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.
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!
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| Ka'Ikena - Student Chefs |
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)
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"
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.
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.
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| Ah-Lang aka Angry Korean Lady Rules for Ordering |
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.
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| Side Street Inn - Hoisin Baby Back Ribs |
9 - Da Kitchen
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| 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.
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
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)
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
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| 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
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| JJ French Bistro |
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
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
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| Shimazu's "Soup Nazi" way of placing your order! |
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.
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