The following is not comprehensive, nor does it pretend to be fair. We tried to list restaurants that may interest visitors. In general Hawaii is not a place to come to eat Haute Cuisine, though the culinary view has become very much improved in the last few years, since the arrival of Roy's. Forget the Italian, French, Mexican, Greek, etc. places: you can do much better in LA, New York, or any other major city in the U.S.. Actually, several of our reviewers have now taken issue with this comment, since the quality of the better restaurants in Hawaii has indeed come up quite markedly in the last decade.
What Hawaii has in quantity and quality are Asian-style eating places, and now an increasing number of cross-cultural new cuisine places, some very exciting. The Thai, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants are particularly good. For good inexpensive food you cannot beat the small `mom and pop' establishments that abound everywhere. Order plate lunch or noodles and you will have authentic, generally good and very inexpensive fare. In fact one of our mathematician friends avers that Hawaii is the least expensive city in the US for restaurants because of these small unheralded places.
Note also that since this list was compiled by locals, we are somewhat biased against locations in Waikiki because of the hassle of going there. There are lots of fine restaurants in Waikiki, so for those maybe a good commerical guide would be helpful to you.
We have not listed hours, as these change too often and are similar with most restaurants. It is always a good idea to phone in advance and particularly so on Sunday and Monday nights when some restaurants take a night off.
The first Thai restaurant from a family of Keo's restaurants, it remains the best by many judges. It is 1295 S. Beretania (591-8841/2). Mekong II (1726 S. King, 941-6184/6212), is also good. BYOB optional.
Keo's at 2028 Kuhio Ave, in Waikiki is the fashionable member of the family dynasty, and a bit more expensive. Still, it is excellent, with elegant decor (mostly wonderful orchids) and very convenient to Waikiki and the UH. Definitely call for reservations at 951-9355.
At 315 Hahani in Kailua (Windward side), 263-9727, is also highly recommended by Walt. He says to try their Yum Nur, and that their chicken is particularly good.
Inexpensive but excellent. Best dishes not on menu but oredered in advace. Xerxes recommends Hamook (fish cooked in banana leaf) and Nam Prit (salad). BYOB. Located at 1246 S. King, 596-8106.
More upscale than most Thai and really very good, according to Xerxes. Located at 1910 Ala Moana Boulevard (941-2898), above California Pizza.
Convenient to the UH, this is Jan's favorite, Northern Thai cuisine. Vegetarians can eat well here. Across from Long's at 2239 South King Street (941-1151).
Shige's current favorite, but getting more crowded. Good idea to phone for reservations (537-1525). Located about 15 min by car from Waikiki, at 762 Kapiolani.
This is now the favorite of Sandip and John, a small, very comfortable place with excellent sushi master, and venue of many Friday night seminars. It has a nice international feel as well as great sushi and other dishes. 611 Kapaului Ave, a small strip mall, adjacent to Papa John's Pizza. Phoning for a reservation on weekends is advisable, at 739-2800. Mention to Kazu-san that you are friends of the physics gang. Closed Sunday.
A word of warning from a friend who has been on a large variety of diplomatic postings around Asia: there are NO "good"/"nice" Chinese restaurants in Chinatown! Certainly not any suitable for a fancy occasion, in her knowledgable judgement.
This is San Fu and Loretta's favorite Chinese restaurant (2005), and has a really good chef. Order the steamed oysters in black bean sauce. Many other seafood dishes. Also, the fat pork with taro is unique and excellent (John's favorite). 760 Palani Avenue, at the corner with Kapahulu, and there are several designated parking spaces on Palani. BYOB. Phone 737-3020.
Theorist San Fu Tuan's favorite. Quite inexpensive, and not fancy. Conveniently located at 730 Kapahulu (734-4953). Best value anywhere.
Quite popular, but still very good, with some creative dishes. Adjacent to Chinese Cultural Plaza at 100 N. King (524-6877).
Near Won Kee (around corner, on stream side of cultural center), this is Loretta Tuan's favorite sea food restaurant. Also, not expensive.
Located in Discovery Bay Tower across from the Ilikai in Waikiki (947-3771), Dynasty I specializes in Hong Kong Style food. Don't confuse this restaurant with Dynasty II which is said to be quite inferior. Gets good marks from our diplomatic consultant.
Located conveniently to Waikiki at 499 Kapahulu (upstairs, Koko Head side of street, phone 735-5544). The owner is James Lee, the same guy who owns the trendy new Sam Choy's restaurant nearby. Hee Hing has a side banquet room, serves a variety of regional cuisines, and has attentive waiters.
Nice informal place with good inexpensive food. Hong Kong style, some excellent hot dishes. 909 Kapahulu, 735-4557.
Harry Yee's favorite down home, simple, very inexpensive cooking. In the sleazy area on Hotel Street, downtown. It is not fancy!
Walt Simmons favorite (he is the local expert on restaurants) for Szechuan cooking. At 1110 McCully, call 946-3273. Quite popular, so reservations advised. Modest prices.
Located in the Kahala Mall shopping center, Walt rates this Szechuan style restaurant about as good as the King Tsin, but says not to eat there if the owner, Howard Ko, is not physically present (call 732-5505).
Convenient to Waikiki, this is one of everyones new favorite Chinese restaurants (though Walt does not like it). It is upstairs in the McCully shopping Center just at the edge of Waikiki, corner of Kapiolani and McCully, mauka-Ewa corner. It has Hong Kong cooking, and the taro basket is unique. 973-0168 for reservations, and it is open until something like 2 AM.
At 641 Keeaumoku, Diamond Head side of street, just mauka of Tower Records, upstairs (not so far from the physicists favorite sushi bar). Phone 947-1688. Very clean, good food, serves a variety of regional styles, and recommended by our diplomatic consultant. Do not confuse this restaurant with the tacky chain of fast food joints called Panda Express.
At 1314 N. King Street in Kalihi (842-7644), this is considered by many to be the best Filipino restaurant in town. Interesting, different, good, and inexpensive. Recommended by Josie.
Pretty good value, lots of food. BYOB. II is at 3569 Waialae (737-0006) and III at 1040 S. King (536-1426).
Hawaiian cuisine is to Polynesian cuisine, as British cooking is to that of Europe. But, if you really want to try it, this place is good and inexpensive. Something to try once. 1300 Pali Highway (536-5789) , makai (ocean side) of Vineyard.
This is nearer (726 Kapahulu) and not bad, but often crowded (737-2275). The theory group often goes there with visitors. We don't know why.
We list this together, as there are a cluster of places in the rennovated Aloha Tower pier complex, downtown. The pier fronts on the harbor, and remains a working pier with lots of transient vessels and the huge passenger liners often docked alongside. The Independence and Constitution come in early Saturday AM, and sail around 9 - 10 PM Saturday evening, quite nice to see if you like ships.
It appears that the designers of this complex had the tourists mostly in mind, but in fact what we see is many locals enjoying this pleasant location. One particular favorite, for which we ocassionally brave the afternoon traffic, is the microbrewery Gordon Biersch. This is located right on the point which has the best harbor view, where one can keep track of the tugs and such, and has excellent beer brewed on site. It is quite crowded on Friday nights as it has become a favorite watering hole for downtown workers unwinding from the week.
There are other places worthy of a visit as well, such as Scott's Seafood next to Biersch (terrific onion rings), and a decent Italian restaurant, Trilussa Trattoria, and many more. One highlight is that the market sponsors free concerts by a wide variety of local musicians, Hawaiian and Jazz mostly. One of the best bargains in the Islands!
Parking is a little hassle. Try to get into the enclosed pier area, though it is often full. You can get your ticket validated by any restaurant. The parking lot across from the entrance to the Marketplace is usually jammed as well. So, you may want to try farther Kokohead direction (East). If the parking near the sailing ships is full, then go further, out onto Ala Moana Boulevard and take the first right possible, into the International Trade Zone, where there are usually available parking meters, and it is only about five minutes walk back to Aloha Tower. It is a little remote, so I would suggest not to go there alone late at bar closing time.
A very exciting, nouvelle California Cuisine style place located in Hawaii Kai. Many say it is probably the best restaurant on Oahu, maybe best restauant within 2500 miles, but expensive (around $50/head). Has won many awards in it's few years existence, and getting unfortunately popular. (President Clinton ate there in 11/96, but then he is famous for favoring Golden Arches, so I do not know if his visit is a recommendation or not). Also Roy has opened new restaurants on other islands and even in Guam and Tokyo. This worries us. Still, if you are an afficionado of the new Eurasian cuisine (or whatever it is called), this place is a must. Putting it another way, when we want to celebrate this is usually our first choice.
This is perhaps the fanciest French restaurant in town. Well actually a bit out of town on Kam Highway, located in the Niu Valley shopping center (377-8854), about 10 minutes from UH. While both Walt and John like it very much it is expensive and some others think it not worth the price. We think it has a very good and reasonably priced French wine list though. The proprietors are indeed French, and a little pretentious, but the food is excellent.
This Eurasian style establishment located in the heart of downtown at 1121 Nuuanu Street (521-2900), draws heavily on Thai cuisine. Lots of interesting spicing and unusual dishes. It has become a local favorite in recent years despite the somewhat seedy neighborhood (although it is next door to a Cop Shop) and difficult parking (so use the valet parking for $2). Ask to sit out back on the lanai. Reservations recommended.
They call their cooking Kona Cuisine, as Sam had great success with a small place in an industrial park near the Honokahau Harbor near Kona on the Big Island. The abundant and ebulliant Sam has become a well known local figure in the restaurant business, on TV and with a book. The cooking is of the new pan-cultural variety with an oriental leaning. The portions are large and prices reasonable. Conveniently located at 449 Kapahulu Avenue (732-8645), within easy walking distance from Waikiki.
This place is rated by Walt as the best local fish place. (Oddly, there are relatively few good fish restaurants in Hawaii, strange for a location with such terrric locally available fish?). Located upstairs in the Ward Warehoue (591-2005).
Located conveniently to the UH, at 3184 Waialae Avenue (732-0967) this is one of JGL's favorites for an informal comfortable meal. It is run as a side operation by people who do catering. It has the feel of a neighborhood European cafe and is usually not crowded, a great place to go for an unhurried meal and conversation. The cooking is good as well, with three meals available each night, typically one each fish, meat and veggie. They have no liquor license, so bring your own wine (and save money too).
Italian cuisine, recommended by Walt Simmons, at three locations none of which are near UH, unfortunately. One is across the Island in Kailua, about a half hour drive, at 354 Ulunui. Reservations are needed (261-2772). Another is in Hawaii Kai, 20 minutes away at off traffic time, at 7192 Kalanianaole Highway (396-0756/7). Another venue is out in Mililani, at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway (623-5115).
In the Manoa Shopping Center, near UH and adjacent to IfA (988-5932). This was a long standing favorite of some folks, though more tradiational American-Italian, with oriental tilt. It has recently undergone change of management, so we would welcome a new review.
There are several Buzz's, but this one has unmatched ambiance, and not bad food. Very pleasant. 413 Kawailoa Road, 262-4661. Bill Clinton ate there in November 1994.
A local favorite for many years. Has a large menu. One can sit down inside. Has a large and inexpensive menu. Not pretentious, it is just what it is. Try a waffle dog and ono shake. Noodles are good too. Corner of Kapahulu and Harding (737-5581).
JGL's favorite local burger stand (just Diamond Head of City Mill Hardware, at 3104 Waialae, 1/2 mile from UH, 734-3350). Order Royal burger, french fries. Macaroni salad good too, but add shoyu (soy sauce).
There is a mall at the corner of University and King street (10 min walk from the U) which has numerous restaurants in and around it. You can get passable gyros, hero sandwiches, and inexpensive Korean, Chinese (Chinese Menu, Dim Sum across street) and Vietnamese food in that area. Bubbie's ice cream is fantastic, and his espresso keeps one fired up. There are also several bars with a student flavor. The University Movie Theater is conveniently accross the street.
Anna Banana's, two blocks ewa (west) on Beretania, is an eclectic, noisy bar frequented by university folks, elderly hippy construction workers, and bikers (Hawaiian style: they dress up and ride to the bar). Live music on weekends, with dancing, upstairs. The Salza band on Sunday nights is great fun.
Mauka of the university, near (100 m) the Institute for Astronomy, this small mall contains a very nice sandwich shop, good espresso bar, plate lunch establishment, Subway sandwiches, a pizza place, a Korean cafe, a nice pub, a sweet shop, a Safeway grocery store, travel agency, and a Long's Drugs. What else could one want?.
Contributors to this eclectic review have been: Jan Bruce, Josephine Bolosan, John Learned, Shige Matsuno, Sandip Pakvasa, Walt Simmons, Xerxes Tata, San Fu Tuan. If you are pleased by the list you can take any of them out to dinner, if not then sorry. For errors, John Learned gets the blame. Last updated, 11/96 by jgl.