with decent food. The trick here is that you can see Waikiki’s Friday Fireworks and the ocean at sunset from the lanai (porch) seating. And, the tropically themed drinks are pretty cheap.
4. Olive Tree: Informal Greek and Mediterranean dining, BYOB, that somehow pulls off romantic seating in a parking lot. Everyone who has ever gone on a date in Honolulu has been to Olive Tree.
5. The Japanese place next to Dave's Ice Cream, the name of which I will not try to spell here: Informal, but mid-range in price. Great group dining with tasty tapas style Japanese food with a wide by-the-glass sake list.
6. Alan Wong: The local seat of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine (HRC). While not as over the top as competitors such as recent James Beard Award winner Chef Mavro, Alan Wong’s food always tastes good. It is a dependable stand-by, and a local favorite because the diner always knows what he or she is going to end up with.
7. C & C Pasta: Mid-range to upscale in price, depending on what you order. Good pasta and meat dishes, but C & C really shines with their Italian cheese and meat selection available as an appetizer or to go from the small deli counter in back. Though Marabella was rather nice this weekend, so C&C might be falling off of my list.
8. India House: It is slightly expensive, but can be quite good. Avoid the meat--or, just see my review in the Honolulu Weekly from January of 2003.
9. W & M BBQ Burger: Cheap, burger joint that only has two things on the menu—both of which are BBQ Burgers. There is no seating, but this place has one of the best burgers in town. Either W & M or Teddy's. I flip-flop daily.
10. Le Guignol: Upscale French with an HRC flair. BYOB, with outdoor seating overlooking a park and the home of the Honolulu Symphony. The hostess/owner is occasionally barefoot.
-Emily
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I like Young's Fish Market, too. We go there for our sashimi for New Year's parties.
SuzySushi-Thank you so much for the suggestions, will definetely check out both places and will report back.
Les.
Hi Les,The only food market in Waikiki is an overpriced supermarket called Food Pantry. Their fish is okay, but you'd do much better getting out of the area.
A couple of ideas:
1) If you have a car or can take the bus (#2 or #13), go to Daiei, a Japanese supermarket 2 bus stops (4 blocks) outside Waikiki. Ask the bus driver to call out the stop; cross the big avenue and walk 1 long block. One of the best selections of fish in the city, as well as good produce and all other sorts of unusual products. You'll also pass by Palama Market, a new Korean store I haven't been into yet.
2) For a real adventure, drive or take the bus (again #2 or #13) to Tamashiro's Fish Market way downtown on North King Street. It's the premier fish market in Honolulu. They carry all different grades of ahi, as well as an amazing selection of poke (pronounced poh-key) -- chopped fish salad, and local fish you'll not find elsewhere.
Edited 'cause I can't spell and forget to proofread.
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WELCOME FRAN
I see you just did your first post!Mariposa is definitely the place for LUNCH. Dinner is lackluster and dissappointing at best.
None of the classic touches were in place when we ate there, no popovers with the flavored
butter, no consomme, and it is DARK and cavernous, the lighting is depressing. During the day
the view is fabulous and the food with the classic touches make for a wonderful experience.
I would second L'Uraku as an excellent choice. They have this delicious cucumber cocktail that
even though it is cold here with winter and all it is so refreshing and cheerful!
Hope you have a great time during your trip! A hui hou!
I enjoyed Kenji's (I think that's it?) At any rate, its the restaurant that took over Sansei, in Restaurant Row. I also like 3660 On the Rise for an old standby. It's further than Restaurant Row, but given that it's Oahu, you can just hop on the H-1 on ramp up the street.
L'Uraku is definitely good, too. Agreed re: Mariposa for dinner--they have an excellent lunch, but I think dinner is sub par.
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I'm currently planning a two-week trip that will have me in Oahu on one Sunday, and on the Big Island (Kailua-Kona area) the next. Any suggestions for great brunches? Neighborhood places and fancy resort buffets are both welcome.
Many thanks!
OAHU:
When I'm at home I like Orchids, which is the brunch that the Halekulani hotel serves on Sundays. Ask to be seated on the lanai, so you can see the water while you eat. Also nice is the Kahala Mandarin, b/c they also have a brunch on the lanai. If you want a "tea and sandwiches" brunch, I recommend their tea...everything is good, down to the scones and clotted cream.
As for "local" food, I like Fukuya's, which serves Japanese "small plate" type food. It's definitely not a bacon and eggs type thing.
Others also enjoy Sam Choy's Breakfast Lunch and Crab, if only b/c he serves portions that can feed three. I like their fried rice. In the same vein is Kaka'ako Kitchen, in Ward Centre. You could also see if Alan Wong's Pineapple Room, Alan Wong's, and Neiman Marcus's Mariposa serves brunch.
BIG ISLAND:
I confess to never going to the other islands, but I do remember eating at the Manago Inn when I was there in 1991 for the eclipse. That was good.
Any great brunches?
in Hawaii: Dining
Posted
I'd say that this is right...the managemetn change has been a bit of a let down. I liked Hoku's, and I enjoyed my Malaysian food I had at the brunch place below...I don't know if that was Plumeria Cafe or whatever its called.
As to Halekulani, there is nothing better. I stayed with my boyfriend at the Prince when we came home, and their brunch is simply second rate. It's fine, but nothing like what you can expect at the Halekulani. We used to go there for Mother/Father Days and Easter, and my family would pretty much not eat the night before b/c we were saving up for the ono goodness that is the Orchids brunch.