for MomDDtravel and Mr MDDT: restaurants in HNL

FUN gtg today! Sorry to hear about your car, when you were probably headed back to the hotel for a nice nap after that lunch, no?

Here are a few restaurants you might like, some mentioned today. All are in town, which has the highest concentration of good eats. All are within 2-3 miles of Alan Wong's.

HELENA'S HAWAIIAN FOODS
A hole-in-the-wall dive that's a James Beard regional favorite winner. Try: pipikaula smoked ribs, laulau steamed taro leaves stuffed with pork, kalua pork, squid luau w/ pieces of squid simmered in a coconut milk-taro leaf stew, butterfish collar, poke, haupia

SIAM GARDEN
Considered by some to be the most authentic Thai on the island. Not far from the airport going toward town.

SUSHI IZAKAYA GAKU (aka GAKU)
Remarkable tapas-style Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. Don't limit yourselves to the sushi bar--choose from daily changing specials and standards like scraped seasoned ahi topped w/ a raw quail egg and served on crisp nori sheets. On King Street, same street as Alan Wong's.

SUSHI SASABUNE
Very good sushi. Best when the selection is left to the sushi chef--an order known as 'omakase.' Also on King Street.

ALAN WONG'S PINEAPPLE ROOM
Pacific Rim fusion cuisine, in Macy's in Ala Moana Center. Also upscale, but not quite as much as Alan Wong's.

KAKAAKO KITCHEN
Pacific Rim plate lunches and sandwiches in an open-air dining area at Ward Centre shopping mall. Very good furikake tempura catfish.

NICO's AT PIER 38
Across Nimitz Hwy from Siam Garden, next to the Honolulu Fish Auction. Good furikake ahi and daily fish special; rest of the menu not as good. Open-air.

GOSHIGO
Calls itself an udon restaurant and bar, udon being thick white Japanese noodles served cold or in a hot broth with garnishes like tempura. EXCELLENT udon made by hand daily, in a chic hole-in-the-wall near Ala Moana Center.

GAZEN
Suggested because Dawn mentioned macrobiotic. Awesome fresh handmade tofu selections in a full-service Japanese restaurant and tapas bar. Also rice, noodle, meat and fish dishes and salads.

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susanna on Nov 4, 09 at 09:54 AM

Wow, I'm comming on Sunday and will use your list, thanks so much!
starrs on Nov 4, 09 at 10:47 AM

We enjoyed the Hau Tree http://www.kaimana.com/dining.htm
mari808 on Nov 4, 09 at 08:08 PM

topping
Kailani on Nov 4, 09 at 09:34 PM

I second the Hau Tree Lanai. I have the most wonderful photos & memories of having dinner with my husband watching the sunset on the beach. I think it is quintessential Oahu.

It's both romantic and family friendly. We thought the food was very good, too.

You can make reservations on OpenTable, which I find convenient when traveling.
MomDDTravel on Nov 4, 09 at 10:31 PM

Hi Mari! Just seeing this!! We have been out all day - had THE best pancakes I have EVER had in my life at Boots & Kioms <sp> this morning on our way to kayak - went snorkeling afterwards - and just got back to to the hotel - dh is watching the game down at the bar and I am just getting ready for Alan Wongs I will use this list for the rest of our trip - thank you SO much again for your time yesterday. You are a *very sweet interesting person. It was a pleasure to meet you.

~ Dawn
mari808 on Nov 5, 09 at 05:09 PM

Right back at you, Dawn!

Can we get a dining report re Alan Wong's???
texasjo on Nov 5, 09 at 10:02 PM

Thanks for this; will be going in a couple of months.

Would Hau Tree be good for special BD dinner for DD? Want nice but maybe less formal than Orchid or LaMer. Or what about the original Roys? Which would you recommend?
Kal on Nov 5, 09 at 10:07 PM
misha2 on Nov 5, 09 at 10:40 PM

Anyplace that is good for dinner near the HHV? Need to make a suggestion for a group of about 8 who love good food, would like a unique experience.

Thanks
Kailani on Nov 6, 09 at 12:20 AM

Texasjo, I think the Hau Tree would be a good choice. It's not formal, but it is very pretty. You eat under these knarled trees are right on the beach, so you can watch people playing volleyball, and swimming, then enjoy the sunset.

Here's a link with photos and menu. It seems more expensive than I remembered. I think a DD would enjoy it very much. http://kaimana.com/hautreelanai.htm

Must admit, it's the only restaurant I ate at in Honolulu (as we ate at the Kahala where we were staying for a few days). I know Roy's from the Big Island and elsewhere, though. It's good, too, but more sophisticated than atmospheric.

We went at 5:30 when they opened, so we got a table right by the beach.
mari808 on Nov 6, 09 at 01:57 AM

misha2, can you give an idea of budget, and whether this group tends more toward cheeseburger/steaks/fish, ethnic, fusion etc?

MomDDTravel on Nov 6, 09 at 12:48 PM

Mari - we are haeded out to the north shore today - I thought we were going yesterday but ended up staying close by here - had dinner at a place close by upon the recommendation of a few locals and it was full of locals - Hapa grill I think - I will double check, still waking up here with my coffee...

Ahhhh Alan Wong's - I posted pictures on my facebook of every course outside of the main entree as I simply forgot by the time it was served I was on my 4th wine selection as well. We did the 5 course tasting menu with wine selections as well.

I will post in my trip report but ...

The service was outstanding, the presentation was off the chart, the wine pairings were excellent with each course... I hate to say it but the food was just "okay". I believe I would not give them a thumbs up on every course. Desert was excellent, the 3rd course of fish was very good, the entree was also very good - but excellent? No. I will go into more detail on the trip report.

Having said that, it was a very special evening and the dining "experience" was excellent.

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for MomDDtravel and Mr MDDT: restaurants in HNL

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