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Here are some of the places (fine dining to local chains to hole-in-the-wall to a lunch wagon) to hit up in Honolulu and on Oahu. If I don’t mention what you should try, just ask for their most popular items.
Bakeries:
Liliha Bakery - On N. Kuakini Street in Liliha (about a mile northwest of downtown/Chinatown); just west of the N. Kuakini Street-Liliha Street intersection. Don't even think about leaving the island without trying their coco puffs (pictures - http://starbulletin.com/2006/03/22/news/art8ax.jpg / http://onokinegrindz.typepad.com/ono_kine_grindz/images/CocoPuff1-thumb.jpg). If you love its chantilly topping, can't go wrong with the chantilly cake. Their hotcakes are great, too. No reinvention; just great comfort hotcakes. Haupia (coconut pudding) cake. 24 hours, 6 days a week. Best to go between 1:30 pm and 3 pm. It's ridiculously crowded during lunch, dinner, and Saturdays, but go at those times if you want to see the wide range of people that go there. State treasure.
Nanding's Bakery - Gulick Avenue in Kalihi (about 2 miles west of downtown/Chinatown). Filipino bakery. Gotta try their Spanish rolls especially when the bottom is caramelized. Gotta try their Hopia Mongo which is a pastry filled with mung beans. Doesn't sound like a good idea, but trust me, it's great. The 3rd must-try item is the Hopia Onion which has an onion and sugar filling. May sound weird, but it's awesome. Lastly, gotta try their ensaymada. They got a plain one, but they got a macapuno (cocounut pudding) and ube (sweet potato) one, too. Between the Gulick Avenue-North King Street intersection and Gulick Avenue-Waterhouse Street intersection.
Leonard's Bakery (http://www.leonardshawaii.com/) - On upper Kapahulu Avenue (north of the east boundary of Waikiki proper). Try their malasadas and pao doce. Like Liliha Bakery, it's an institution. They also have a couple of wagons here and there (info on the website).
Agnes' Portuguese Bake Shop (http://agnesbakeshop.com/) - This is in Kailua, though. The eastern shore/part of Oahu.
Hole-in-the-wall/small-business/other:
Char Hung Sat - North Pauahi Street in Chinatown. Founded in 1945. Gotta go. Try their manapua (steamed or baked bun usually with a meat filling), pork hash, dumplings, rice cakes, etc. See the map below in the link in the Chinatown entry.
Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory – Or for a variety of manapua go there. On lower Kalihi Street. Heading south, it's on your left past Dillingham Blvd.
Kapiolani Coffee Shop - Now located in City Square in Kalihi along with Sugoi (see Sugoi's map below). Try their oxtail soup and fried rice. If you can't make it down there, they have the same oxtail soup and fried rice over at Asahi Grill on Ward Avenue north of the Sports Authority which is north of Ward Warehouse (http://www.wardcenters.com/Maps/WardWarehouseMap.html). Their hamburger steak is really tender and is my favorite on the island. If you don’t get a loco moco (more on this dish below) elsewhere, get it from there.
Side Street Inn - Featured on the Hawaii episode of No Reservations. A bar/eatery. Try their pork chops, fried rice, and the stuff they ate on the show. Just west of the northwestern end of Ala Moana Center (http://www.alamoanacenter.com/). Tucked in an industrial area with car shops, warehouses, clubs, etc. between Pensacola and Piikoi Street. Located on Hopaka Street. Parking is on the street in front (good luck) or on the parking lot on top of the building that you access on the street at the back (Kona Street). A favorite spot of local chefs.
New Uptown Fountain - Featured on No Reservations. Their popular hamburger steak is ridiculously tender. Along with local stuff, they serve Okinawan dishes. The western corner of the Liliha Street-North School Street intersection across McDonald’s.
Plate Lunch; Okazu/okazuya (delicatessen); Other:
Farmers Market @ KCC (Kapiolani Community College) (http://www.hfbf.org/FarmersMarket.html) – Only from 7:30 am to 11 am every Saturday. In addition to checking out the awesome local produce, they got restaurant/eatery vendors there serving food. A variety of stuff to try there. The KCC link gives you a heads up of the booths/vendors lineup each week. You must go. Must. Should’ve been features in the No Reservations Hawaii ep.
Chinatown (http://www.chinatownhi.com/?q=node/14) – There’s a map at the top of that link that includes some of the places I mentioned. Besides strolling through downtown and taking in the sights and sounds (the western part is the markets and food; central and eastern is the business district), try checking out Maunakea Market Place (food court). There are better places to go for the cuisine offered there, but still take it in and stroll through and maybe try some stuff knowing that you’ll hit better spots later or already have.
Helena's Hawaiian Foods - James Beard Award winner. On North School Street in Kalihi not even a quarter mile east of the North School Street-Houghtailing Street intersection. On the north side of North School Street on the block between Aupuni Street and Pohaku Street. Try the Menu C combo with kalua pig (cooked in an imu), lomi salmon, pipikaula short ribs. Also you must get the laulau and fried butterfish collar. And ask for chili pepper water to put on your rice!
Poke Stop (http://www.hawaiidiner.com/restaurants/restaurant.php?restaurant=2409) - If you go to Waipahu, which is about 12 miles west of Honolulu go there. There's a map at the link. Elmer Guzman the owner and chef worked under Alan Wong and Emeril. He was the executive chef at Sam Choy's Diamond Head. Quite a resume. Awesome food.
Tanioka's (http://taniokas.com/index.html) – If you make it out to Waipahu. For the variety of poke that won the People's Choice award for best poke. Their bentos with fish patty are great. Their Hawaiian plates are good, too.
Ono Hawaiian Foods - Featured on No Reservations. If you can't make it out to Helena's in Kalihi, go there. In the middle section of Kapahulu Ave. on the left side if you're facing north. Across the Taco Bell. Get the laulau, kalua pig, chicken long rice, and lomi salmon. Maybe tripe stew.
Young's Fish Market - At City Square along with Kapiolani Coffee Shop and Sugoi (more below). If you can't make it out to Helena's or Ono, go there. Maybe the best laulau out of the three (Helena’s, Ono, Young’s).
Zippy's (http://zippys.com/) - Don't be fooled that it's a chain restaurant. It's local. Try their chili. Obama was pondering getting a Zip Min (saimin noodles, wun tun, vegetables, fish cake, dried seaweed, egg, sweet pork, green onions and breaded shrimp; all in a broth). while he’s in Hawaii. It’s served in the restaurant not the take out/sit down section.
Boulevard Saimin – If you don’t try the Zip Min, won ton min, or saimin at Zippy’s, go here for saimin. On Dillingham Boulevard. It’s just west of the Waikamilo Road and Dillingham Boulevard intersection; east if you’re facing south. Between the Midas at that intersection and the center that houses Popeye’s, Burger King, and Sizzler.
Sugoi (http://www.sugoihawaii.com/contact.asp) - Try the garlic chicken and spicy garlic chicken. Fried chicken with a sweet garlic sauce that goes oh so well with the crunch. Map on the website.
Mitsu-Ken - On North School Street not even a quarter mile east of the N. School Street-Houghtailing Street intersection. Across the street from Helena’s and slightly to the east on North School Street. Used to be the king of garlic chicken. Some say it's still the best. If you’re driving, good luck with parking when it’s busy. They’re open early, like, 4:30 am and close early, like, 2 pm.
Gulick Delicatessen - One of the quintessential okazuyas. Really local stuff. The workingman/everydayman stuff. On Gulick Avenue in Kalihi just south of the Gulick Ave. and N. School Street intersection. On the right side of Gulick Ave. if you're facing south. A second location is closer to Waikiki and Ala Moana is in McCully/Moilili on South King Street, west of McCully Street. Try the corned beef hash patties.
Fukuya Deli (http://fukuyadeli.com/) - Another famous okazuya.
loco moco (dish; not an eatery) – This is a local favorite made of a ground beef patty/-ies, over easy eggs, rice, and gravy. Simple comfort food. Most places also include a macaroni salad. Most people would probably tell you to go and eat L & L Drive-In’s loco moco, but I think they’re overrated (L & L and their loco moco). My favorite is at Kapiolani Coffee Shop (and Asahi Grill) and Big City Diner (at the Ward Theatre or in Kaimuki), but that’s my palate.
Rainbow Drive-In – Obama mentioned this place as one of his possible stops while on Oahu. One of the quintessential plate lunch spots on Kapahalu Avenue just north of the Honolulu Zoo on the right side. Can't miss the sign on the intersection of Kapahulu Ave. and Kana'ina Ave. Get the mixed plate. Some people like their chili better than Zippy's. There's also a Rainbow Drive-Inn Express in Kakaako on Coral Street.
Kahai Street Kitchen – Try their Lunch Bento. In Kalihi Kai, an industrial-residential area, south of Nimitz Highway on the intersection of Kalihi Street and Kahai Street.
Tsukenjo Lunch House - On Cooke Street in Kakaako (west of Ward Center and Ala Moana). They had a lunch wagon on Ward Avenue that's not there anymore, too bad. Try their roast pork. All their meats are really tender.
You Hungry (Puuwainani) – A lunch wagon found at 2 locations in Kakaako and downtown. One on the South Street and Halekauwila Street instersection and the other at the Alakea and Beretania Street intersection. Named Honolulu Mag’s best lunch wagon in ’05 and this year. The classic lunch wagon’s in Honolulu aren’t around anymore – Tsukenjo’s and Kanda’s.
Mana Bu’s Homemade Japanese Musubi’s & Sweets – If you’re in Hawaii, you gotta try and eat spam if you’ve never had it. This place’s teri spam musubi is the best I’ve come across. I think 7-11’s spam musubi won the People’s Choice Awards. It’s next to the Baskin Robin on the corner of the Punahou Street and South King Street intersection in McCully.
W & M Bar-B-Q Burgers – For what many consider to be the best teriyaki burger on the island. It’s called a bar-b-q burger, but it’s a teri burger. Good luck with parking. It’s next door to the City Mill (a big hardware store) on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki between St. Louis Drive and 3rd Avenue.
Mabuhay Cafe and Restaurant - Filipino food. On River Street the western border of Chinatown. Other Filipino restaurants are Elena's Home of Finest Filipino Foods in Waipahu and Thelma's Restaurant also in Waipahu. The lechon kewali at Thelma's is great. So is the one at Julie's in Kapolei Shopping Center.
Golden Coin Bakeshop and Restaurant - Filipino food. Try their halo-halo. There's one on Keeaumoku Street near Ala Moana on the sidewalk of the Wal-Mart-Sam's Club complex. Try their desserts, too. Another good spot for halo-halo is the shopping center to the left of Zippy's in Pearl City. It's on the north-facing side. I don't even know the name. It's a small shop that sells ice cream and crack seed and local snacks.
Nisshodo Mochiya/Candystore - On Dillingham Boulevard in Kalihi. For their assortment of mochi.
If you make it out to the North Shore - Try any of the shrimp trucks that line Kamehameha Highway from Kahuku to Turtle Bay Resort. The Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck, Giovanni's, Fumi's, Romy's. Try either of the 1st two mentioned. One of the guys who had a shrimp truck now has an eatery on Keeaumoku Street that is the street running north to south from the mid-northern part of Ala Moana Center called Andy's Kahuku Shrimp.
Upscale/gourmet plate lunches (the stuff served at lunch wagons and hole-in-the-wall places) at about plate lunch prices:
Kakaako Kitchen (http://www.wardcenters.com/dining/merchants/kakaakokitchen.html) - You'll mostly likely hit up Ward Center which is not far west of Ala Moana. The owner is the great Russell Siu, the executive chef of 3660 On the Rise (more below). I’d try other stuff here, but their hamburger steak is great.
Hapa Grill (http://hapagrill.net/) - But it's in Kapolei which is 18 miles west of Honolulu.
Hank's Haute Dogs (http://hankshautedogs.com/index2.htm) - Gotta go here. Fantastic. Way better than that hot dog place they took Bourdain to - Puka Dog.
Nico's at Pier 38 (http://nicospier38.com/) – Awesome.
Shave ice (snow cones) -
Matsumoto Shave Ice @ M. Matsumoto Grocery Store (http://matsumotoshaveice.com/) - If you go to Haleiwa (28 miles from Honolulu; 45 minutes) on the North Shore, go there.
Waiola Shave Ice - One on Kapahulu Avenue and the original in McCully on Waiola Street, east of McCully Street. If you can’t make it out to Matsumoto’s, go here.
Shimazu Store - on North School Street right on the intersection of the tiny Frog Lane and N. School Street. There's a line outside. Just east of McDonald's on the intersection of Liliha Street and N. School Street.
Crackseed (local candy and snacks) -
Wholesale Unlimited, Inc. (http://cybersnacks.net/crack_seed_li_hing_dried_fruit.html) - Try the li hing mui stuff.
Kay's Crackseed - On the Woodlawn Drive end of Manoa Shopping Center keep going north past University of Hawaii at Manoa, turn left on East Manoa Road.
Crack Seed Center (http://www.crackseedcenter.com/) - I don’t know if it’s still at Ala Moana Center.
Local favorite chips:
Maebo’s One-Ton Chips (http://www.one-ton.com/images/One-Ton-chips2.jpg); Nibb-its (by Yick Lung); and Shrimp Chimps (by Yick Lung)
Fine Dining:
Alan Wong's Restaurant (http://alanwongs.com/) - On King Street 3rd Floor. Between the South King Street and Artesian Street intersection and South King Street and Pumehana Street intersection. It was #8 on Gourmet Magazine's Top 50 Restaurants in 2006. It has won the Honolulu Advertiser readers' award Best Restaurant for 12 straight years. The Pineapple Room (casual dining, 3rd floor Macy's @ Ala Moana) is his, too. He was a guest judge on Top Chef.
Roy's Restaurant (like others have already mentioned; http://www.roysrestaurant.com/index.asp) - One of the founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine.
Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas (http://www.hiroshihawaii.com/) - Incredible fusion of Asian and Western cuisine.
Chef Mavro (http://chefmavro.com/) - Hawaii Regional Cuisine with a Greek/Mediterranean touch.
Cassis by Chef Mavro (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/specials/bestrestaurants07/restaurant?id=49) - Read the capsule at the link. It's at Harbor Court on Queen Street just northwest of Aloha Tower Marketplace.
Sam Choy's Diamond Head (http://samchoy.com/restaurants_diamondhead.html) - His other restaurant Breakfast, Lunch & Crab on Nimitz Highway is a great unfussy place to go for seafood and breakfast. Competed on Iron Chef America. Appeared on Emeril Live and Dinner Impossible.
3660 On the Rise (www.3660.com) - In Kaimuki (East Honolulu).
Chai's Island Bistro (http://chaisislandbistro.com/home.html) - At Aloha Tower Market Place (south of downtown). Hawaii Regional Cuisine-Southeast Asian fusion.
Other:
Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar (http://sanseihawaii.com/) – Half-off sushi from 10 pm to 1 am on Thursdays to Saturdays. Great island contemporary fusion sushi.
Urban/yuppies/new/whatever:
Stage @ the Honolulu Design Center (http://www.stagerestauranthawaii.com/) - Northwest of Ala Moana Center on Kapiolani Boulevard.
Mac 24/7 (http://mac247waikiki.com/site2/macmenu.htm) – Great place to go if you’re out late at night. Gourmet versions of local classics. They also do great modern American cuisine.
Town - http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=11449
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