"TEN years ago, people used to joke that the best food you were going to get in Hawaii was on the plane over,'' recounts Wanda Adams, food editor of The Honolulu Advertiser. While I was aware that the culinary scene in Hawaii had moved beyond colorless Continental hotel fare, I was not prepared for the dazzling and sophisticated cooking I encountered during a recent weeklong visit to Oahu, where I focused on Honolulu restaurants."
Read the rest of the essay by Bryan Miller in the NY Times.
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Notes |
| Young's Fish Market (808)841-4885
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This clean, well-lighted place in an obscure shopping mall between Dillingham and Nimitz has a handful of booths and a couple of larger tables. These are served by a cafeteria-style counter operation offering combination Hawaiian plates (and mini-plates), daily specials and side orders. Okinawan sweet potato comes with the combo plates. Young's served the best kalua pork of the bunch; it really tasted like it had been in an imu — that nexus of smoke and moistness. The staff here is particularly welcoming. Young's also specializes in Hawaiian food by the pound for parties, takes phone orders and ships frozen laulau to the Mainland. The menu is expansive. And they take credit cards. - Honolulu Advertiser.
They are located at 1286 Kalani Street. Here's a recent menu.
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| Bombay India Restaurant (808)942-3990
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At long last, a bonafide Indian restaurant opens in the middle of Waikiki at the Discovery Bay Center, across Ala Moana Blvd from the Ilikai.
Read reviews in the Honolulu Advertiser, and the
Star Bulletin.
They are located at 1778 Ala Moana Boulevard.
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| Wailana Coffee House (808)955-1764
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Don't miss the great pancakes and the great deals at the Wailana Coffee House. Imagine something between a Lyon's and a Denny's from the 1980's and you're
pretty close.
They are located at 1860 Ala Moana Boulevard.
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| Izakaya Nonbei (808)734-5573 |
Stop by this Japanese tavern for small plates of steak, sashimi, grilled sardines, fried oysters, and much more.
Wash it all down with an extensive selection of sake.
From Waikiki, take Kalakaua towards Diamond Head. Turn left at Kapahulu. Turn right at Olu.
They are located at 3108 Olu Street.
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| Yama's Fish Market (808)941-9994 |
Yama's Fish Market is great place for delicious local island favorites. Try the kalua Pig, lau lau, assorted poke and chicken long rice...ala carte as a part of a plate lunch.
There really isn't much of a place to sit at Yama's. It's mostly a take out place. The curb between the store and the parking lot does have a few plastic chairs in case you decide to "dine-in".
From Waikiki, take McCully across the Ala Wai towards H1. Turn right at Young.
They are located at 2332 Young Steet.
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