Where to Eat on Oahu

The list here is long and varied. My recommendation is to go to Yelp or Urbanspoon to see reviews of these restaurants. The list here is by area in alphabetical order. Like New York City, Honolulu has tons of restaurants and it may be best to do some "research" before you head to the islands. Of course a lot depends on where you are when you are hungry. 

Ka'Ikena - Student Chefs

AIEA
1. AIEA BOWLING ALLEY RESTAURANT
Aiea Shopping Center
Aiea Haights Road
Famous for "Ox Tail Soup"
2 - BRAVO
Italian Food. Love the garlic bread!

Kaahumanu Shopping Center
Kamehameha Hwy

AINA HAINA / NIU VALLEY AREA
1 GYOTAKU RESTAURANT
(Japanese Cuisine)

There are several locations for this island favorite

2.  LE BISTRO

French Cuisine

DOWNTOWN HONOLULU
1 - ADEGA
Portuguese Cuisine
Corner of Smith & Pauhi Street
2 - Angry Korean Lady or Ah-Lang Restaurant (Dinner)
This restaurant is the Korean version of the "Soup Nazi"

Here are some of rules for ordering your meal.

Ah-Lang aka Angry Korean Lady Rules for Ordering

Prepare to be verbally abused by the cook!
3 - BOULEVARD SAIMIN
Dillingham Boulevard
4 - LIKE LIKE DRIVE IN RESTAURANT
*Where the Locals Go
Keeaumoku Street
(Breakfast-Banana Pancake Short Stack with 2 Eggs)
5 - TANAKA'S SAIMIN
(Local Comfort Foods)
Nimitz Hwy
6 - SAM CHOY'S
Local eats "kicked up a notch" Sam is a good friend of chef Emeril Lagasse and has appeared several times on the Food Network
7 - ALAN WONG'S
Alan Wong actually has 2 restaurants: an upscale restaurant called Alan Wong' and another in the Ala Moana Shopping Center Macy's store called The Pineapple Room which is a little more affordable. The link provided has information about both restaurants. I've also included a link where he discusses his newest cookbook called The Blue Tomato.
8 - Side Street Inn 
This is where noted local chefs like Roy Yamaguchi (Roys) and Alan Wong (Pineapple Room and Alan Wong's) hang out after hours.

Side Street Inn - Hoisin Baby Back Ribs

9 - Da Kitchen

Da Kitchen - Deep Fried Spam Musube

A local eats restaurant that originated on Maui.

HAWAII KAI
1 - HARBOR VILLAGE RESTAURANT
(Chinese Cuisine)
Lunch - Dim Sum Specialty
Dinner - Garlic Crab
Koko Marina Shopping Center
2 - RAMEN-YA
Japanese & Local Comfort Foods
Hawaii Kai Town Center
3 - Zippys
"Where the Locals Go"
*Presidents Clinton & Obama ate there
(Breakfast-Portugese Sausage, 2 Eggs & Brown Rice)
4 - Kokonuts
A place to go for the island favorite of shave ice (snow cone)
5 - Roys
Asian fusion cuisine a little on the spendy side. Of same caliber as Alan Wong's Restaurant
6 - MIGUELZ - Hawaii Kai Koko Marina
Spanish tapas

Dale and I tried this new restaurant and it was fabulous! The picture that follows is actually a dessert. It was a mixed berry dessert with strawberry coulis. On the top was a gratin made from lime and basil. Different, refreshing and unique.

Dessert @ Miguelz - mixed berry with strawberry coulis and lime/basil gratine

KAIMUKI
1 - HAPPY DAY RESTAURANT
(Chinese Cuisine)
Waialae Avenue
Specialty: B & L - Dim Sum
My family frequents the place when we are hungry for some inexpensive dim sum.
2 -JOSE'S MEXI CAN RESTAURANT
(Since 1974)
Koko Head Avenue

JJ French Bistro

3 - JJ BISTRO AND FRENCH PASTRY
French Cuisine with an island twist

KAPIOLANI / KAPAHULU AREA
1 - GINA'S KOREAN BBQ
Market City Shopping Center
2 - ONO'S HAWAIIAN FOOD
Kapahulu Avenue
3 - SEKIYA'S RESTAURANT
(Japanese Cuisine)

WAIALAE
1 - * TIMES SUPERMARKET
"Steak on Mondays" 11am - 6pm
Plate Dinner OR Steak Only
2 - GOLDEN DUCK RESTAURANT
(Chinese Cuisine)
Waialae Avenue
2 - ZIPPY'S / Hawaii's "McDonalds"
There are several branches on most of the islands
American / Japanese Cuisine
Hunakai Street
Zippy's 24iHour /  Til 9pm
3 - Ka'Ikena at Kapiolani Community College
Reservations required
Bring your own wine.

KANEOHE
1 - HEEIA KEA PIER GENERAL STORE & DELI
Kamehameha Hwy

WAIMANALO
WAIMANALO BEACH CAFE & GALLERY
Kalanianaole Hwy

KAHUKU
J. KAHUKU
1 - Shrimp Truck
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

SHAVE ICE
This is an island favorite which mainlanders sometimes refer to as snow cones. There are several very good places for this dish. This is a small list:
Matsumoto

Shimazu's "Soup Nazi" way of placing your order!

Shimazu
Kokonuts - already mentioned above at Hawaii Kai Koko Marina

I'm sure that other readers from Oahu will chime in and add their favorites to the commets. I've lived away these past 40 years so I'm by no means an expert, but I know where I want to eat when I want my local foods fix.

Getting the Hang of This

I think I figured out how to announce a new entry into Facebook without it calling for the user to sign in to this blog. Boy, this reminds me of the days when I was still at People Mover working on peoplemover.org.

Anyway, I digress. I wanted to put up a picture of what 40 years of marriage can do to your looks. As you know Dale and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We spent our honeymoon on Kauai at Kokee Lodge which is located near the Waimea Canyon. This was my first introduction of "roughing it" which should have been a warning of what life held for me in Alaska. At that time I never thought that we would end up in Alaska.

This is us on our wedding day. We looked like two young kids who had a great sense of humor and who were ready to tackle anything in life that came their way.

They tell you that the bride and groom should not see one another on their wedding day until after they are married, that it was bad luck. Take a look at my left hand and you will note that I only have my engagement ring on. This picture and the others were taken before the wedding at the East/West Center on the University of Hawaii Campus. I think that after 40 years we've debunked that old saying, don't you?

Before

My mother-in-law and Dale decided to play a trick on me on my wedding night. Imagine climbing into bed, groping in the dark to find him and then discovering that he was clothed from head to toe in a red, white and blue flannel nightshirt!

We flew to Kauai and stayed at a cabin near Kokee Lodge near Waimea Canyon. Since it was mid January, it was pretty cold, nearly 40 degrees. A friend had given us some cheese, beef sticks from Hickory farms and some crackers for a wedding present and we brought those along. We also stopped to get some chicken noodle soup, baloney and bread before making the trek up that mountain. At around 4:30 pm we decided to go to the lodge to get something to eat, but it was closed. Who closes a lodge at 4 pm? So down back to our cabin we went where we had chicken noodle soup and the cheese and crackers we brought along with us. That evening we agreed that it was the best wedding gift ever.

After

The rest of the evening was predictable except that I was experiencing a bad case of hay fever and was very cold inside that cabin because there is no central heat. Dale started a fire and I spent the rest of the evening putting logs into the fire every hour or so, sneezing and really having a wretched time up on the mountain. The next picture shows what I looked like the next morning. I ended up with the nightshirt and looked like I had just been through honeymoon hell.

Waimea Canyon - Honeymoon 1972

Waimea Canyon - Honeymoon Revisited April 2012

Anyway, fast forward to April 2012. We took a side trip to Kauai while visiting my parents in Honolulu. We thought we came across the cabin we stayed at 40 years ago and it looked really run down (no comment on the unspoken metaphor here). I can't believe I agreed to rough it at that cold, dust filled cabin, but I was newly married and in love (gag me already).

I included the picture we took a few days ago. Like fine wine we have "bloomed" in our 40 years together. I am a bit smarter too because this time we stayed in the city of Kapaa at a hotel where we had running water, a microwave and were surrounded by restaurants that stayed opened well past 4:00 pm.

Yes, I'm getting the hang of this blogging stuff and also 40 years of marriage. Someone told us on our wedding day never to go to bed angry at each other and to this day we have done exactly that.

What to do on Oahu

Some friends who will be visiting the islands in May 2012 have asked me for a quick list of things to do while on Oahu. My brother-in-law Dennis started the list and I've expanded on it.

HONOLULU
Climb Diamond Head - Info
Climb Koko Head (Rail Track) - Koko Head Crater Trail
Koko Head Shooting Range - Info

Fish Auction Tour from cousin Robin Leong:
It starts at 7 AM every Saturday at pier 38. You need to bring something warm (like a wind breaker or sweatshirt as it is cold in there, and you need to bring closed toe shoes as you walk through a disinfectant bath for your shoes.) You should probably call Mike Buck to see if he is running it and if so make a reservation. He is a radio announcer on KHVH, and an attendee of Kalani '63. His phone ((808) 521-8585. Mike likes to help out his friend that owns Nico's so he encourages folks to eat at that place before going on the tour. (I can't remember if you go earlier to eat at 6:30 or eat at 7). You can go by yourself no later than 7 (because the auction can be closed if there is only one boat in), but you probably won't know any of the names of the fish or what is happening, but you can see it.

Nico's is an island favorite that usually wins every for a local restaurant having great plate lunchs especially fresh fish. I usually have the catch of the day with eggs and a scoop of rice and coffee for breakfast. http://www.nicospier38.com/ You can also see the reviews from Yelp. Right next door is the restaurant Uncle's They serve local stuff too, with more of a Hawaiian bent.

PEARL HARBOR:
1. Visit "New" Arizona Memorial
2. Visit Missouri
3. Visit Air Museum on Ford Island
4. Visit USS Bowfin
5. Website: http://gohawaii.about.com/cs/pearlharbor/a/pearl_harbor.htm

CHINA TOWN - Info
Being part Chinese, a visit to Chinatown with my mother is always a must. Here she leads to purchases of salmon bones and lotus seeds and fresh vegetables and of course dim sum!

KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY COLLEGE Map
1.  Enjoy a dinner at Kapiolani Community College's Ka'Ikena Restaurant. The restaurant is actually a culinary school that has a beautiful view of the ocean near Diamond Head. They do not have a liquor license, but you are welcomed to bring your own wine and they will be happy to provide the wine glasses and open the bottles for you. Be sure to make reservations as the restaurant only operates while school is in session. Reviews of the restaurant are available on Yelp.

Pan Seared Bubu Arare Crusted Sea Scallops - Shichimi Spiced Linguine with Julienne of Vegetables & Edamame, Steamed Choi Sum & Tahi Sweet Chili Drizzle

2.  Farmers Market - Go to this market early on Saturday morning as it is a very popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

FORT DE RUSSEY - Map
Visit Tank Museum


IN WAIKIKI
Learn to Surf Info
Learn Stand Up Paddling Info
Archery: Finer Points Info
Honolulu Zoo- Located near the Waikiki Aquarium and Waikiki Beach. Info
Waikiki Aquarium - Located in Waikiki near the Honolulu Zoo. Info

DORIS DUKE ESTATE - Shangrila Tour
During the time I lived in Honolulu, I never knew this estate existed. Two years ago I booked a tour to her Shangrila home which is located very near to where I lived and "hung out". You can book tours to this estate through the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Entrance to "Shangrila"

Shangrila: This window raised and lowered courtesy of Otis Elevator

HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS - Info
Displays various art pieces from the many cultures that live in Hawaii. You will need to be here to begin your tour to the Doris Duke Estate called Shangrila. They also have a wonderful open air restaurant where you can eat before or after your tour. Map and getting there.

POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER in Laie - video
This is a must see for anyone visiting Hawaii to learn about the Polynesian culture and local native food and agriculture. You will need transportation to Laie and there are many touring companies than can take you there. For more information visit their main website here.

BISHOP MUSEUM
The Bishop Museum was originally designed to house the extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The Museum has since expanded to include millions of artifacts, documents and photos about Haaii and other Pacific cultures.

HANAUMA BAY - Info
We use to go here often on the weekends as it was near where I lived. Today it is a fish preserve and sanctuary.

New Beginning

This is my first attempt at a blog because I guess I'm getting to be quite a "tweeter" on Facebook and I think my friends are bored and annoyed reading my long frequent posts. I can't really say what I'll write about. I suppose my life is like an old Seinfeld episode--a little bit about nothing. But really that's what "talking story is"--shooting the breeze or just chatting.

First, a little about me. I'm a displaced Hawaiian (because I'm from Hawaii, not because I'm of Hawaiian blood) who is now living in Alaska. My husband and I met in High School in Honolulu. We married and have lived in Japan, Okinawa, Germany, Oklahoma and Texas. This whole relationship is kind of cyclical as my husband was born and raised in Alaska. He has family here, and I have family in Hawaii, but living here is the best of both worlds since Alaska Airlines flies direct to Honolulu.

I'll blog about food and cooking. On a recent trip back home we visited Da Kitchen on Isenberg Street and had some deep fried spam musubi, a sushi-like handheld sandwich that has fried spam, and is rolled in panko crumbs and deep fried.

Since we are newly retired we hope to do some traveling.  I'm actually testing my ability here to load a video. The Great Wall of China. 

So here we go. Let's talk story...