Eating on O'ahu

No Slippers

Alan Wong's

808-949-2526
1857 S. King St.
www.alanwongs.com

Reservations are a must, parking is very limited and definitely credit card!

Splurge on a salad or appetizers, and definitely dessert, but skip the $8 coffee.

Save your pennies to splurge on Alan Wong's. Date night, special family outing, going-to-propose, it doesn't matter. Simply the best food I've ever eaten.

My favorites:

Hamakua Tomato Salad--(see above) a perfect, whole chilled tomato with thin crisp sweet cucmbers sitting in a ume-li-hing-mui vinaigrette. Indescribably deliciously balanced.

5 Spoons of Creme Brulee--A taste of Macadamia Nut, Kona coffee, Yuzu, Lilikoi, and chocolate. Yuzu and Lilikoi are the big winners here.

Duck Nachos with Taro Chips and Guacamole--slices of Chinese-style roast duck, with guacamole and sweet taro chips. Chinatown meets Hawaii in Mexico, and it works fabulously.

3660 on the Rise

808-737-1177
3660 Waialae Avenue
www.3660.com
In the credit union building on the corner of Waialae and Wilhemina Rise

My parents' favorite place, and where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mom starting going there because she had a swim class with one of the owners. (One of those 'only in Hawaii' kind of connections)

The food here is consistently lovely--a little meatier than Alan Wong's, and a little less pricey too (but still not "cheap kine eats").

My favorites include Ahi Katsu, Shichimi Seared Ahi Salad, and the harlequin creme brulee. Furikake-crusted Salmon with Yuzu Butter sauce is also very good, but not always on their nightly menu. My kids also think they make the best calamari. Mile-high Waialae pie is also simple, monumental and yummy.

Roy's Hawaii Kai

808-396-7697
6600 Kalanianaole Hwy

This is the 'original' Roy's, and one of my favorite 'date' restaurants. The view of the bay at sunset is spectacular, and I've always been happy with the service.

Poke and appetizers are quite good and fresh fish is always good there.

The Pagoda & The Willows

The Pagoda
808-941-6611
1525 Rycroft St,
Near Don Quijote and a long 3 blocks from Ala Moana
www.pagodahotel.com

The Willows
808-952-9200
901 Hausten St
Near Waiola Shave Ice!
http://www.willowshawaii.com

These are included because if you've ever had a family birthday, graduation party, funeral, or other get together, chances are very good that you've had a buffet here.

In both cases, the food is standard Hawaii-style buffet (American food, plus a fish entree, Hawaiian, plus a bit of noodles, sushi, and tempura thrown into the mix), but the ambiance, particularly for the Pagoda and the koi set-up is worth it.

These are notable for sentimental and practical reasons--it's not a date-night place, but good for feeding your ohana, especially when the whole gang is getting together, and there are a lot of different tastes to accommodate. Decent, not too 'exotic/fusion' food and very good values.

OK with Slippers

The Pineapple Room

808-949-2526
Macy's Ala Moana
www.alanwongs.com

Reservations recommended

Mix and match salads and appetizer and share family-style. Ono variety!

First of all, while you can wear slippers here, and tourists do stream in with sandy exposed toes straight from the beach, my mother would REALLY PREFER that you didn't.

This is the "down market" (but only slightly) version of Alan Wong's on King Street. Because it's embedded in Macy's, it's a very casual atmosphere, with a mix of previously noted tourists and local business/family crowd.

But the food is anything but mall fare. You'll still need to save up for it, but it's beautiful, delicious and the service is top-notch. In particular, the Makaha Mango Shrimp Salad, Kalua Pig Caesar Salad and Black Bean Clams are delicious and enough for a full meal.

Gyotaku

Waimalu
808-484-2028
98-820 Moanalua Road

Punahou
808-593-2202
1296 S. Beretania St.
(Between Keeamoku & Piikoi)

http://www.gyotakuhawaii.com

Simply, very good Japanese food. Furikake salmon and karaage chicken are among my faves. Unagi donburi is also very nice. Lots of people go here after golf. Slippers are ok, but like Side Street, at least make sure they are the 'nice' ones.

Shiro's Saimin Haven (Waimalu)

808-488-4834
98-020 Kamehameha Hwy

In a "weathered" strip mall with Zippy's, Kabuki's, Baldwin's, Leonard's, and a dim sum place. No reservations and cash only.

Really, it should be called Saimin Heaven. A Hawaii-style diner, right down to the plastic covered banquette-style booths and tables. The air-conditioning is always cranked up high and nearly uncomfortably breezy, probably so you can enjoy the experience of the saimin.

The food is pure comfort with big portions. My favorite is kim-chee saimin, a side of lumpia/egg rolls and fruit punch. Always a must-eat when we go to home.

Side Street Inn

808-739-3939
614 Kapahulu Ave.
www.sidestreetinn.com
In the old Hawaiian Dredging Bldg, across Jack-in-the-box & Jamba Juice. Slippers are OK, but they should be your 'nice' slippers. And the air conditioning is on really high, so it can get cold.

Everything is served family-style here and so the portions are huge. It's a great place for family parties or getting together with friends.

Pan Fried Island Pork Chops ($21)--you're thinking $21 for pork chops?? Well, there are about 6 of them and they are cooked just so--crispy outer crust and juicy tender pork goodness on the inside. Pair with a Chinese Chicken Salad or Caesar Salad. Cold, crispy and just enough dressing. Kim chee fried rice is great, even though it's a bit heavy on the peas.

Kalua pig sliders--appetizers. Order more than one (3 to an order). It's kalua pig with an (American) sweet-ish BBQ sauce, served with pineapple and the soft white buns used for Chinese roast duck. It sounds like it might be a muddled mess, but everything balances out perfectly.

Sekiya's

808-732-1656
2747 Kaimuki Ave.
http://www.sekiyasrestaurant.com
Across from Kaimuki High School

No reservations, but credit cards are OK.

Another Hawaii-style diner and good old-fashioned okazuya. My Grandma used to take me there as a kid and it looks exactly the same. I think even some of the servers are still the same!

This is another sentimental favorite, but the food is always good and reasonably priced. Mostly Japanese and local food, but also standard hamburgers and fries diner food. Can't go wrong.

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